Further information from Ausindustry re grants and other business opportunities

Hi All

Here is our summer version of our newsletter Ausindustry Regional Managers News January 2012

just a few key points of note

• TCF Small Business Program – closing 24.2.12
• Clean Technology Investment and Innovation Programs – Register your interest
• Changes to Commercialisation Australia
• Wage Connect Subsidy

If you would like to contact us regarding any of the above or you have any questions regarding any of AusIndustry programs, please phone: (02) 40 145 977

Regards

Jo Fisher

Regional Manager

Central Coast, Hunter & North Coast

AusIndustry

Tel: +61 2 40 145 977 | Mob: 0410 221 708 | Fax: +61 2 603 847

jo.fisher@innovation.gov.au

_______________________________________________________________

Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education

IDC – Hunter, Level 1

University Drive, Callaghan NSW 2308

PO Box 189, Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310

Hotline: 13 28 46 | hotline@ausindustry.gov.au

www.ausindustry.gov.au

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Online Newsletter: AusFocus

ABN 74 599 608 295

From January 1, 2012 you may be eligible to receive around $5700 for each new employee, or around $220 per week (pre-GST), to subsidise the costs of wages and training for the first six months your eligible employee is in the job.

Please see pdf for full details Wage Connect Subsidy flyer

http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/newlegislation2012/Pages/default.aspx . There are links to fact sheets, webinars, a PowerPoint presentation and publications at this site.

Beverley Jackson, Business Advisory Officer, Business Assistance Branch WorkCover NSW, also recommends that members subscribe to the free eNews for updates.

The programmes include:

Federal Govt:

Enterprise Connect

Enterprise Connect is designed to make a difference to eligible Australian small and medium business by connecting them to comprehensive independent business advice, tailored advisory services and a network of resources that draws together cutting edge technology, knowledge and business practices

For more information: Hotline 1322 56

Commercialisation Australia

Is a competive merit-based assistance programme offering funding and resources to accelerate the business building process for Australian companies, entrepreneurs and inventors

For more information : www.commercialisationaustralia.gov.au

Clean Technology Investment Program

The program will provide assistance to help manufactures make the transition to a low carbon economy and assist business to move into less emissions-intensive and more energy efficient production process.

For more information: Call 1328 46 or email hotline@austindustry.gov.au

Other Federal Government Services : R& D Tax incentive, Import and export incentives, Small business support line, Small business advisory service, LPG vehicle Scheme, Venture Capital programmers.

For more information: www.ausindustry.gov.au, call 13 28 46 or hotline@ausindustry.gov.au

TAFE

Help for Mature Age Workers

This programme is design to assist mature age employees [50plus] with trade experience but no formal qualifications. The scheme allows for their skills to be assessed for their existing competences and training for any gaps to help them get their skills formally recognised. Financial assistance is also available.

For more information: www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/Programs?ExpPlus?MoreHelpforMatureAgeWorkers

State Govt

The Job Action Plans

Designed to give businesses an incentive to employ new workers and expand their enterprises though a payroll tax rebate.

For more information: www.osr.nsw.gov.au

Stuart Allardice

Manager Economic Development and Tourism

Bellingen Shire Council

PO Box 117

Bellingen NSW 2454

Mob:0428670357

Ph:02 6655 7306

Fax:66552310

Email:sallardice@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

” It is not the strongest of the species that survive,nor the most intelligent,but the one most responsive to change” Charles Darwin.

Hello -

The Capacity Building Initiative is a free mentored fundraising program for non-profits wanting to raise their abilities and increase philanthropic funding results. All applicants approved to take part are awarded a grant by The Pratt Foundation.

Applications are opening later this month. Would you please inform any charities important to you, and who may benefit from better fundraising results, that they can apply if they wish?

Applications can be received by going to the website at www.capacitybuilding.com.au and then going to the Application Process page.

Feel free to contact me with any questions and thanks a lot for helping get the word out to non-profits.

Paul Leventhal, Program Presenter

The Capacity Building Initiative

inquiries@capacitybuilding.com.au

mob: 0415 272 642

See attached pdfs ACN Invitation ACN Presentation

See newsletter here

Hi all,

During the Regional Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie on Friday 18th November, Dr Tim Williams launched the Mid North Coast Regional Digital Strategy. Details on the strategy are available below.

RDA Mid North Coast are seeking feedback on the strategy and are asking the community to provide comments by 16th December 2011.

Please utilise the information and links below to consider what this strategy means to you and have your say.

The opportunity to provide feedback is open to all in the community, so please feel free to forward this email to those you consider might be interested or have something to contribute.

My apologies to those who may have already received this.

Thanks and regards

Mark Almond

Employment Project Coordinator

Building Australia’s Future Workforce – Mid North Coast Region

Australian Government Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

3rd Floor, 3 Hopetoun Street (PO Box 627) CHARLESTOWN NSW 2290

Phone–(02) 4940 1707 Mobile-0412 834 590 Fax-(02) 6204 2368

As part of RDA Mid North Coast’s commitment to ensuring that our region is broadband ready, “Making Connections, Filling the Gaps – Towards a Digital Region” is the first regional digital strategy in the country and was launched at the Strategic Regional Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie.

RDA Mid North Coast commissioned Dr Tim Williams to prepare a strategy that provides direction for stakeholders and communities of the Mid North Coast to leverage the competitive advantage that currently exists within our region. Dr Williams has produced a highly relevant and exciting strategy for all tiers of government, education/health providers, SME’s and communities of the Mid North Coast to benefit from.

The aim of the strategy is to exploit three key linked opportunities in the region that comprise;

• The advent of high speed broadband
• The fast-growing shift to online public services and engagement with citizens at local government, federal and state level
• The emergence of a digital economy and clusters of manufacturing, creative, health and knowledge based industries in the region.

The strategy is open for comment until Friday 16 December 2011. Comments will be collated and published as an appendix. We look forward to your comments and your willingness to identify how you may assist in the creation of a digital region on the Mid North Coast.

Download the strategy here

Below is the latest HR Coach Research Institute Quarterly Index dashboard report. If you have any questions, comments or needs you want to discuss, just reply to email below.

Current Release_HRC Quarterly Index Oct 11

Ph. 0447 647 828

Fax. 02 6655 9100

andrew@humanhand.com.au

http://humanhand.com.au

INAUGURAL CHAMBERS DAY FOR THE MID NORTH COAST REGION 14TH NOVEMBER 2011

On Monday I attended the meeting on behalf of our Chamber.

Representatives from Coff’s Harbour, Port Macquarie and Kempsey were also present.

Two guest speakers gave presentations- Chris Denny from Observatory Managed Apartments and Daniel Jordan from Joyer Consulting.

Chris explored the idea of what is meant by good customer service and the importance of the customer experience, suggesting that this is a guiding principle that should be incorporated into every facet of the business’s operation. He has developed an impressive array of strategies in an attempt to quantify to what extent customers expectations are met and identify where improvements could be made.

We had a brief discussion on sustainability. He saw it first and foremost as a marketing tool and was certainly not ideologically driven. To be able to claim to be carbon neutral would entail the purchase of carbon offsets and I was left with the impression that he was not quite sure whether it was worth it!

I suspect that claims of carbon neutrality might get a bit clichéd before too long.

Daniel Jordan provided an oversight of the various components of social media and how they could be best utilised in marketing and promotion. He stressed the importance of setting clear goals for what you want to achieve and identifying the avenue that would best reach your target market.

There are apparently 17,000 facebook users within 80 kms of Port Macquarie

That done we moved on to an open discussion of the development of the alliance of chambers on the mid north coast and how it could best benefit individual members.

I believe there are real benefits in being associated with a larger organisation. Apart from the obvious strength in numbers, the State Chamber website provides a valuable resource where you can access a wide range of advice and information on many aspects of small business operation.

If you’ve got a problem you can be sure someone else out there is having the same difficulties.

If you haven’t already checked out the NSW Chamber of Commerce website have a look at the home page to see what’s on offer. (NSW Business Chamber)

One of the primary functions of the State Chamber is to lobby for members. Whilst local issues (trouble with councils etc.) are best dealt with by the responsible chamber, they will take up issues with the relevant politicians that are seen to be of regional/state significance.

Finally we discussed the relevance of a regional meeting and all present agreed it was a useful exercise. Port Macquarie is prepared to continue to host, and pay for, the meetings.

Initially suggested that they should be annual but I think they should be at least every 6 months to maintain traction.