October 2021

It's time to get vaccinated

Queenslanders who haven’t received their first COVID-19 vaccination yet are urged to book an appointment to get one through Queensland Health, a GP or pharmacy, or turn up at their nearest walk-in centre. People who get their first shot soon can get their second shot ahead of Queensland reaching its projected 80 per cent fully vaccinated milestone, when many border restrictions will be eased.

This message is particularly important for regions and communities that are lagging behind the current state averages - 72 per cent of eligible Queenslanders have received their first dose, with 57.4 per cent have received their second.

Business owners are encouraged to support their staff to get vaccinated. The Fair Work Ombudsman has released detailed advice for employers about vaccination of workers. This information can be found at www.coronavirus.fairwork.gov.au/

As we reach each double dose vaccination milestone it will be easier for more people to enter the state. This will mean more guests in hotels, more patrons in restaurants and cafes and more tourists visiting attractions across the state.

Find out more about Queensland’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan to Unite Families.

Have your say: Establishing a permanent Small Business Commissioner

The Small Business Commissioner Bill 2021 was introduced in Parliament earlier this month to permanently establish a Queensland Small Business Commissioner and a supporting office. Interested parties have until 5pm Thursday 28 October to have their say on the Bill. The Bill, explanatory notes and other information is available online and the Education, Employment and Training Committee will table its report on 26 November 2021, with a public hearing date to be set.

COVID support for businesses

More than $272 million paid to Queensland businesses for COVID support
With just over three weeks left until the COVID-19 Business Support Grants for businesses with staff close, more than 32,000 businesses owners across Queensland have received grants of up to $30,000 since the program opened in August.

If your business was affected by Queensland’s August lockdowns or the Queensland-New South Wales border closure and you haven’t applied for a COVID-19 Business Support Grant, check the Business Queensland’s support grants page to see if you’re eligible.

More than $272 million has already been paid to sole traders, businesses and not-for-profits affected by the Queensland lockdowns.

Businesses and not-for-profits with staff have until 16 November 2021 to apply, and sole traders without staff have until 30 November 2021 to submit an application.

Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Grant
Grants of up to $100,000 are available for a range of eligible tourism and hospitality operators facing significant financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions and interstate lockdowns.

Businesses and non-profit organisations who have applied for or received the COVID-19 Business Support Grant and/or COVID-19 Border Business Zone Hardship Grant can also apply for the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Grant, where eligible.

Find out more on the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport website.

Mentoring for Growth

Looking to grow your business and need some help?
Understanding business processes can be hard. And finding the right person to talk to can be even harder, or just too expensive. The Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program offers free and confidential mentoring sessions with business experts to help you talk through problems in your business or to help it grow.

The program has been running for nearly 20 years, with more than 250 M4G mentors across Queensland working with businesses of all industries and sizes.

M4G is a safe, no cost way of getting the help you need to overcome challenges, or to strategise growth opportunities. The mentoring session runs for 45 minutes and the information is kept confidential. It is your choice whether you take on board and implement the suggestions provided by the mentors or choose a different path. In many sessions, you can also be provided with industry contacts and introductions that you never thought possible.

Experienced M4G mentors can help you with anything related to your business and you can register for a mentoring session at any time at business.qld.gov.au/mentoring.

Events

Businesses shine in Queensland Training Awards
Queensland businesses were among the state’s top training achievers recently crowned in the 2021 Queensland Training Awards.

State winners were announced as part of a special State Final Diamond Jubilee virtual event — celebrating 60 years of the awards — on Friday 8 October.

For outstanding achievement and commitment to shaping skilled workforces, congratulations to the following organisation category winners:

• Small Employer of the Year - Core Developments NQ, North Queensland
• Medium Employer of the Year - Robinson Civil Group, Tropical North Queensland
• Large Employer of the Year - Frizelle Sunshine Automotive, South East
• Community Training Initiative of the Year - The Migrant Centre Organisation Inc., program: Migrants Matter VIII and WorkAble, South East
• Small Training Provider of the Year - The Institute of Culinary Excellence
• Large Training Provider of the Year - TAFE Queensland Premier's Industry Collaboration award winner - Queensland Water Skills Partnership.

All 14 winners feature in the 2021 winners’ video on Facebook. Read their stories on the QTA website and watch the full awards presentation on Facebook.

Show your support on social media, including in the State Final Facebook event discussion feed, keep tagging #QTA2021 and let’s cheer on our state winners going on to contest the Australian Training Awards in November. #GoTeamQLD.

Indigenous Business Month — Powering the Indigenous Economy
Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses are celebrating Indigenous Business Month with events held across the state, including a few coming up, to promote new opportunities, networking and share successes or challenges.

The Queensland Government is keen to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to get back on their feet and grow. We also want to encourage First Nations entrepreneurs to turn their ideas or side hustles into new businesses that deliver needed services or products, provide new jobs and contribute to the state’s economic development.

Small businesses encouraged to check cyber fitness
Small businesses are being encouraged to check their cyber fitness and reduce the dangers of working online during Cyber Security Awareness Month.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre Annual Cyber Threat Report 2020-21 says Queenslanders reported the highest rate of all cybercrimes in the country. Australian small businesses also made a higher number of reports than the previous year, each losing an average of almost $9000. Scamwatch covers the common threats and latest scams.

If you’re not sure how to go about checking your business’ cyber fitness, register for a free session through the Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program and work with an experienced mentor to address the cyber security elements of running a business.

Business Queensland’s cyber security for your business page brings together a range of useful information and resources or access the Australian Government’s free Cyber Security Assessment Tool.

Help for small businesses to get ready for big weather
The start of storm season is a timely reminder to ensure your small business is protected and prepared for when big weather strikes. Get Ready Small Business resources and activities are available to help business operators understand their risks and plan their responses. Steps to get ready include checking insurances, preparing workplaces and packing emergency kits. Get Ready Small Business webinars can be accessed by businesses anywhere, with expos to be held in Townsville on 3 November and Port Douglas on 10 November 2021.

To access more information about these activities as well as other resources, including the handy disaster hub app, visit the Small Business Disaster Hub online. Activities are funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and are run by Complete Business Solutions in partnership with the Small Business Recovery Centre, located in Townsville.

Get Involved

Key dates

Book your tickets now to join the Queensland Government’s 2021 White Ribbon Day Breakfast on Friday 26 November from 7am to 9am at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Keynote speaker, Legal Aid Queensland Chair, the Honourable Margaret McMurdo AC, and a panel discussion will examine critical issues and opportunities to tackle domestic and family violence. Registrations will close at 5pm on Wednesday 10 November 2021 and event proceeds will be donated to White Ribbon Australia and DV Connect.

Nominations are open for the 2022 Queensland Reconciliation Awards until 5pm Friday 3 December 2021. Winners in the business, community, education, health and wellbeing and partnership categories, along with the overall Premier’s Reconciliation Award, will be announced during National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June 2022) and share in $30,000 in prizemoney.

Nominations are open for the 2022 Queensland Greats Awards until Monday 31 January 2022. The awards recognise extraordinary Queenslanders who have made a long-term contribution to, or whose achievements have significantly impacted the history and development of Queensland.

Book your Great Queensland Getaway
Discounts and cheap air and bus tickets are available to encourage Queenslanders to see more of our fantastic state and support local hospitality and tourism businesses. Find out more at the Great Queensland Getaway page and book before the deals are sold out or the promotion ends on 6pm on 31 October.

Resources

Please continue to use the Check In Qld app across the state as you enter businesses and other venues. You can also now use the app to book a vaccination appointment or find your nearest walk-in vaccination centre.

Stay connected

For further health updates please keep checking the Queensland Government website. In addition to this message you can stay up-to-date with the latest assistance from the Queensland and Australian Governments through the Business Queensland website. You can also follow us at facebook.com/businessqldgov.