Support for business

Business Advisory Panel

Expressions of interest are now open to local business operators interested in being a part of a new Business Advisory Panel.

The Business Advisory Panel will provide advice, insight and feedback to Council on the outlook for the local economy, industry-specific challenges and opportunities, and the impacts of government policy.

The Panel will include 10 representatives from local businesses, and City of Whittlesea Administrators and Council officers. Membership to the Business Advisory Panel is voluntary and for a two-year term.

Meetings will be held six times each financial year, with meetings taking place in August, October, December, February, April and June.

The Panel will report back to Council twice a year.

Expressions of interests are open until 21 July 2014.

NEW - QR check-in requirements

QR code check in is now mandatory in ALL business settings, including all retail.

You must switch to the Victorian Government QR Service - Victorian Government QR Code Service. 

For instructions on how to switch, read register to use the Victorian Government QR Code Service.

About the Victorian Government QR Code Service https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/about-victorian-government-qr-code-service

There is now a Kiosk check-in option available to help staff record a visitor's details on the venue's device. You can set up a kiosk service online (see item 10 on the QR code website)

Find information online about QR codes in various languages.

Victorian Government financial supports

More information about the Victorian Government's Circuit Breaker Business Support Package is available online: 

Australian Government support for workers

Australians who have had their hours of work and income significantly affected due to state lockdowns, will be eligible for a temporary COVID Disaster Payment.

The rapid support will be paid weekly to those workers who reside or work in a Commonwealth declared hotspot and are therefore unable to attend work and earn an income as a result of state-imposed health restrictions, which last for greater than one week.

Eligible recipients will receive up to $500 per week for losing 20 hours or more of work, and $325 per week for losing under 20 hours. They must not have liquid assets of more than $10,000.

For full details, read the Prime Minister's statement.

COVIDSafe settings

Victoria has moved to eased circuit breaker restrictions at midnight 10 June.

More businesses are now allowed to open.

Read the Acting Premier's Statement.

How to create a COVIDSafe workplace

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/creating-a-covidsafe-workplace  

Six principles of COVIDSafe workplaces

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/six-principles-covidsafe-workplaces

COVID-safe businesses resources

Businesses need to operate in line with current restrictions

•  https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings

Businesses need a COVID safe plan 

• https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covidsafe-plan 
• QR codes https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/qr-codes-and-digital-record-keeping-contact-tracing. 

Information in community languages on how to use QR codes

• https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/checking-qr-codes#translated-materials

Free training is also available for businesses on infection control 

• https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/free-infection-control-training

Support & info is available for businesses to clean properly 

• https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-deep-clean-guidelines-pdf 

Financial and other support is available

• $450 Testing Isolation Payment https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/450-coronavirus-covid-19-test-isolation-payment 
• $1500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment if workers need to stay home https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment-victoria
• Support for business https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/financial-support-for-businesses-and-workers

Signs, posters and templates for your workplace.

• https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/signs-posters-and-templates

COVID-19 resources in other languages

• https://www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/health-safety/coronavirus-information-covid-19/your-language/
• https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/translated-information-about-coronavirus-covid-19

COVID-19 information for businesses in other languages.

• Ganacsi iyo shaqo (Business and work) - Soomaali (Somali) | Coronavirus Victoria
• الأعمال التجارية والعمل (Business and work) - العربية (Arabic) | Coronavirus Victoria
• Kinh doanh và công việc (Business and work) - tiếng Việt (Vietnamese) | Coronavirus Victoria
• 商业活动与工作 (Business and work) - 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese) | Coronavirus Victoria
• 商業活動及工作 (Business and work) - 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese) | Coronavirus Victoria
• Бизнис и работа (Business and work) - Македонски (Macedonian) | Coronavirus Victoria
• ਕਾਰੋਬਾਰ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਮ (Business and work) - ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi) | Coronavirus Victoria
• ܒܸܣܢܝܼܣܹ̈ܐ ܘܦܘܼܠܚܵܢܵܐ (Business and work) - ܐܵܬܘܿܪܵܝܵܐ ܟܲܠܕܵܝܵܐ (Assyrian) | Coronavirus Victoria
• İş ve çalışma (Business and work) - Türkçe (Turkish) | Coronavirus Victoria
• व्यवसाय और कार्य (Business and work) - हिन्दी (Hindi) | Coronavirus Victoria

COVID-19 business impacts study

We want to know how local businesses are faring as the economy starts its COVID-19 recovery.

Fill out our short survey to tell us the ongoing impacts on your business.

We can provide support to help you fill out the survey or information in languages other than English.

Fill out the survey before 30 June 2021 to go into the draw for a prize:

• 2 x Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry ‘Networker’ memberships – valued $350 each
• 1 x space in the upcoming Business Development Program  - valued $750

Vacant to Vibrant

The Vacant to Vibrant program aims to address retail vacancy issues across the municipality and its impacts on the broader retail precinct. Vacant shops create a negative perception of retail centres in the eyes of the community, shoppers and business owners. 

The Vacant to Vibrant program proposes to take empty retail space and offer it to local start-ups, social enterprises and artists, with affordable, short-term commercial leases.

Contact Economic Development on 9217 2278 or email business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

What's the future of working spaces? Tell us your thoughts.

Business resources

Visit these websites for more information on the Coronavirus and your business:

Business Victoria - call the dedicated business hotline on 13 22 15.

Business Australia (information on support for business)

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

Worksafe Victoria

Information for exporters

Workplace entitlements

Food standards 

Australian Retailers Association

Victorian Small Business Commission

Council support for business

Business support service

Council’s Business Engagement Officer can help connect businesses with a variety of support available from Local, State and Federal Government and across industry. Call 9217 2278 or email business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Mentoring

Free mentoring sessions will be provided by the Small Business Mentoring Service and Box Hill Business Enterprise Centre.

Click here to book your place.

For further information visit our events page, or email business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au

Webinars

If you missed our recent webinar series, or would like to learn more about gaining new skills or thinking for your business, you can view all the recordings on Council's YouTube channel. Recorded webinars have covered topics such as; online networking, managing cashflow, mental health, business planning, negotiating rent relief, running a home-based business, applying for grants, moving your business online, business continuity and risk planning.

Watch a Visual Marketing webinar online.

COVID-19 Hardship Policy

Our COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy provides relief to residents and businesses in the City of Whittlesea. 

You can apply online or contact our Business support team on 9217 2278 or email business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au