4 December 2025

In this edition of Business Link - Community Bank Maldon & District's next BIG project announcement, Dhelkaya Health wins, farming and founder surveys, more on the Local Impact Business Grant program and further training for creatives.

Community Bank Maldon & District announces their second BIG project

This week Community Bank Maldon & District announced they will fund $850,000 to support the building of a home for Nalderun at Me-Mandook Galk Indigenous Education and Bush Tucker Place on Djaara Country in Chewton. Their investment in this project has helped unlock matched funding from Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation. 

This Indigenous Education Place will act as a home base for Nalderun’s educational programs across the region. The organisation’s work is relational, holistic, and strengths-based - providing wrap-around support to Indigenous young people, families, educators, and the wider community.⁠

Dhelkaya Health named 2025 Premier’s Medium Health Service of the Year

Dhelkaya Health has been awarded the prestigious Premier’s Medium Health Service of the Year at the 2025 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. This is the highest honour for a medium-sized health service in Victoria. Congratulations!

The Castlemaine and Maldon-based service was also named a finalist in the Excellence in Public Sector Residential Aged Care Services category for its innovative Trishaw Program, delivered in partnership with Cycling Without Age Castlemaine.

Help shape the future of Australian farming - share your experiences

You're invited to take part in Farms in Focus, a national survey exploring the real experiences, challenges and opportunities shaping Australian farming. Led by the STAR Lab at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University in collaboration with the National Farmers Federation, Australian Farm Institute, and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, this initiative gives farmers a direct voice in shaping the future.

Why Share Your Views?

• Your feedback will help ensure future policies and programs reflect the real needs of Australian farmers.
• You’ll receive the published report to see how your experiences compare with farmers across the country.
• Your responses will remain confidential. The de-identified results will be shared with major industry bodies and used to champion the needs of farmers at every level.

Get in early - the first 200 farmers to complete the survey will receive a $50 Woolworths Everyday Gift Card.

Read the latest social enterprise sector report 

A new report "Social enterprise: powered by trade and driven by purpose" highlights that trade revenue among certified social enterprises grew by 10 per cent over five years, reinforcing that purpose-driven businesses can deliver both purpose and profit.

Australia has an estimated 12,000 social enterprises, spending $5.1 billion annually to deliver impact and creating 84,500 jobs for people facing barriers to work. The national database of identified social enterprises, launched last year, has grown from 5,795 to 6,376 since 2024. Among these, 22 per cent rely solely on trade to fund operations.

The report findings provide a clear picture of how trade revenue is growing, fuels impact and is key to resilience in the sector.

Applications open soon for Local Impact Business Grants

Council is launching a new grant program to support local businesses, business groups, farmer networks and community organisations working with business.

These grants fund small, practical projects that create lasting improvements for local businesses and help build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy across Mount Alexander Shire. 

Who can apply?

• Individual businesses
• Groups of businesses working together
• Business associations, trader groups or precinct collectives
• Farmer or producer networks
• Community organisations working in direct partnership with businesses

💲Up to $5,000 per project
🗓️Applications open 15 December 2025 and close 18 January 2026
🗓️Deliver your project between February and June 2026

We will be running an information session on Wednesday 17 December 11.00am - 12.00pm. Hit the button below for the link for this session, and to read more about the program.

More drought support funding available for group-based event providers

Agriculture Victoria is seeking event proposals and quotes from service providers to deliver local group-based events in 2026 as part of the Drought Support Program.

Applications for Round 3 of funding are sought from agricultural organisations including service providers, agricultural consultants, farm advisors, agriculture-specific training organisations, farmer groups or organisations to deliver publicly advertised, group-based events in local farming communities across the state.

🗓️Applications close 21 December
 

Save the date: free training for creatives

What does it take to start your own creative venture? Council is running a day of free workshops and panels in Castlemaine, both for those in the beginning stages of starting a venture, and those dreaming about it. This afternoon of free in-person training includes:  

• How to make a pitch about your work on Canva 
• Protecting your intellectual property and navigating AI 
• Managing your finances, legals and permitting  
• A panel of creative entrepreneurs with first-hand experience

🗓️11 February, 1.00pm - 8.00pm

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Mount Alexander Shire Council
email: business@mountalexander.vic.gov.au  web: www.mountalexander.vic.gov.au

Mount Alexander Shire Council acknowledges that the traditional custodians of this
land, the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, proudly survive. We acknowledge their continued practice of custom and their close cultural, spiritual, physical, social, historical and economic relationship with the land and waters that make up
their country, which includes Mount Alexander Shire.