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July Edition
- COVID-19 update and assistance
- New scheme for Victorian businesses and workers
- Business Resilience to Brilliance - MIC Event
- Business support and grants
- Information for agribusinesses
- Information for tourism businesses
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COVID-19 update and assistance
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Check in everywhere, every time - QR codes are mandatory
All Businesses are now required to use the Victorian Government QR Code Service, unless an exemption applies). This extra step will mandate the use of the Victorian Government QR Code Service in all workplaces and helps to keep Victorian businesses open.
To suppport Businesses the Victorian Government has launched a new campaign calling on all Victorians to check in everywhere, every time. The campaign will be live across TV, radio, print, social, digital and out-of-home media.The campaign will support businesses to check in their customers, including help on setting up QR Codes. or via the Kiosk check-in function.
A further support package for businesses is available via the Coronavirus website, along with the latest signs, posters and templates for workplaces
Call Business Victoria on 13 22 15 if you need further information.
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Reminder - update your COVIDSafe Plan
Due to COVID-19 outbreaks across Australia and the declaration of red zones in many other parts of the country, businesses are urged to check they are doing everything possible to be COVIDSafe.
Every business with on-site operations must have a COVIDSafe Plan. They help you reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace. Your COVIDSafe Plan is a list of safety actions. It should be reviewed and updated regularly and discussed with your workers.
For more information go to coronavirus.vic.gov.au or call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 2215.
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New scheme for Victorian businesses and workers
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A new scheme starting July 2021 that will allow Victorian workers to have their registrations and licences recognised in other Australian states.
Under the 'Automatic mutual recognition of occupational registrations' (AMR) scheme, many workers will be able to perform in other states and territories the same activities they're licensed for in their home state.
The AMR scheme will create a more mobile workforce to fill skill gaps, and reduce registration and licensing costs for thousands of businesses, tradespeople and other registered professionals who work and operate over state lines.
AMR started 1 July 2021 in Victoria, NSW, NT and the ACT, with other states committing to join the scheme soon. It will begin with a limited number of occupations and include more occupations as Australia transitions to the scheme.
Visit Improving occupational mobility for more information.
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Find great people with digital skills
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The Victorian Government’s Digital Jobs program is creating a new pipeline of talent to meet the digital skills needs of Victorian employers. Digital Jobs takes capable, experienced, mid-career Victorians and helps them transition into web developers, data analysts, digital marketers, product designers, network technicians and more.
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Victorian employers can gain access to this new talent pool at a subsidised rate by hosting candidates as interns through the Digital Jobs program. Each job-ready candidate is freshly trained in a digital skillset that’s in high demand. Training courses are industry-backed and delivered by leading digital skills course providers.
What will businesses receive?
- A full-time mid-career intern for 12 weeks who has up-to-date skills
- Access to a talent pool of productive, motivated candidates
- A $5,000 subsidy from the program which will partially offset the cost employing the intern
The first round of mid-career interns will be placed with businesses from October 2021.
An Industry Briefing Session will be held on Thursday 15 July. Sign up now!
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Business Resilience to Brilliance - MIC Event
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Melbourne Innovation Centre (MIC) is inviting you to it's "Business Resilience to Brilliance" events series, running from Tuesday 17 August to Wednesday 1 September, across various locations in Victoria. The MIC offers an inspiring series of live events designed to educate, motivate and invigorate business owners, providing the chance to network and engage in the latest economic opportunities.
For further information on the events and to purchase your ticket for the event in Lakes Entrance click here.
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Business support and grants
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Don't miss out on grants - East Gippsland GrantGuru
The East Gippsland Shire Council is excited to provide the ‘East Gippsland Grant Finder’ to all local businesses, community groups, not-for-profits and individuals. This site provides a comprehensive list of grant and funding opportunities available to you from many sources including; State and Federal Government, corporate and philanthropic.
Visit the East Gippsland GrantGuru
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Black Summer Bushfire Grants
The $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) Grants program will help communities address priorities for recovery and resilience after the 2019-20 bushfires.
This grants program comes from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund and is additional to support already provided through a range of bushfire recovery programs. It covers every Local Government Area that was disaster declared as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.
Community organisations, businesses and local councils can apply.
- Applications will open for submissions on 22 July 2021 and close on 2 September 2021.
- Successful projects will be announced by the end of 2021.
- You can apply for a grant of between $20,000 and $10 million.
For further information and how to apply visit business.gov.au
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Investment Fast-Track Fund
The Investment Fast-Track Fund focusses on funding activities that mobilise strategic investment projects through fast-track of business case development and planning for medium to longer term projects in regions, boosting employment and improving the liveability of rural and regional Victoria.
Funded activities will be considered on the basis of strategic importance for rural and regional communities including driving economic growth and prosperity for Victoria.
For further details visit business.vic.gov.au.
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GROW Gippsland Tender Writing Workshop
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The Gippsland region is experiencing unprecedented investment with a significant pipeline of construction, infrastructure and renewable energy projects underway or soon to commence.
GROW Gippsland is delivering a series of workshops to support local suppliers to understand procurement requirements including tenders and requests for quotation and to position your business to win more work locally. The training will be delivered by procurement specialists with extensive experience managing projects from both the buyer and supplier side of the process.
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You will have the opportunity to:
- Learn tips for responding to opportunities including marketing your business, understanding the evaluation process, complying with mandatory requirements and reviewing and understanding contracts
- Hear from local procurers about what they are looking for from suppliers
- Discover where to go for helpful information, to find opportunities for work and to make yourself visible to buyers
- Discover the support available to you through the GROW Gippsland program
Who should attend? Local businesses, business owners and suppliers in Gippsland who are bidding for work with Government and the private sector.
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Business Recovery Advisory Service extended to June 2022
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The Melbourne Innovation Centre (MIC), one of Australia’s longest-running and most successful business incubators supporting entrepreneurs and SMEs, will continue to deliver their service in East Gippsland with its team of local business recovery advisors to ensure business continuity and support.
For further information or to get in contact with a small business advisor visit business.vic.gov.au
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Workshop - Creating a great Customer Experience
Creating a great customer experience and keep customers coming back!
Join in this interactive and fun online workshop with Sally Curtis from Destination Yellow and Ailsa Page from AP Marketing Works and deep dive into what it takes to turn customers into raving fans. Understand your customers’ journey and how to delight them at every touchpoint. If you have customers, this workshop is relevant to you.
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Information for agribusinesses
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East Gippsland Farmer Survey 2021
Council wants to hear from the agriculture sector including cattle, sheep and wool, milk, horticulture as well as wineries and timber.
Recognising the significant role farmers play in the local communities and economy of East Gippsland, Council is seeking to gain information from farming business operators that will assist in understanding the current status of the farming sector.
The information collected will be used to help Council and ASAC identify priorities and plan their work and assist with advocacy. This survey will be delivered in conjunction with Wellington Shire Council (WSC). The survey has been developed by East Gippsland and Wellingtons shire councils, Victorian Farmers Federation, Agriculture Victoria and Gippsland Agriculture Group.
All farmers can complete the survey online at the Your Say page of Council’s website. The survey will be live in two weeks and hard copies of the survey will also be mailed to all farms over 40 hectares.
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Reminder - Omeo Region Agribusiness Program
Limited spaces are left for Omeo Region Agribusiness Program commencing on 22 July 2021.
If you are a farmer or agribusiness operator in these areas: Benambra, Bruthen, Cobungra, Doctors Flat, Ensay, Ensay North,Omeo, Swifts Creek, Tambo Crossing or anywhere in between…
Don’t miss this chance for 12 months of FREE MENTORING SUPPORT for your farm.
Consultants from ION Group will help you create strategies to adapt and rebuild your income and identify opportunities to diversify and value add on your farms. They can also help you with succession planning.
For a program outline and Expression of Interest form call ION Group Jeannie Hicks on 03 5664 0210 or book@iongroup.com.au.
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Digital Grants for farm businesses
The Victorian Government is inviting farmers to apply for funding to support digital technology on the farm. Grants from $5,000 to $50,000 are available to assist eligible farm businesses to invest in on-farm digital technology projects, being distributed through Rural Finance. Applications close 31 October 2021.
- Eligibility:
Only one grant will be offered per farm business (ABN). To be eligible for assistance under this Scheme, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
- Be a Victorian based commercial farm business with an average annual primary production turnover of $50,000 or more
- Be a farm business focused on ‘Primary Production’ as defined in the Program Guidelines
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) that is registered for GST
- Be a legal entity registered as a sole trader, trust or private company
- Install the project/s on agricultural land that you own, lease or share farm in Victoria
For more information, visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/digitalag.
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Information for tourism businesses
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East Gippsland Nature Based Tourism Forum #3
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21 July 2021 in Nowa Nowa - registration open
The third “East Gippsland Nature Based Tourism Forum” will be a full day forum held in Nowa Nowa on Wednesday 21 July 2021. If you're a business in East Gippsland with a strong interest in nature-based tourism, and would like to connect with, and learn from fellow operators, this one day event will inspire and inform you.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Nature Based Tourism Forum featuring guest speakers from local businesses, panel discussions, and the opportunity for break out into smaller discussion groups.
Click here to find out more about the full day program and register!
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Launch of new website showcasing East Gippsland
www.visiteastgippsland.com.au
Co-funded by East Gippsland Marketing and East Gippsland Shire Council the new Visit East Gippsland website showcases all that East Gippsland has to offer visitors and locals alike. The website is mobile friendly and has less text and more images to enhance the user experience.
Mayor Cr Mendy Urie said the website will help drive the promotion of the region as a great holiday destination and maximise visitor spend.
The new website incorporates East Gippsland’s adoption of the GIPPS all kinds of wonder LAND destination branding, which is used for all tourism promotion and campaigns into Melbourne and beyond.
“This is an exciting first example of how this new branding will be used in our regional tourism marketing,” Cr Urie said.
For further information about putting your tourism business on the new website, please contact the East Gippsland Shire Visitor Information Centre on 5152 3444.
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Tourism 101 workshop opportunity - only 3 spots left!
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Tourism 101, starting on 2 August 2021 will run over 5 weekly two-hour online workshops. Tourism 101 is a bespoke program dedicated to tourism businesses in East Gippsland.
Presented by Destination Yellow, the program is for sole traders, tour operators, accommodation providers and visitor services providers in the tourism sector. It is designed to create confidence in recovery efforts, provide focus on the fundamentals, create simple pathways for activation and identify opportunities for product development and market diversification.
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Stay up to date with Austrade “Visitor Economy News”
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Austrade has just introduced a new Visitor Economy e-newsletter featuring the latest news on tourism policy, research and programs and services available to assist businesses. Visitor Economy News will regularly keep you informed of Australian Government support along with relevant data insights from across the visitor economy.
Click here to find out more and sign up for future updates
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You can get in touch with the Economic Development Team by phoning 5153 9500 or via email.
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