Representing the local business community since 1986.
APRIL NEWSLETTER
A word from our President
Hello all,
Maleny Commerce has a defined vision to contribute to our thriving business community where people choose to do business. Our mission is to act as your voice in the business community by advocating for, connecting and supporting our members. The values that drive the decisions and planning of the chamber revolve around engaging, acting, respecting, partnering and sharing resources.
Your Executive Committee is a group of business individuals who volunteer their time to assist the Maleny and districts business community. We are not Grant Writers, Main Roads or Sunshine Coast Council however with the connections that we make through Sunshine Coast Chamber Alliance, CCIQ , Regional Response Group, Sunshine Coast Council departments and FAN, to name a few we have the ability to point our members in the right direction.
This month the Executive Committee has booked a day to go over our strategic planning and take an in-depth look at where we wish to plan for the year ahead and into the future. We thank Paul Garcia CCIQ for facilitating this event.
We are also looking at bringing to an event a national/international Speaker, we would love for you to drop us a line to let us know who you would like to learn from.
Our Membership drive is continuing and we would be delighted if you would invite a guest to our next event. We become stronger as our membership grows.
Well, we have endured a very wet month and I for one are looking forward to a bit of Sunshine.
Warm regards
April General Breakfast Meeting
Tuesday 13th April 2021, 7am
Guest Speaker: Jon Hui, ASBAS Strategic Partnerships
The Australian Small Business Advisory Services program is a Commonwealth-Funded initiative that provides free and low-cost workshops, webinars, one-to-one mentoring and peer group membership to help Australian small businesses succeed.
Jon Hui, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Business Station, shares how to register for the program and tips on how to make the most of the available Government support and resources. Register now to secure your place at this business-changing presentation!
Bookings Essential
Non-Member Ticket $30.00
Member $25.00
If you wish to attend and have any other dietary requirements please contact admin@malenycommerce.org.au to ensure the venue is able to plan in advance.
Please note: ALL tickets booked must be paid for. If you book and are unable to attend, but don’t notify the secretary/admin, the Chamber still has to pay for the venue so you will be charged. We aim to support our local restaurants. Please provide 24 hrs notice.
The Federal Government’s JobKeeper scheme is coming to an end on 28 March 2021, meaning businesses will no longer be entitled to receive JobKeeper payments for their eligible employees or utilise the temporary Fair Work Act JobKeeper provisions which gave employers certain flexibilities. It is a critical period for employers and now is the time to be preparing for this change.
This JobKeeper Update provides information on key actions to take to prepare for the end of the JobKeeper payments and Fair Work Act JobKeeper provisions, as well as other areas for consideration with respect to employment requirements post-JobKeeper. Template letters have also been drafted for use by individual employers and can be tailored to suit the employer’s specific circumstances prior to use.
Preparing for the end of JobKeeper payments
➢ Communicate with employees prior to the end of JobKeeper: As the JobKeeper payment program ends on 28 March, employees’ wages will revert back to their pre-JobKeeper levels. It is recommended that you notify your employees of this, particularly where the amount received under JobKeeper may differ from the employee’s regular pay rate. Download a template of this letter here.
➢ Submit your March monthly business declaration to the ATO: You do not have to take any specific action with the ATO when the program ends, however you will need to complete your final monthly business declaration for March by 14 April 2021.
➢ Consider other options for Government assistance: Although the JobKeeper scheme will not be extended there may be additional assistance available to employers such as grants, hiring incentives and targeted support for particular sectors. Visitbusiness.gov.au.
Preparing for the end of JobKeeper enabling directions
➢ Notify employees that the JobKeeper enabling direction will cease: Any JobKeeper enabling direction, whether issued by an employer currently on JobKeeper or a Legacy Employer, will cease to have effect from the start of 29 March 2021. This means that employees will revert to their substantive terms and conditions of employment. While the direction will automatically cease to apply, employers should communicate with their employees about the change.Download a template of this letter here.
➢ Consider employment requirements post-JobKeeper: If your business is still experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic you should consider your employment requirements post-JobKeeper. This includes whether employees can be stood down, whether other flexibilities may be permitted under an industrial instrument or by agreement, or whether any positions may be redundant. Given the complex nature of the considerations and related employment obligations, we recommend CCIQ members contacting CCIQ’s HR/IR team on 1300 731 988 for specific advice tailored to your business’s needs.
Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia's Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill
On the 22nd March, the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Bill (the Bill) as amended by the Senate was passed by the House of Representatives. The Bill passed with a number of significant amendments as a result of negotiations with cross-bench senators.
Major changes to come from the Bill are:
1. A clear definition for casual employment
“ A person is a casual employee of an employer if the employer makes no firm advance commitment to continuing and indefinite work according to an agreed pattern of work for the person.”
Vital aspects of the casual definition were retained in the Bill, these include:
The employment relationship is assessed at the point of offer and acceptance
The list of factors to be considered as to what constitutes a ‘firm advance commitment’ is limited to those set out in the Bill.
The inclusion of these two aspects will limit the impact of future claims in a Court when determining whether a person was a casual or not.
2. Casual conversion after 12 months (businesses with 15 or more employees)
For business employers with 15 or more employees, a casual employee who has worked for an employer for at least 12 months and has, during at least the last 6 months of that time, worked a regular pattern of hours on an ongoing basis may be entitled to be offered, or request, conversion to full-time employment or part-time employment.
3. Casual conversion exemption for small (business employers with less than 15 employees)
Employees can still request conversion, however, the employer is not obligated to offer conversion or provide notification that they are not making an offer.
Small business employers are required (under the Bill) to give casual employees a Casual Employment Information Statement (this document will be released in the coming weeks) as soon as practicable after commencement on royal assent.
Business employers with 15+ employees are required to give a Casual Information Statement as soon as practicable six months after commencement of employment.
4. Casual conversion – small claims procedure
A small claims procedure in the Federal and Magistrates Courts will be available to parties to resolve casual conversion disputes, including whether a business may refuse conversion on reasonable business grounds, whether an offer of conversion must be made by a business, and whether an employee has the right to request casual conversation.
A court is able to offset the claim amount with the loading already paid.
6. Review of these changes
As soon as practicable after 12 months of operation with a written report within six months of starting the review.
What does this mean for you as an employer?
1. Give casual employees a Casual Employment Information statement (this document will be released in the coming weeks)
Businesses with less than 15 employees as soon as practicable after commencement
Businesses with 15 or more employees as soon as practicable after the transition period (six months)
2. If you have 15 or more employees you must make an offer to a casual employee for conversion after 12 months, unless there are reasonable grounds not to make an offer.
Employers with less than 15 employees are exempt from positively offering this (as well as notification that they are not making an offer) however, employees are still able to request to convert
3. Businesses must also consider their obligations under the relevant Modern Award or Enterprise Agreement covering their employees.
Further assistance
Members with any questions or need help understanding how these changes might impact are encouraged to contact the CCIQ Employer Assistance team on 1300 135 822 or by email advice@cciq.com.au.
BEEN CONSIDERING AN APPRENTICE OR TRAINEE?
NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME!
THE APPRENTICE WAGE SUBSIDY SCHEME HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL
30 SEPTEMBER 2021.
What's in it for you?
Engage an Apprentice or Trainee now and you could be eligible for a 50% wage subsidy for the first 12 months to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter.
There is no limit on the number of eligible trainees/ apprentices you can employ.
How can DGT help me?
DGT Employs the best apprentices and trainees and places them with businesses, who are the host employers, for all or part of the apprenticeship.
Business Mentoring - is it right for you?
Come along to this speed mentoring session to find out.
One year’s business support for $200
This is possible through the Chamber Alliance Business Mentoring program. The use of experienced business professionals giving back to the community on a volunteer basis makes this possible. The mentors bring a wealth of experience and offer to guide you and your business to the goals that you set.
To see if this program is for you, come along to the speed mentoring session at 5.30pm on April 14th. There you will be given the opportunity to speak to several different mentors to sample what the mentoring program can provide. This is obligation free and free of charge.
Or if you would like to talk to some Call Paul Whinnett Phone: 0447 826 602
Maleny Cafe & Restaurant Opening Hours
We have created a list of our cafe and restaurant opening hours to assist visitors and locals to find out who is open, when they are open, what they serve and how to connect with them.
This document will be printed for Maleny Visitors Information Centres use and be provided the accommodation houses. To view please click here
NEW print run Maleny Gift Card
NEW Sponsors
Thank you Queensland Country Bank and Maleny IGA
Maleny Gift Card Sponsors
Advisory System for Process Innovation and Resource Exchange
We were one of the lucky ones to see this program first at our March Breakfast, just another reason to be a member, so you too can be the first to know about new programs coming up. To see the presentation please click her.
Empowering businesses to exchange waste as a resource
Helping businesses on a journey towards circularity
Kay Ridge Workshops
Kay Ridge is a sought-after social media and marketing consultant with a diploma in social media and marketing and is currently completing a Bachelor of Marketing and Communication. Kay specializes in Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn as well as LinkedIn Advertising.
Kay also mentors for the Mentor 4 Growth program. Kay founded Dash Socialwhich assists small business owners in writing their marketing plan, strategies and content to ensure that their business gets in front of the right audience. Kay has had her own businesses for the past 20 years and understands all aspects of a business and how important the right marketing blueprint is for your business.
[Webinar] Establishing a professional brand through LinkedIn
Learn why 30 million companies have LinkedIn profiles, and why 50% of B2B web traffic originating from social media and 80% of B2B leads generated on social media come from LinkedIn.
Come and learn why 8 million Australians are on LinkedIn! Find out how your profile should look, how to set up a company page and how to set up showcase pages. If time permits we will also discuss how to get in front of that potential client.
[Webinar] Establishing a professional brand through LinkedIn
Learn why 30 million companies have LinkedIn profiles, and why 50% of B2B web traffic originating from social media and 80% of B2B leads generated on social media come from LinkedIn.
Our organisation’s operations are supported by council through a Community Partnership
About Maleny Commerce
Maleny and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. is an incorporated body representing the business community since 1986. Check our website for upcoming events.
