RDASI Newsletter - March 2022
A message from the CEO
Following on from the devastating floods the last few weeks we all must be diligent about staying safe and preparing for all weather eventualities. I was watching an SES report last week and one of the key tips was to never drive through flood water. If you find yourself needing help, contact the SES or if your situation is life-threatening, then please dial 000.
Despite the deluge, we have some exciting things going on at RDASI. At the beginning of the month Rowena Abbey, our Chair and I were in Sydney engaging with the State Government as part of an NSW RDA’s initiative to build stronger relationships with our government counterparts. The Hon. Paul Toole MP, the Deputy Premier addressed our meeting sharing some interesting insights into the State Government strategy on recovery post covid. We then attended a lunch with various Ministers and lead bureaucrats which both Rowena and I felt was exceptionally positive. We applaud the work of the State Government during these last very challenging years and look forward to working with them more closely in developing the future of regional NSW.
At RDASI’s last Board meeting, it was decided to launch a pilot to expand RDA Riverina’s Grow Our Own program into the Southern Inland. This project encourages senior school kids and JobSeekers to consider local employment, education and training opportunities by giving them a ‘taste’ of what our amazing region has on offer. Excursions into our partner employers and training services providers will be taking place over the next few months. The outcomes for the program are to keep our local talent local and create a skills funnel for our industry partners. If you are an employer or JobSeeker interested in participating, please get in contact with us at admin@rdasi.org.au.
Small Business Month kicked off in March and with it our grants guru, Phil Gibson is hosting a number of targeted grant writing workshops throughout the month. RDASI can assist businesses and community organisations with their project development and grant writing, so please contact Phil at grants@rdasi.org.au for any grant assistance that you may need.
Last week it was International Women’s Day and we were delighted to hold our annual lunch at the Royal Hotel in Queanbeyan to celebrate the incredible female talent we have in the Southern Inland. I hosted a panel discussion with four incredible local women, who’ve all smashed the glass ceiling in their careers. They included our very own Chair, Rowena Abbey, Allison Harker, Chair of NSW Local Land Services, May Ngui, Principal and Regional General Manager of GHD and Georgie Kelly, Livestock Manager at Rugby Station. $10 from each ticket sold was donated to Dignity, a local charity assisting homelessness.
Flood Disaster Assistance Available
Individuals and councils impacted by the flood events in NSW can access the first round of immediate NSW Government support through Service NSW.
For assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-assistance
The following assistance is available for those impacted by the floods:
Individuals
A Disaster Relief Grant to assist low-income earners faced with disaster hardship who have suffered damage to the structure or contents of their home.
Personal and financial counselling.
Assistance finding temporary housing for those who have been forced from their homes.
Small business, primary production and not-for profit organisation support
Small business and primary producers’ concessional loans of up to $130,000.
Concessional interest rate loans for not-for-profits.
Freight subsidies of up to 50% for primary producers.
Councils
Assistance with operational costs and the restoration of essential public assets.
Free Workshops on Tendering for Government Work
It's not too late to join the NSW Small Business Commission and TAFE NSW in their free online workshop on Wednesday 23rd March at 6pm – 8pm, for small businesses wanting to learn how to tender for NSW Government work. This workshop will help you gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to tender for government work and can also help businesses in tendering for private sector contracts.
Click here to register.
RDA Southern Inland Free Grants Workshops
As a part of NSW Small Business Month in March 2022, RDA Southern Inland are conducting a series of seven virtual grants workshops, specific to each LGA within our region.
Funded by the NSW Government, the one-hour workshops are designed to empower small businesses to prepare for, find and apply for grants to turn small business ideas into reality.
By attending the workshops, participants will learn and understand:
How grants operate and how to be business ready to apply for grants
How to identify and select the right grant
How to go prepare project plans and write grant submissions
Who you can consult with locally for support
If you are unable to attend the full session, you are still encouraged to register to ensure you receive a recording after the event.
The following workshops are coming up in your area. Click on the workshop to register:
Yass Valley Grants Workshop – Wednesday March 16th 3.00pm
Queanbeyan-Palerang Grants Workshop – Tuesday March 22nd 3.00pm
Upper Lachlan Grants Workshop – Thursday March 24th 3.00pm
Snowy Monaro Grants Workshop – Tuesday March 29th 3.00pm
For further information on local grant assistance in the Goulburn Mulwaree, Wingecarribee and Hilltops areas, and to receive a recording of the session, please contact contact Phil at grants@rdasi.org.au.
Register Now for a Small Business Month Event
Hundreds of events are still open for registration as part of NSW Small Business Month in March. This year's theme is Rebuild, Recharge, Renew, as event organisers focus on helping small businesses recover from their recent challenges and discover better ways of doing business and achieve greater success.
Events are being held across NSW, both in-person and online, and most events are free. To browse the events available and register your attendance, head to the NSW Small Business Month website.
Regional Telecommunications Review
The Regional Telecommunications Review is an opportunity for people living and working in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia to share their views and experiences using telecommunications services in their area.
Every three years a Committee is appointed to conduct a review and provide a report that is important in setting the regional communications policy agenda in the following years. Regional Development Australia Southern Inland are proud to have made one of over 650 written submissions provided to the Committee.
The Australian Government is currently considering the findings and recommendations of the Committee's report and will provide its formal response to the Review shortly. Click here to read more.
Applications for Round 6 of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships Now Open
Round 6 of the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships (RRES) program, helping Australians in regional and remote areas to access higher education are now open.
The program supports people studying from Certificate IV through to PhD level and offers scholarships that support flexible study arrangements and are available to the eligible students:
commencing a new course of study in 2022
studying on campus, online or via distance education
studying from six months full-time up to eight years part-time
Eligible students may receive up to $18,000 each (e.g. for a full-time, four-year qualification). Shorter, part-time qualifications are paid on a pro rata basis. An extra $500 is also available to support an internship. Click here to learn more or apply.
Fee-Free RSA Training
The NSW Government is currently funding 10,000 Responsible Service of Alcohol courses across NSW for those aged 17 and above.
Enrolments are now open until 30 April 2022. Training must be completed by 30 June 2022. To view eligibility requirements and to apply, visit Skills NSW .
Expanded Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate
The NSW Government has increased the Small Business Fees and Charges rebate from $2,000 to $3,000. Eligible employing businesses will also be able to use the rebate against 50% of the cost of rapid antigen tests from late March.
To view the full range of fees and charges eligible or to apply for the rebate, visit Service NSW here.
Financial Support for Those Unable to Work Due to COVID
Weekly payments are still available to individuals, including business owners and operators, who can’t earn an income because they are COVID positive or are ordered to isolate by authorities.
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment helps those who can’t earn an income because they have been directed by a State health official (or approved contact tracer) to self-isolate or quarantine, and they don’t have access to any special paid leave.
Horizons Leadership Program International Engagement
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in partnership with The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) are seeking applicants from regional and rural shire councils, chambers of commerce and economic development organisations to participate in a leadership program designed to better inform participants about the benefits to regional Australia from international trade, foreign direct investment (FDI) and international tourism.
The program consists of six interactive webinars and workshops will run from 29 April to 15 July 2022 and is open to early to mid-career applicants who are working in economic/growth roles within regional and rural organisations.
Click here to learn more.
International Trends in Economic Development
Registrations are now open to take the opportunity to hear about the latest trends in economic development from overseas. Join Economic Development Australia (EDA) and hear from leading economic development practitioners from the United States and New Zealand including Kenny McDonald, President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership (and former IEDC Chairman) and Fiona Wilson, CEO of the Nelson Regional Development Agency.
This interactive panel discussion will address how COVID-19 has changed how economic development is done in these countries, how these markets have adjusted and changed as well as the latest trends in the US and NZ for economic development.
Free for EDA members and only $30 for non-members.
NSW Going Global Program | Wine to the USA
The NSW Going Global Wine to the USA stream is now open. For this stream, Investment NSW are partnering with Wine Australia on their US Market Entry Program 2022-23. The program costs AU$12,500 (ex GST) per winery, and the NSW Government will contribute AU$6,250 (ex GST) per winery. Selected wineries must contribute AU$6,250 (ex GST) to Wine Australia.
Activities include:
delivering a customised business plan and market strategy
sending wine samples to the US for review and distribution upon customer interest
collaborating with importer brokers, media outlets, and trade and media contacts
identifying and targeting suitable import and distribution partners, and facilitating subsequent meetings
assessing the company’s route to market options.
receiving support in communications, marketing, import logistics and trade outreach to assist entry-to-market and brand exposure.
Please refer to the Investment NSW website for more information including eligibility requirements and to the Wine Australia EOI page for learning objectives and outcomes.
The information session can be viewed here: https://conversations.australianwine.com/wine-australia/Introduction-to-US-Market-Entry.
Expressions of Interest close 1 April 2022.
Applications open: Closing the Gap -Strengthening Community Capability Grants
Applications are open for the NSW Government’s Closing the Gap grants scheme for Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and Aboriginal businesses.
The Closing the Gap Strengthening Business Capacity Program aims to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and NSW Government to work together to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians. This will lead to improved employment outcomes, increased business growth and greater economic prosperity for Aboriginal people in NSW.
Grants are available via two streams:
Stream 1 – Strengthening Capacity – Up to $50,000;
Stream 2 – Grow and Expand – Up to $200,000.
For guidelines and further information, go to Aboriginal Affairs NSW – Grants. Applications close on Friday, 25 March 2022.
Driving the Future – SHASA EV webinar
The South Coast Health and Sustainability Alliance (SHASA) invites you to a FREE webinar on “Electric Vehicles – Driving the Future”, funded by the NSW Government as part of Small Business Month 2022.
Hear from industry leaders how electric vehicles are the future of travel, and what incentives and tax benefits are being introduced by the NSW Government to encourage uptake in the business community to save money and the environment.
Webinar will be held on Tuesday, 22 March at 6:00 – 7:00pm. Click here to register.
Create a One Page Business Plan
This webinar will give you the time and space to do some planning for the future - where do you want to go, and how are you going to get there?
You will identify activities you need to be doing to get your business from where it is now to where you want it to be, and you will take away your one-page business plan.
You will learn:
the importance of having a direction and a plan for your business;
techniques to develop simple and effective business strategies;
customer-focused marketing tools.
