Business Resources APRIL 2021
Resources for Business - APRIL 2021
Important information for business applicable from 1 May 2021...
It will become mandatory for all hospitality businesses (such as pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, cafes and other venues that serve food and drink) to register for and utilise the free Check In Queensland app to more readily access information at a critical time for the State’s public health response.
Other businesses can also use this system for their customers, visitors and guests.
Media Release 18 March 2021 - Minister Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
The Morrison Government is putting the mental health of small business owners first with the launch of a coaching and support program.
NewAccess for Small Business Owners will provide free, confidential and tailored mental health coaching to small business owners.
The program is part of the Government’s $7 million Business Balance initiative, announced in the 2020-21 Budget. BusinessBalance provides immediate, short-term support of mental and financial wellbeing for small business as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said Australia’s small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and yet small business owners suffer more from depression and anxiety than the general population.
“Despite collectively employing more Australians, small business owners have the fewest resources to deal with their own needs, including their mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this, putting our small business owners under even more financial and emotional pressure,” Minister Cash said.
“That’s why it is crucial to our economy that small business owners get the support they need towards recovery from COVID-19 and beyond.”
Developed by Beyond Blue, in partnership with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, NewAccess for Small Business Owners is designed to help small business owners who are feeling overwhelmed about everyday life issues, which may be caused by business challenges, staffing, relationships, health or loneliness. Coaches will have a small business background.
BusinessBalance also includes the Counting on U program, delivered through Deakin University, which is a free and professional development program that builds the mental health knowledge of trusted business advisers.
The advisers are trained in mental health first aid and relationship-building skills so they can recognise signs of mental and financial stress in small business owners and connect them to specialised services.
For more information about NewAccess for Small Business Owners, visit beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess
For information on Counting on U and business advisor registration for upcoming training starting late April 2021, visit blogs.deakin.edu.au/counting-on-u/
Media contact: Minister Cash's office 02 6277 7610
A new law to protect your superannuation savings started from 1 July 2019.
Super providers are required to pay inactive low-balance accounts to the ATO, assisting in proactively reuniting unclaimed super money held for you into one of your active super accounts.
According to Ted O’Brien, MP for Fairfax in a recent newsletter, "in Australia there is still $13.8 billion of lost and unclaimed Superannuation. In Fairfax there is an estimated $46 million waiting to be collected".
You can check or subscribe to email updates for the latest super updates from the ATO, including daily, weekly or monthly email updates on information that may be of interest to you, including new content and changes to the site.
If you think you may have unclaimed Super, check HERE.
Do you employ an apprentice; trainee or employee aged under 25 who drives for their job?
The latest round of Transport and Main Roads road safety grants has awarded a number of community groups with funding under the government’s Community Road Safety Grants program.
In the Wide Bay and wider region, local driver education specialists Roadcraft have been engaged by grant recipients the Rotary Club of Gympie Cooloola to deliver vital road safety lessons to newly appointed tradies, trainees, and young workers at their purpose built facility just south of Gympie.
Under this funding, a business can send anyone under 25, even if they are just off their P’s or even on their L’s for FREE defensive driving course worth $450. However, places are subject to available funding.
Young drivers interested in participating in the hands on training session are encouraged to call or email Roadcraft direct to express their interest in securing one of the limited positions available.
You can read the full media release from Roadcraft via this link - Roadcraft Young Tradies granted vital road safety lessons
The Federal Government has opened the next phase of its Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) – Manufacturing Integration Stream grants.
As part of its landmark Modern Manufacturing Strategy, grants are a particularly focused on the six National Manufacturing Priorities: Resources Technology & Critical Minerals Processing, Food & Beverage, Medical Products, Recycling & Clean Energy, Defence and Space. There are a number of other manufacturing areas, which complement and contribute to these.
The MMI Manufacturing Integration Stream (Food and Beverage), which close on April 27, 2021 provides grants of between $1 million and $20 million to support projects that integrate Australian businesses into domestic and international value chains, propelling their goods and services into new markets. This tranche relates to the food and beverage sector.