Supporting your Business
The Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce is here to support your business! We have access to a range of services and expert advice to help you thrive. Below are some helpful links to get you started. Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out to us – we're here to help!
This project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through its Growing Workforce Participation Fund.
Employment
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Information and support for Queensland employers to hire jobseekers and manage their workforce
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WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA Get personalised help to find and hire your next staff member.
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Our functions outline the responsibilities we have as set by the Fair Work Act 2009 to achieve our purpose:
provide education, assistance, advice and guidance to employers, employees, outworkers, outworker entities and organisations
promote and monitor compliance with workplace laws
inquire into and investigate breaches of the Fair Work Act
take appropriate enforcement action
perform our statutory functions efficiently, effectively, economically and ethically.
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Awards (modern awards) are legal documents that outline the minimum pay rates and conditions of employment.
There are more than 100 industry or occupation awards that cover most people who work in Australia.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND Satisfied and engaged employees are more committed and connected to their roles, their teams and your business. Keeping these productive and engaged staff is especially important in a competitive and challenging recruiting environment.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND Human resources (HR) policies and procedures are essential for your workplace. There are laws related to employment and employees that you must understand and comply with. Establish official policies to help ensure you meet legal requirements, reduce risks and protect yourself and your business.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND Many business owners find that the daily demands of running a business keep them from properly evaluating and managing their employees' performance. However, making the time to review employee performance and give regular feedback, can help you achieve your business goals and grow a strong, loyal and effective team.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND Many business owners worry about having to persuade employees to accept new ways of doing business. But many employees welcome change if they understand the reasons and the implications, and are involved in the process. A good change management process can improve your business while retaining your key employees.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND The way your business handles conflict can have a big impact on your profits, as well as staff productivity and morale. Good management practices can help you avoid unnecessary conflict and deal with inevitable conflict in an effective and professional manner.
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BUSINESS QUEENSLAND Develop and manage flexible working arrangements that meet your legal obligations, benefit your employees and help your business succeed.
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Workforce Planning Connect is a suite of materials designed to support employers access the skills and workforce they need.
You can choose the resources that work best for your business size:
The Workbook has been developed with micro to small businesses in mind.
The Toolkit and templates have been developed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind.
Whatever resource you choose, you can follow the steps to begin your workforce planning journey.
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Unlock Your Business's Potential with Our Free HR & Workforce Series. Developed for small businesses, these 6 online courses cover crucial topics like employee retention, effective recruitment, practical HR tips, people management, cultural awareness, and strategic workforce planning. Proudly supported by the Queensland Government through the Growing Workforce Participation Fund. Enroll for free!
Short courses
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Our local business community is diverse and strong, but we can always learn from others on how to improve. This booklet contains information that can assist you in building a better understanding of how to attract and retain a great team. There are also case studies from our local area on how others are doing it.
Industry Workforce Advisors
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Kym Wessling
Industry Workforce Advisor
Queensland Farmers' Federation Ltd
Email: kym@qff.org.au
Mobile: 0427 576 602 -
Kelvin Millar
Industry Workforce Advisor
Motor Trades Association of Queensland
Email: kelvinm@mtaq.com.au
Mobile: 0413 151 622 -
Eleanor Crosby
Industry Workforce Advisor
Australian Computer Society
Email: eleanor.crosby@acs.org.au
Mobile: 0448 901 376 -
Stuart Coward
Industry Workforce Advisor
CheckUP Australia
Email: scoward@checkup.org.au
Phone: 0435 869 609 -
Industry Workforce Advisor
Energy Skills Queensland
Email: info@energyskillsqld.com.au
Mobile: (07) 3721 8800 -
Andy Legg
Industry Workforce Advisor
CheckUP Australia
Email: alegg@checkup.org.au
Mobile: 0498 801 004 -
Jamie Brown
Industry Workforce Advisor
CheckUP Australia
Email: jbrown@checkup.org.au
Mobile: 0406 016 566 -
Tina Pholi
Industry Workforce Advisor
Manufacturing Skills Queensland
Email: tina.pholi@msq.org.au
Phone: 0438 712 508 -
Tina Pholi
Victoria Hansen
Industry Workforce Advisor
National Retail Association
Email: v.hansen@nationalretail.org.au
Mobile: 0403 467 859 -
Adam Stephen
Industry Workforce Advisor
Queensland Tourism Industry Council
Email: adam.stephen@qtic.com.au
Mobile: 0431 229 131 -
Angela Mottram
Industry Workforce Advisor
Queensland Trucking Association Ltd
Email: angela@qta.com.au
Mobile: 0401 712 516
Mentors
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A business plan details how you will handle all the important aspects of your business. It identifies where you are, where you want to be, and how to get there. It is a 'living document' that will grow and change with you and your ideas.
If you are starting a new business, your business plan will help you get your idea off the ground. It will also allow you to make the most of new opportunities and identify potential risks and act before problems occur.
Most plans include information on market research, marketing, legal and risk management, operational planning, human resources and financial planning.
Planning is one of the most important things you can do to make your business successful—whether you are starting, running, expanding or exiting a business.
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Small businesses often rely on the skills and experience of a small number of employees.
A key element of a successful business is having the right people, with the right skills, in the right roles, at the right time and at the right cost. If any of these employees resign or retire it can be costly and could result in the loss of key business skills and knowledge.
You can combat this by having an effective workforce plan in place—which can help you to understand the staff and skills you need in your business, hire the right people, manage and retain your staff and meet your legal obligations.
Workforce planning can help your business:
respond quickly to change
be more effective and productive
reduce employee turnover by increasing job satisfaction and engagement
retain positive and motivated employees
do more successful recruitment
reduce skills shortages
identify staff training and development needs.
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Setting up and managing finances is essential to the success of any small business. Having a clear understanding of your numbers will enable you to make strong and informed decisions and in turn, will help grow your business.
Many small business owners often wonder 'why isn't there any money in the bank, as I know I am making a profit?' There is a big difference between cashflow and profit. Understanding these 2 concepts will help to make any small business owner more successful.
Creating a plan which includes financial forecasts, budgets, and efficient processes, from the beginning, will provide visibility over your finances and will help with stability and growth into the future.
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Grant programs can be very competitive. It's essential that you are fully prepared and organised so you can apply and pitch for funding opportunities.
Remember, 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.
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Choosing the right person for the right position is integral to the success of any business. A new employee should not only be able to fit cohesively within a team but should also enhance the business by bringing in new skills and abilities.
A well-planned recruitment process includes:
understanding the business needs
compiling position descriptions
identifying the selection criteria
shortlisting
interviewing
undertaking reference checks
onboarding.
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Having an effective marketing strategy and plan will deliver significant benefits to your business and will set the foundations for growth. It will help to:
keep your marketing efforts focused
connect with the right customers
make the most of your investment
measure and improve your results.
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As an employer, you have several legal responsibilities you must meet. These include obligations regarding workplace health and safety, employee entitlements and awards, and tax.
You will also need to develop and maintain a culture, encourage professional development and provide a safe working environment.
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In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. By understanding digital marketing and social media, businesses can better connect with their target audience, increase brand visibility, and ultimately drive sales and revenue.
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For small business owners, SEO (search engine optimisation), website design and e-commerce are interconnected and pivotal for establishing a strong online presence, attracting customers, and driving business growth. It's essential to invest time, effort, and resources into these areas to maximize their benefits and stay competitive in the digital marketplace.
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Chatbots are AI-powered virtual assistants that stimulate human conversations and interactions. They are reshaping business dynamics and the environment in which we operate.
Chatbots and other AI assistants can be helpful business tools that can assist with customer interactions, automation, drafting content, collecting feedback, brainstorming and web optimization.
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Cybersecurity is the tools and techniques applied to IT data and systems to protect them from breaches and attacks while safeguarding sensitive data and intellectual property. Cybersecurity should be a priority for all business owners.
By prioritising cybersecurity, a business can develop trust amongst customers and partners and grow resilience in an ever-increasing digital business world.
Education & Training
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Succeed in achieving new skills and accreditation close to home with GTT’s quality responsive short courses.
At GTT, we source highly experienced trainers who work with you to teach you the skills and knowledge you need for work, home or community.
We regularly deliver training at our offices in Goondiwindi, Warwick and
St George. Plus, if you have a group of employees, volunteers or even friends interested in hosting training in your community, we can bring the training to you. -
Looking for skills and knowledge to grow your business or professional career? Or for community-building events that offer heaps of opportunities to network with local creatives and entrepreneurs?
Check out all of the upcoming business events in your area offered by Regional Business HQ
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The career of your dreams is within reach thanks to Fee-Free TAFE funding. Feel confident for what comes next, knowing you’re job ready with the industry-relevant skills employers are looking for.
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Digital Skills Hub
Thousands of FREE digital training courses are just a click away.
Digital technology touches every aspect of business, professional and personal lives. It has changed, and will continue to change, the way we work and live. For business to survive and thrive in this ever-changing digital landscape, it is vital to stay up-to-date.
At Business Chamber Queensland we know business matters. And we know that that what matters to business is staying relevant through ongoing learning. Our Digital Skills Hub opens a world of possibilities by giving you free access to thousands of training courses – from the Basics to an Introduction to Digital Marketing to understanding SEO to Demystifying ChatGPT, and everything in between. The courses are available to your employees too and can be undertaken at any time of the day that is best for you, 7 days a week.
Business Support Services
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With the right skills, it is possible for any individual or business to turn your aspirations into reality. As a leading provider of practical training solutions, TAFE Queensland is here to champion skills development for better business.
Business mentors
Collaborative workshops
One-on-one mentoring
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Making it easier to start, run and grow your business
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Business Chamber QLD help businesses prosper by supporting, educating and empowering them to capitalise on the extraordinary opportunities on offer in Queensland - now and into the future.
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Our Financial Counsellors can help you work through your business’s money problems and get your finances back under control. To be eligible, your business needs to be experiencing or at risk of financial hardship. So get in touch if any of the following apply to your business:
difficulty paying bills
troubles meeting loan repayments
behind on rent
activity statement payment overdue
suppliers chasing your business for money
facing legal action for debts.
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We support metro and regional small business owners who are experiencing mental health or emotional wellbeing stress. Our Business Wellness Coaches can help with stress from many areas of your lives, such as stress from your business, or other challenges including personal, relationship or health issues.
Sit down and have a chat with a locally-based Business Wellness Coach and work through your unique, personal business challenges, needs and opportunities in an understanding environment.
Our Business Wellness Coaches are qualified mental health and wellbeing professionals with a background in business. So you can be assured you’re talking with someone who can help you ‘take the next right step’.
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Workforce Planning Connect is a suite of materials designed to support employers access the skills and workforce they need.
You can choose the resources that work best for your business size:
The Workbook has been developed with micro to small businesses in mind.
The Toolkit and templates have been developed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind.
Whatever resource you choose, you can follow the steps to begin your workforce planning journey.
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Living or working in rural, regional or remote Australia and need help with phone or internet connectivity?
The Regional tech hub offers free independent advice and support to people who live and work in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia to realise the benefits of being digitally connected. Finding the service that is right for individuals, families and business, regardless of where people live covering technologies such as fixed wireless, satellite and fixed line internet services.
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Business Advisor & Workshops
Connect with our Regional Business HQ team to access business support ranging from general advice about starting and running a business to tailored mentoring and assistance. Helping people to understand what is required to start or grow a small business, develop a marketing strategy, understand cash flow and develop a budget are just some of the services that our advisors can offer.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
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The Energy Southern Queensland (EnergySQ) program will help you understand and manage your on-farm energy consumption, and identify ways to reduce your energy spend and carbon footprint. Any farms in the Southern Downs, Western Downs, Toowoomba, Goondiwindi, Lockyer Valley and Scenic Rim regional council areas can participate. You can either participate individually or in a ‘cluster’ of farms in your local area.
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ecoBiz is a free sustainability program, created in partnership with the Queensland Government, to help businesses audit their resource use, manage carbon emissions and save on costs while reducing consumption of waste, water and energy.
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To help employers address the labour shortage, we’re proud to deliver Workforce Evolve, an e-learning program funded by the Queensland Government designed by business for business.
Transform your approach to attracting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce now and into the future with Workforce Evolve.
Tools
Starting a new business
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With the right skills, it is possible for any individual or business to turn your aspirations into reality. As a leading provider of practical training solutions, TAFE Queensland is here to champion skills development for better business.
Business mentors
Collaborative workshops
One-on-one mentoring
-
Making it easier to start, run and grow your business
-
Business Chamber QLD help businesses prosper by supporting, educating and empowering them to capitalise on the extraordinary opportunities on offer in Queensland - now and into the future.
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Our Financial Counsellors can help you work through your business’s money problems and get your finances back under control. To be eligible, your business needs to be experiencing or at risk of financial hardship. So get in touch if any of the following apply to your business:
difficulty paying bills
troubles meeting loan repayments
behind on rent
activity statement payment overdue
suppliers chasing your business for money
facing legal action for debts.
-
We support metro and regional small business owners who are experiencing mental health or emotional wellbeing stress. Our Business Wellness Coaches can help with stress from many areas of your lives, such as stress from your business, or other challenges including personal, relationship or health issues.
Sit down and have a chat with a locally-based Business Wellness Coach and work through your unique, personal business challenges, needs and opportunities in an understanding environment.
Our Business Wellness Coaches are qualified mental health and wellbeing professionals with a background in business. So you can be assured you’re talking with someone who can help you ‘take the next right step’.
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Workforce Planning Connect is a suite of materials designed to support employers access the skills and workforce they need.
You can choose the resources that work best for your business size:
The Workbook has been developed with micro to small businesses in mind.
The Toolkit and templates have been developed with small to medium-sized businesses in mind.
Whatever resource you choose, you can follow the steps to begin your workforce planning journey.
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Setting up your own business is exciting, but can also be challenging if you're not prepared. This guide will take you through each step of starting a business and help you understand what's ahead.
Goondiwindi Regional Council Links
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To deliver essential services and projects to the community, Goondiwindi Regional Council procures a large number of goods and services in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009, Local Government Regulation 2012 and Council’s Procurement Policy.
Council strives to achieve value for money for residents while ensuring probity, transparency and accountability in its procurement activities, by applying the following principles:
Value for money;
Open and effective competition;
Encouragement of the development of competitive local business and industry;
Environmental protection; and
Ethical behaviour and fair dealings.
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To develop land or use it for a specific purpose you may need to submit a development application to Council for Town Planning approval. Applications are assessed in accordance with State Government legislation and Council's Planning Scheme. Enquiries to Council are welcome to determine if your proposal requires Council approval. In many cases, an independent consultant may be required to assist in surveying, developing and submitting an application.
Migration
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The combined list of eligible skilled occupations summarises the occupations Australia needs to fill skill shortages.
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Innovation is a key long-term driver of economic prosperity, jobs and growth.
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Learn about nominating an overseas worker for a role and different types of visas and sponsorship. Hiring a visa holder.
Websites
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Compliance under Australian Law requires accurate legal notices on your website. The correct legal notices not only mean you are compliant but they reduce your liability and risk
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Google Workspace for Business (or GWB) is much more than just professional and securely hosted custom email (you@yourcompany.com.au). With GWB you can easily work on documents, spreadsheets, and slides across your devices, with or without internet.