DEEDI GOV DEPT TO HOLD BUSINESS SUCCESS WORKSHOPS IN THE FRASER COAST
| Uncover essentials for success | ||||
 |
||||
 |
||||
|
||||
 The Essentials for Business Success will be revealed at a comprehensive activity-based workshop series being run by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. The workshops will be held at Mantra Hervey Bay in Buccaneer Drive, Urangan, from 2pm to 5pm on:
The cost is $44 per person per workshop and topics include:
More Information: Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
||||
FRASER COAST INCENTIVES FOR NEW BUSINESS
| Initiative to back new business | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
 New businesses will be offered a package that includes key contacts and discounted services in an initiative to be launched by Fraser Coast Opportunities. Existing local businesses are being encouraged to offer their services to encourage small business growth on the Fraser Coast. The response to the small business package to date has been extremely positive and it is refreshing to see the support the Fraser Coast business community is demonstrating to fellow businesses. Over the coming weeks the Fraser Coast Opportunities team will be preparing promotional collateral and finalising processes to ensure all eligible businesses are aware of the opportunity to take part in this initiative. A range of services have already been put forward including accounting, legal, advertising, financial and mentoring services, as well as business and life coaching and office productivity assessments. Thank you to those businesses who have already nominated services on offer. More Information: To nominate services available from your business or to provide feedback on the Small Business Incentive Package, email us at: opportunities@frasercoast.qld.gov.au Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
||||
COUNCIL & SMALL BUSINESS IN THE FRASER COAST
Dear Members & Supporters,
Fraser Coast Opportunities
Big in Business
Message from
Lisa Desmond, CEO, Fraser Coast Regional Council
Invitation to Helping Small Business on the Fraser Coast
Fraser Coast Opportunities establishes a strong collective marketing umbrella for “Doing Business on the Fraser Coast”. It is a collaborative partnership between the Fraser Coast Regional Council, Urban Development Institute of Australia (Fraser Coast); Chambers of Commerce and the Economic Development and Enterprise Collaboration Unit of the University of Southern Queensland.
CLICK HERE to read the open letter from Lisa Desmond, CEO, Fraser Coast Regional Council.
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
QUEENSLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY HAS REBRANDED ITSELF & UPDATED ITS WEB PRESENCE
New Brand and Website
Dear valued members and customers,
Recently, we have launched a new CCIQ brand and website.
In recent months, you have let us know that you – as business owners, entrepreneurs and managers – are time poor and need accurate and easy to understand information at your fingertips. Our new website is evidence that we are listening and responding.
To meet our sole goal of better serving Queensland businesses, we took a good, hard look at the way we structure our services and communicate them to you – our members and customers.
Key features of the new CCIQ website include:
- A direct link to search for upcoming training courses on our homepage. This is in response to your feedback that training is a highly valued service. Click here.
- Comprehensive information on all the services we offer to help your business, found under the services button on the top navigation bar. These include CCIQ Advocacy, CCIQ Apprenticeships, CCIQ Consulting, CCIQ HR, CCIQ International, CCIQ Law, CCIQ Safety, CCIQ Sustainability and CCIQ Training. Click here.
- Map and directions to all CCIQ offices & Local Chamber of Commerce Offices found under the regions button on the top navigation bar. Click here.
- Information on our community programs including our School Business Community Partnership Brokers Program, Youth Invest. Click here.
- Information on upcoming events and webinars to keep you up-to-date on latest legislation, and to connect you with state and national leaders and decision makers. Click here.
Information you value
To make sure that we provide you with the most relevant information, we have also developed a CCIQ customer portal.
First and foremost, this will allow you to choose your areas of interests and subscriptions. You will also be able to view and update your contact details and to track online enquiries with the ‘member-only’ employer assistance line (EAL) team. More features will be added over time for your benefit. Click here to register for our portal.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us on 1300 731 988 . We value your opinion, so please also take this opportunity to let us know what you think of our new website by clicking the feedback button at the bottom of the site.
This is the first of many new initiatives that you will see rolled out over the near future to improve our service and value.
We’re doing everything we can to make your experience with us better.
CCIQ team
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
EXIT STRATEGY WHEN YOU WANT YOUR INVESTMENT BACK SAFELY.FREE BOOK HERE FROM EXPERT IN THE FIELD…
THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MONEY INVESTMENT BOOKS YOU WILL EVER NEED OR WANT
I WANT MY FREE STRATEGY EXIT EBOOK
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
WORKPLACE HEALTH & SAFETY NEEDS & CHANGES.MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
WORKPLACE PRACTICES NEED YOUR INPUT
21 March 2011
In this special edition:
|
||||||||||||||||||
Business Update
Harmonisation of Workplace Health and Safety
On the 1 January 2012, all jurisdictions across Australia will implement model work health and safety (WHS) laws. This harmonisation process is part of the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) National Reform Agenda where all Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments agreed to achieve national consistency through the development of a WHS legislative framework (including model WHS Act, model regulations and Codes of Practice).
The WHS harmonisation process was agreed to in order to deliver similar laws in each jurisdiction to ensure a more consistent approach across state borders, reduce the red tape and compliance costs on business and create a seamless national economy.
The national model Work Health and Safety Act was endorsed by the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council in December 2009. Now, Safe Work Australia (SWA) is consulting on a range of documents that aim to assist employers and other duty holders to comply with their respective duties of care and include the Draft Model WHS Regulations and Model Codes of Practice. The main elements of the new national WHS Act are listed below for your information.
CCIQ Survey
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) is currently preparing a submission to SWA in response to this consultation process, as well as preparing information to assist our members and the businesses who receive our WHS services to prepare for the forthcoming changes in legislation. We are also working with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on issues in the lead up to and implementation of the new legislation in Queensland.
As part of CCIQ’s submission to SWA we are undertaking a survey of businesses to obtain an understanding of where employers are at in relation to WHS and to identify concerns employers have about moving to a new system from 1 January 2012. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will close at 5pm on Wednesday 30 March 2011.
To complete the survey click here.
Key Elements of the National Model WHS Act
The national model Work Health and Safety Act was endorsed by the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council in December 2009. Under the Act, duties of care exist for employers, persons in control of a workplace, upstream parties (such as designers, manufacturers, importers, suppliers and installers) as well as workers.
Detailed information on the national model WHS Act is available on the SWA explanatory memorandum which can be found by following the link at the Safe Work Australia website.
Within the national model WHS Act is the primary duty of care for employers will be to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others who may be affected by the carrying out of work. Furthermore, there will be a requirement that officers of corporations and unincorporated bodies exercise due diligence to ensure compliance.
Other key elements of the national model WHS requirements include:
- Reporting requirements for notifiable incidents such as the serious illness, injury or death of persons and dangerous incidents arising out of the business or undertaking;
- Authorisations such as licences, permits and registrations (eg. for persons engaged in high risk work or users of certain plant or substances);
- Provision for worker consultation, participation and representation at the workplace;
- Provision for the resolution of health and safety issues;
- Protection against discrimination for those who exercise or perform, or seek to exercise or perform, powers, functions or rights under the Act;
- An entry permit scheme that allows union officials to inquire into suspected contraventions affecting workers who are members, or eligible to be members of the relevant union and to consult and advise such workers about health and safety matters;
- Compliance and enforcement measures and sanctions, including enforceable undertakings; and
- Regulation-making powers and administrative processes, such as the review of decisions.
Key Changes from Current Queensland WHS Requirements
One of the key changes between current Queensland WHS laws and the new system is that the duty of care is quantified by the term “reasonably practicable”, meaning that employers will be required to do what is reasonably practicable to ensure the WHS of their employees, rather than the current obligation for employers to “ensure” the WHS of their employees (an absolute duty of care).
Furthermore, workers will be required to exercise reasonable care to ensure that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of other persons at the workplace.
There will also be a move away from company directors being held liable for infringements by the company, however they will be required to have a positive and proactive duty to exercise due diligence. This requires company directors to:
- Acquire and keep up-to-date knowledge of health and safety matters;
- Gain an understanding of hazards and risks associated with the company’s operations;
- Ensure appropriate resources are available for use to eliminate/minimise risks from work carried out;
- Ensure appropriate processes for obtaining information about incidents, hazards and risks, and responding to them;
- Ensure processes for complying with duties are implemented, e.g. reporting, consultation arrangements, training and instruction;
- Verify the provision and use of resources for the matters listed above.
Other key changes between current Queensland WHS laws and the new laws include:
- There is no reverse onus of proof. The onus of proving all elements of an offence, including whether the duty holder has adopted reasonable practicable measures, rests with the Regulator;
- Workplace Health and Safety Officers (WHSOs) will not be required, however health and safety representatives (HSRs) have increased training and rights within the workplace;
- HSRs will represent defined work groups which need to be negotiated with the business operator;
- Health and safety issues are to be resolved in accordance with an agreed dispute resolution procedure which must be in writing;
- HSRs will be able to issue provisional improvement notices (PIN’s) and can direct workers to cease work after consultation and an attempt to resolve an issue, or without consultation if there is an immediate and imminent threat to health and safety.
Where To From Here?
The model WHS Act was agreed in 2009. The model WHS Regulations and priority model Codes of Practice have been released for public consultation until the 4 April 2011. Following the closure of this consultation period, SWA will review all submissions and make necessary changes.
In June 2011, the model WHS Regulations package will be presented to and agreed by the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council. Following approval by Cabinet, all State and Territory Governments will then be responsible for implementing the model Act, Regulations and Codes of Practice in their jurisdictions for commencement on the 1 January 2012.
Further Information
Additional information on the current consultation process is available on the Safe Work Australia website. To contact CCIQ, please email policy@cciq.com.au.
Contact t: 07 3842 2267 | e: policy@cciq.com.au | w: www.cciq.com.au
This email was sent to ndent@qas.org.au from Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland
Disclaimer and Privacy Policy.
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
WEB CONFERENCE ON STAFF RETENTION SET FOR MARCH 16TH
Dear Henry Sapiecha, Just a reminder. There are only a few days left to join us for this practical,60-minute webinar."Proven Employee Recognition Strategies that Boost Morale & Reduce Turnover" Wednesday, March 16, 2011 - 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET http://www.edcuation.net/1YC/0/2/p4RWVUc/p5SCT5C7i/p0e CONFERENCE AGENDA: How to Keep Your Best Employees from Leaving: Rewards & Recognition ** Creative ways to reward without money - what's working in 2011 ** Don't underestimate the power of praise- how to use it effectively ** What your best employees want from you & how to deliver consistently What Supervisors Can Do Today to Inspire & Motivate Your Superstars ** Simple ways to integrate employee recognition into your daily routine ** Ways to spark passion in drained high performers & build loyalty ** How to liven up boring & redundant tasks for discouraged employees How to Avoid the Top Mistakes that Cost Supervisors their Best Employees ** Coaching tips to make your best employees feel valued & appreciated ** Identify & remedy the most common causes of boredom & burnout ** How to pinpoint the problem BEFORE they get to the exit interview Live question and answer session - Have your specific questions answered by our expert speaker: Expert, Hunter Lott, is an award-winning trainer with the American Management Association, Vistage and the Society of Human Resource Management. Highlights of his background include: ** He serves as HR support for small, growing businesses through his membership organization Hunter 24/7. Hunter has reviewed over 1,100 employee handbooks in the last eight years. ** His clients include Anheuser-Busch, FedEx Kinko's, Carpet One, Vistage, The National Institutes of Health and Morton Buildings. ** He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, graduated from Iowa State University and currently resides in Rochester, MN. Earn HRCI Credit: This program has been approved for 1 re-certification credit hour toward PHR and SPHR re-certification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). As a leader in fast-read, actionable advice on workplace issues, the conference gives you the opportunity to add immediate impact to your HR efforts in a manner that is: FAST - No wasted time here. Get right to the heart of the matter in a 1-hour block designed to easily fit into your busy schedule. CONVENIENT - No airlines. No travel. No time out of the office. Listen from the comfort and convenience of your desk. EASY - A telephone and computer with access to the Internet is all the equipment you need. Just dial in, punch-in your access code, then click the link to access the website and you're in. That's it. Follow along with the Webinar handouts provided in advance. ACTIONABLE - Our conferences provide money-saving tactics you can start using right when you hang up the phone. IDEAL FOR MULTIPLE LISTENERS - Use a speakerphone and as many people as you want can listen in - at no extra cost to you. A projector is suggested for the video portion for multiple attendees. Many professionals use these sessions as a cost-effective, time-efficient means of training supervisors, managers, and staff while reinforcing key issues in a fresh, new manner that they will remember and act on. AFFORDABLE - Priced at $199, it is a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars. ** "Proven Employee Recognition Strategies that Boost Morale & Reduce Turnover" ** ** Live, 60-Minute Webinar Conference ** ** Wednesday, March 16, 2011 – 1:00-2:00 p.m. ET ** Register now for this exciting event by clicking the following link or calling 1-888-669-6067: http://www.edcuation.net/1YC/0/2/p4RWVUc/p5SCT5C7i/p0e We hope you'll join us. Sincerely, Executive Education P.O. Box 31 Devault, PA 19432 Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
SHAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THE LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION CHARITY DRIVE
LEUKAEMIA FOUNDATION CHARITY EVENT
Every hour, someone in Australia is diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Every two hours, someone dies from one of these blood cancers.
The money raised is used by the Leukaemia Foundation to fund services to support patients and families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders. All the Leukaemia Foundation services are free. Funds raised go towards blood cancer research to find better treatments and cures.
This year I have made the commitment to help raise funds for the Leukaemia Foundation and will be brave and shave my hair (completely off)!
That’s right on Saturday 12th of March at 5.30pm at the Bayswater myself and 14 other people in my team (Scalped Hervey Bay) will be shaving or colouring our hair to raise money.
This year it is my goal to raise $ 5000.00 for the this vital cause. I am putting the call out to all my friends and family, to help me raise the much need funds to help those people suffering from these blood related diseases. If you area able to donate a few dollars towards my fund raising efforts I, as well at the patients suffering from Leukaemia would be very appreciative. Remember, any donations made online will receive a tax receipt.
If you would like to donate online please click here. Alternatively email me and I can organise collecting any donation you may want to make.
Again I would like to thank you for your anticipated support and I hope the money raised will get us one step closer to finding a cure for this disease.
Thanks
Bernard Whebell
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
A CALL FOR THE FRASER COAST TO BECOME SMARTER.GET IBM GRANT $$$$
IBM Pledges $50 Million to Create 100 Smarter Cities
IBM has inaugurated its Smarter Cities Challenge, a competitive grant program in which IBM will award $50 million-worth of technology and services to help 100 municipalities across the globe. Teams of IBM experts will provide city leaders with recommendations for successful growth, better delivery of municipal services, more citizen engagement, and improved efficiency. Watch the video >
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha
FLOOD VICTIMS IN QUEENSLAND CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE GOVERNMENT FINANCE ASSISTANCE PACKAGES
FLOOD VICTIMS IN QUEENSLAND GET MONEY
Bundaberg – Fraser Coast District
Keep Australia Working Newsletter Issue No.11, January 2010
January
What a start to the year of 2011!
Our thoughts go out to everyone who has been affected by the floods in Queensland over December and January. Communities, businesses and individuals have all been affected. It takes time to recover from these unfortunate events but there is assistance available. All levels of government are working together to make sure assistance is available to those who need it. Below is a summary of the assistance that may be available to help individuals and businesses recover. This information is provided as a guide only and everyone will need to check their entitlement with the agency concerned.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
The Australian Government Disaster Assist website:- http://www.disasterassist.gov.au/www/disasterassist/disasterassist.nsf/Page/Home
has been set up to give people access to information about recovery assistance following a disaster. Assistance is available for people adversely affected by the Queensland flooding.
Individual Support
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be provided to eligible people affected by the Queensland flooding during the December 2010 – January 2011 period. The payment is to provide immediate, one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the disaster. The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment rate is $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child.
Details on how to claim are available from the Centrelink website:-
http://www.centrelink.gov.au/internet/internet.nsf/emergency/qld_flooding_dec10_claiming.htm
or by phoning 180 22 66. 
Claims for this assistance can be lodged at Centrelink until 4 July 2011 as application for the payment is available for a period of up to six months.
The Queensland Government, through the Department of Communities, also has financial assistance available.
The Community RecoveryWebsite:-
http://www.communityservices.qld.gov.au/community/community-recovery/about.html
has information on the personal Hardship Assistance grant, which is non-means tested. This grant is to help people meet immediate and unexpected basic costs such as food, clothing, medical or accommodation costs associated with the disaster.
For those without house and contents insurance some means-tested assistance may also be available.
Phone 1800 173 349
for more information on assistance from the Department of Communities.
Business Assistance
The Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority:-
has grants of up to $25,000 for primary producers and businesses which have suffered direct damage as a result of the flooding. The grants are to help with direct costs of repair after the flooding. In our region, businesses in the local government areas of South Burnett, North Burnett, Cherbourg and Bundaberg are eligible.
Phone the QRAA on 1800 623 946 for details.
Concessional interest rate loans of up to $250,000 as well as freight subsidies of up to $5,000 are available for small business operators and primary producers across these Local Government Areas.
Call the QRAA on 1800 623 943 to discuss your situation.
Don’t forget that during times of natural disaster take
time to look after yourself as well as others. Some tips
on disaster resilience from the Disaster Assist website include:
Adjust your lifestyle to your needs.
Don’t just do things out of habit or because you planned them some time ago.
Avoid making important life decisions until you can be objective. Make as many small decisions on a day to day basis as you like to ensure you have control over your life.
Make time to practise relaxation or absorb yourself in a relaxing activity such as listening to music – this helps your body and nervous system to settle and readjust.
Above all, be kind to yourself.
Regards
Jason Millward | Local Employment Coordinator |
Phone 0412 772 307
Email — Jason.millward@deewr.gov.au
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha