Welcome to the April edition of the City of Marion’s Open for Business newsletter.
With the start of school holidays and Easter this weekend, we'd like to take a moment to remind everyone it is still important to take a break to rest and recouperate. Why not check out SATC's new platform,
SATV
; a digital place to connect with our best tourism operators while quietening our thoughts. See South Australia from the comfort of your own home this long weekend.
In this edition, we recap the recent support package announcements from the State and Federal Governments.
We also provide some tips to help you work from home - don't forget to consider your cyber security as well as the safety of your home office setup. If you haven't already, please visit our
City of Marion COVID-19 for Business portal
which is updated frequently.
In these tough times, it is not just important to stay connected with your fellow businesses but we want to hear from you too;
how can we help you? If you need any further support, please get in contact.
Keep safe, #stayhome and enjoy your Easter break,
Donna, Kate, Lisa and Marissa
Economic Development Team
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Southern Business Mentoring Program
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Mental Health and Wellbeing service available from 14 April
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From Tuesday 14 April, the Southern Business Mentoring Program will be offering mental health and wellbeing services.
Our advisors will work with business owners and their staff to help support wellbeing and mental health using a range of approaches.
To book an advisory session in advance, please visit our booking page.
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COVID-19 one-on-one support
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Our General Business Advisors are available to help your business to develop a strategic response to COVID–19.
Martin
and
Amanda
can cover topics including assessing the threats and opportunities for your business, financial management and acessing government stimulus.
Our HR Advisor
Evelyn
can help your business to establish a workforce recovery strategy/plan, manage employee and leave entitlements, and monitor the mental wellbeing of your workplace.
Now that a lot of us are working from home, our Digital Marketing advisor can help you setup a flexible work environment.
Fiona
is also offering individual and group webinars on how to use
Zoom
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Information one-stop-shop for business
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The City of Marion is here to support your business and staff members during this uncertain time.
We encourage you to visit our City of Marion COVID-19 for Business home page which is updated frequently with information and resources to assist your business to respond in the
COVID-19 environment.
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The State Government are also continually updating their COVID-19 page for business with resources and new information regarding their support packages.
Financial support is available to minimise the impact of COVID-19 through the Jobs Rescue Package which includes the establishment of two new funds:
- $300m Business and Jobs Support Fund
- $250m Community and Jobs Fund
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The Australian Government are also regularly releasing new support packages for both employers and their workers.
The Australian Government's JobKeeper payment is the latest mechanism to assist both employers and sole traders. Under the JobKeeper payment, impacted
businesses
will be able to access a subsidy to continue paying their employees.
Sole traders
may also be eligible if there has been a reduction in income.
The Federal Government are regularly updating their COVID-19 information and support pages so keep checking back for updated content about this package and any further announcements.
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Jobs portal for new opportunities
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Some industries are still looking for workers and the Federal Government have just launched their new
Jobs Hub.
The hub is a
one-stop-shop listing opportunities in health and care sectors, transport and logistics, some areas of retail, mining and mining services, manufacturing, agriculture and government sectors, among others.
Search for jobs within the Government, by industry sector or by employer.
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The Industry Capability Network recognises the importance of having a strong supply chain, now more than ever, to ensure that the community continues to receive key services and products.
ICN has developed a portal aimed at allowing suppliers to register their interest in providing key goods and services, to assist with the identification of gaps in supply chains.
Looking for work? Use the
ICN Gateway
to search for projects and new opportunities.
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ATO announces new tax deduction
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With the increase of people working from home, household expenses such as electricity are expected to rise.
The Australian Tax Office has released a new method to simplify
home office deductions
rules. Workers can now claim up to 80 cents per hour worked from home from 1 March until 30 June 2020.
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With many businesses choosing to work remotely, we are now connecting online more than ever. It is possible to offer flexible working while still maintaining security for your business.
The
Australian Cyber Security Centre
has developed Stay Smart Online, easy to understand advice on how to protect you and your business while working online. Learn how to identify an online threat and the best course of response.
Sign up to their
Alert Service
to stay up-to-date on the latest online threats.
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Ensure continuity for your business
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To help you keep your business functioning with minimal disruption during these times of adversity, the
Australian Information Industry Association
now provides a suite of free service offerings, advice and tools designed to support Australian business continuity through the use of technology.
Australian Business Continuity
has a range of remote communications, collaboration, workforce management and video conferencing solutions for business continuity that can be accessed on any device at any time anywhere.
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Setting up your WFH space
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Continuing your business from home?
In Australia, the model WHS laws still apply if workers work somewhere other than their usual workplace, for example, from home.
Safework Australia has advice on minimising risk in both the workplace and home.
Our WHS Advisor Evelyn can also help you with Work, Health and Safety advice as part of the Southern Business Mentoring Program.
Speak with Evelyn today
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Digital Transformation for Small Business
Move your small business into the ever evolving digital world and use digital transformation to help your business grow!
Digital transformation is the process of working better, faster and efficiently by using new technology to grow, develop and market your business.
Join the Small Business Commissioner for
guidance and confidence in how to use technology and outline the benefits to your small business.
Online delivery, free
5.30pm, Wednesday 9 April
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How to Communicate With Your Staff and Stakeholders During A Crisis
Join Showcase SA for an action-focussed 30 minute webinar, discussing how to communicate with staff and external stakeholders while dealing with a crisis.
In fast-moving and uncertain situations, where you may face questions you may not even have the answers to, it's better to communicate early and regularly.
Zoom Webinar, free
11.00am, Friday 17 April
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Wix or Wordpress?
Join Fiona Blinco, a Southern Business Mentoring Program advisor, as she helps you to choose the right platform to build your website.
Would you choose to start your collection with Lego or Meccano - and what's this got to do with building your website? Choosing the platform to build your website is a long-term decision - best to choose the right one for you from the start.
Zoom Webinar, Free
5.30pm, Wednesday 22 April
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Redundancy or stand down?
Evelyn Pollard is our Southern Business Mentoring Program advisor, specialising in Human Resources, Workforce Planning and WHS.
Join Evelyn as she provides a brief overview of the definition and difference of genuine redundancy and stand down, and what these options mean to your business. We will also walk through the process that needs to be undertaken for each one.
Zoom Webinar, $10
11.00am, Thursday 23 April
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NBN and COVID-19
Going digital remains a fundamental requirement and continues to provides opportunity to create new or modify existing business models, reinvent core processes, improve efficiency, drive productivity and get closer to the customer.
Join the nbn business and corporate affairs team as they step you through their responses to COVID-19 and what that means for businesses.
Online Delivery, $22
5.30pm, Wednesday 29 April
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Do you need help exporting?
The new South Australian Export Fundamentals Program provides new or current exporters with the tools, connections and confidence to successfully target international markets.
The free program integrates online delivery and resources, providing new or current exporters with the tools, connections and confidence to successfully target international markets.
Online Delivery, Free
4 day course - various dates from 4 May
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While you have more time at home, why don't you join one of our online Adult Community Education courses in Term 2 (the week starting 27th April).
Additional courses delivered via Zoom
include Introduction to Café or Disability Work,
English Language, Computing, Health and Wellness, Mindful Living, Preparing for Work and more.
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Marion Council will have a new kerbside waste and recycling collection contractor starting from 1 May. Cleanaway will start collecting waste, recycling and organics bins from this date, as well as the blue lidded public litter bins.
There will be no changes to the day bins are collected, however the time bins are emptied on collection day is likely to change.
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Manager City Activation
T: 08 7420 6525
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Unit Manager Economic Development
T: 08 8375 6897
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Economic Development Coordinator
T: 08 8375 6765
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Economic Development
Coordinator
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Economic Development
Support Officer
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