SER Connections Newsletter - February 2023

Welcome to the February edition of the South East Region Department of Employment, Small Business and Training Connections.

Our Connections newsletter provides stakeholders with updated information and links to programs and initiatives relevant to our region.

This month there are opportunities to participate in and forward information to your networks including:

• Gaining your input through the Small Business Survey (closing date 24 February)
• Sharing information on Government Procurement processes and how to secure contracts (24 February)
• Gaining recognition for you or your staff through the Queensland Training Awards (nominations closing 15 March)

More information can be found through the links below.

There are also a number of webinars available including:

• QTIC Discussing changes to the Fair Work Act
• GCCC Grant writing Information Session
• M4G Ask a Mentor: Applying and pitching for Government grants
• State Development Webinars – Top Ten Tendering Tips, Capability Statement

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding applications close on 30 March.  We have conducted information sessions across the region this month but if you want to know more, please contact SQW.SER@desbt.qld.gov.au.

Our regional team look forward to connecting with you throughout the year through established working groups, events and other interactions.  Please reach out to us if you think we may be able to assist in the areas of employment, small business or training.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to your networks.

Tara Gaudry
Acting Regional Director, South East Region 
Department of Employment, Small Business and Training

P: 1800 210 210  E: southtraining@desbt.qld.gov.au  W: desbt.qld.gov.au 

We need your help in reaching small businesses!

DESBT is currently running a survey – open to all small business owners across Queensland – to understand their goals, challenges, how they get their information and what they need to help them thrive. This information will help inform development of a new small business strategy later this year.

We need your help in promoting the survey and encouraging your local small business owners and operators to complete the survey.

The key points:

• The survey closes 24 February 2023.
• Complete the survey at: www.business.qld.gov.au/smallbizsurvey
• There’s a suite of communication resources you can use to promote the survey (including social and newsletter content, flyer, post card and an email signature banner.

Check out the Small Business Survey Promotional Kit: http://web.dtesb.qld.gov.au/cn/ainos/smallbizsurvey

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Jan Hassed in Strategic Policy on jan.hassed@desbt.qld.gov.au.

Thanks for your support!

One of the biggest challenges for startups is navigating their way through government procurement and securing contracts. Presented by Advance Queensland, Insights and how-tos of Queensland Government procurement will explore how to enable more of Queensland's innovation businesses to secure government contracts and standing offer agreements.

Our panel of procurement leaders and advisors, alongside founders who have secured government contracts, will guide you through how to engage with government decision-makers, provide practical advice on how to get procurement ready and how to find opportunities and respond to tenders. Our goal is to have your startup opening the right door to government, at the right time

Date and time
Friday 24 February 2023, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm AEST

Location
The Precinct 315 Brunswick Street #Level 2 Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006

Queensland businesses — small, medium or large — that have used vocational education and training to improve their operations and support staff retention and career development can now nominate for the 2023 Queensland Training Awards.

Taking the time to assess the positive impact your training plans have on your business can be a valuable experience on its own, but submitting a nomination will put you in the running for regional, state and maybe even national recognition for your efforts and achievements.

There are also 11 other QTA categories. So if you employ an eligible apprentice, trainee, vocational student or a teacher or trainer you could nominate them to recognise their hard work. There are also categories for community training initiatives, training providers and industry collaboration projects, so please help us spread the word.

There are five easy steps to submit a nomination. Start here and note nominations will close at midnight, Wednesday 15 March 2023.Find out more about the awards at About the awards.

Our regional QTA coordinator Glenn Ayrton would be happy to assist you on email: SERegion.QTA@desbt.qld.gov.au

Recently, the Federal Government passed the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Secure Jobs, Better Pay) Act 2022, which resulted in several significant changes to workplace law. 

To provide industry with clarity, we've partnered with K&L Gates to deliver a webinar outlining major changes to the Act and implications for employers and employees in the tourism sector. 

The webinar will feature K&L Gates Partner, Alanna Fitzpatrick and Special Counsel, Carly Traeger, discussing topics covering: minimum wage and award conditions for the tourism sector; working arrangements for casual and seasonal staff and the impact of changes in the enterprise bargaining system impacting tourism and hospitality employers.

While the webinar is complimentary for QTIC Members, we invite all those connected with tourism to register and join us Thursday 9 March from 12-1pm as we discuss these important workplace changes.

Learn about grants and philanthropy, get the basics on researching and planning your grant application, work on a simple grants template and develop skills to write a grant application.

Question time will be available at the end of the presentation.

Date and time
Tuesday 28 February 2023
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm AEST

Location
Ormeau Community Centre
3 Cuthbert Drive, Ormeau

Grant programs can be very competitive, may become available at any given time and can open and close quickly. It's essential that you are fully prepared and organised so you can apply and pitch for funding opportunities.

Applying for grants takes time and effort. By understanding the entire grant funding process and being completely prepared, you will be grant-ready and may improve your chances of securing funding.

Panellists from the Mentoring for Growth (M4G) program will provide you with free information on grant writing and pitching.

Webinar - Ask a Mentor: Applying and pitching for goverment grants

Date: 27 February 2023

Time: 9:00am to 9:45am

Location: Online webinar

Cost: Free

Top Ten Tendering Tips – 11:00am-12:00pm, Thur 16 March

Tendering - Top Ten Tips Webinar (SEQ South) Tickets, Thu 16/03/2023 at 11:00 am | Eventbrite

 

Capability Statement Webinar – 11:00am-12:00pm, Thur 20 April

Capability Statement Webinar Tickets, Thu 20/04/2023 at 11:00 am | Eventbrite

Brisbane 2032 will be a Games for all Queenslanders – from business and trade opportunities to the sporting events themselves, the positive legacy of Brisbane 2032 will be felt state-wide.

Brisbane 2032 Legacy Plan Hopes and Dreams Survey
Incredible things will happen because we’re hosting the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Hosting Brisbane 2032 is an opportunity to deliver lasting benefits to Queensland and Australia over the next 20 years – 10 years to the Games and 10 years after.

The Brisbane 2032 Legacy Plan will define how we take advantage of the Olympic and Paralympic Games platform over a 10+10+ year period to drive opportunities that ensure lasting benefits before, during and after the Games.

Some benefits could be delivered before 2032 so we can enjoy them early. Other benefits will continue to be delivered for 10 years after the Games.

Either way, we want to deliver real benefits for people living in Brisbane, South East Queensland, Queensland, Australia and Oceania.

The survey closes on 3 March 2023

Have a specific question or business need? 

Want to subscribe to our regional newsletter?
Email your query/request to southtraining@desbt.qld.gov.au and an officer will be in touch.