Business Resources
The WCCI is the Business Hub of Wandoan. A WCCI membership for business provides access to the WCCI's Business Chamber Queensland (BCQ) membership.
On this page you can find resources that are available to businesses both through the WCCI and external organisations.
Workforce Evolve
Struggling to find jobseekers?
Hiring and retaining the right staff is one of the biggest constraints on business growth. With some changes in approach and the use of inclusive work practices, employers can unlock a new segment of jobseekers and enrich their organisation.
Join the free Workforce Evolve program for online training and support to implement sustainable workplace practices and attract a wider range of qualified candidates.
More Information: Workforce Evolve Program » Business Chamber Queensland (businesschamberqld.com.au)
Small Business Cyber Resilience Service
The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service provides free, tailored support for small businesses to improve their cyber security and recover from a cyber incident. Work one-on-one to develop a cyber security plan and receive practical steps and mental health support following an incident.
More Information: Small Business Cyber Resilience Service | business.gov.au
Mental injuries
Resources to help workers, employers, carers and health providers navigate a work-related mental injury claim, including seeking help and treatment, recovery and getting back to work.
Online Learning Platform from the Australian Tax Office
Essentials to strengthen your small business has been developed to provide free and professional education to support small businesses thrive. It provides a range of courses covering:
- business lifecycle stages – idea, start-up, day-to-day, change and exit
- reporting obligations – for example, businesses with employees, GST or fringe benefits tax
- learning needs – what good record keeping is, how to improve cash flow or grow the business
- other circumstances – for example, help setting up a business, checking if the business is viable or needs to be closed.
Essentials to strengthen your small business provides businesses with the comfort of knowing that the content is accurate, timely and reliable.
Digital Skills Hub
The Brisbane Chamber of Commerce 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. The Digital Skills Hub is open to all Queensland businesses.
To register, or for more information, please visit: Digital Skills Hub » Business Chamber Queensland (businesschamberqld.com.au)
Disaster assistance loans for SEQ small businesses
Through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), concessional loans have been activated for SEQ businesses impacted by recent severe storms.
Small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits in the Logan, Scenic Rim and Gold Coast local government areas can apply for:
Disaster Assistance concessional loans
- Up to $250,000 for producers and small businesses and $100,000 for not-for-profits to repair or replace damaged assets like plant and equipment, to repair premises, or to replace stock and maintain liquidity.
Essential Working Capital loans
- Up to $100,000 for producers, small businesses and not-for-profits to allow for the continuation of operations, including paying wages, rents or rates, purchasing items such as fuel, fodder and water, or for the transportation of livestock and produce.
Freight subsidies
- Freight subsidies are also being made available to primary producers to alleviate the costs of moving stock and operating materials.
- Up to $5,000 for primary producers to assist with the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water, and building or fencing materials.
To apply for a loan, or if you have any questions regarding the application process, contact the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) via 1800 623 946 or www.qrida.qld.gov.au
Digital Readiness Assessment Tool
Is your business ready to thrive, succeed and go digital? Do you know how digital mature your business is?
Business.Gov's Digital Readiness Assessment Tool will help you better understand how digitally prepared your business is. When using the tool, you will be asked questions about your business’s digital tools, channels and data digital usage. Based on your answers you will receive a list of recommendations to improve your business.
For more information or to access the tool, please visit: What is your business’s digital maturity? | business.gov.au
Industry Growth Program
The Industry Growth program supports start-ups and innovative small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to undertake commercialisation or growth projects within the National Reconstruction Fund priority areas. Stage 1 of the program allows SMEs to receive advice from industry experts on:
- commercialisation and growth strategies
- funding avenues
- market testing
- business models
- building networks.
Stage 2 of the program will provide matched grant funding for SMEs who are operating in priority areas identified under National Reconstruction Fund. Priority areas include: resources, transport, medical science, defence capability, renewables and low emissions, agriculture, forestry and fisheries and enabling capabilities. Applications are now open and will remain open over the life of the program.
For more information or to apply, please visit: Industry Growth Program | business.gov.au
Small Business Skills and Training Boost
Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20% tax deduction for external training courses delivered to employees by registered training providers. The boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred from 29 March 2022 until 30 June 2024 and must be:
- For the provision of training to employees of your business, either in-person in Australia, or online
- Charged, directly or indirectly, by a registered external training provider that is not you or an associate of yours
- Already deductible of your business under taxation law
For more information, please visit: Small business skills and training boost | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: EMPLOYER REQUIREMENTS FOR ROSTERING STAFF TO WORK
ADVICE FROM BUSINESS CHAMBER QUEENSLAND
With a number of public holidays coming up, it is important to be aware of this breaking public holiday news!
As reported in the April 5 2023 edition of the IR Alert earlier this year, the full Federal Court of Australia (‘FCA’) held that an employer must ask their employees if they wish to work public holidays, as opposed to simply rostering them to work on a public holiday. BHP sought to challenge this ruling, applying for special leave to appeal the decision.
On 21 November 2023 the High Court of Australia (‘HCA’) refused BHP’s application, confirming the earlier decision that employers must ask their employees if they will work on a public holiday. The Fair Work Act 2009 (FW Act) (Cth) provides, at section 114(1) that an employee is entitled to be absent from work on a public holiday. Section 114(2) states that an employer may request an employee to work, but only if the request is reasonable.
What does this mean?
Employers must ask employees if they will work on a public holiday as opposed to automatically rostering them to work.
This applies to all employers, regardless of industry or the businesses size.
With the Christmas-New Year period coming up, it is important to talk to your employees before rostering them to work, and to request them to work.
Ideally, the request should be made directly to the employee and documented in writing to confirm a request has been made before rostering an employee to work on a public holiday.
Interestingly, the FCA decision provided a specific means to provide a request that is likely to be less burdensome for some employers. In its decision it does state, it would be reasonable for employers to post a roster with employees working on public holidays, in the first instance, so as long as the employer notifies employees that:
- the roster is a draft;
- employees rostered on public holidays are being requested to work those days; and
- the employees rostered on public holidays have ability to accept or refuse the relevant shifts.
Employees need to be aware of any expectations to work on public holidays and the likelihood that a request to take a public holiday may be refused where the request is not reasonable.
The ability for an employer to require employees to work on a public holiday, under reasonable circumstances, has not changed.
Contact the Business Chamber Queensland Workplace Advisory Services team if you would like to discuss the decision and the resulting actions for you at advice@businesschamberqld.com.au
Wellbeing for small business owners
Through this website you can access resources for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Wellness Coaches, and Small Business Support Coaches.
When you’re running a business you need to look after your mental health so everything runs smoothly. Business Wellness Coaches are available to help you with your personal and business challenges in a free one-on-one, supportive environment.
No matter where you live in Queensland, support is available for you and any of your family members who are employed in your business, and if you need help in your language, a business wellness coach can make sure you get the support you need.
Coaches are in:
Trade Marks
A registered trade mark can be used to protect anything that identifies your business such as a brand name, logo, distinctive phrase, letter, number, colour, sound, smell, shape, picture, movement, or aspect of packaging.
Registering your trade mark gives you:
- a business asset: the more successful your business becomes, the more valuable your trade mark becomes.
- the legal right to use the ® symbol next to your trade mark.
- exclusive rights to use your trademark in Australia.
- a legal avenue to stop others using your trade mark.
- the ability to sell your trademark or license it to others for a fee.
IP Australia’s free TM Checker makes it easy to check if a business name, phrase, or logo trade mark can be registered. An initial check only takes a few minutes, and you can then use the tool to apply for a trade mark which costs from $330.
Disaster Preparation for Business
Queensland has implemented the Australian Warning System across five hazards (bushfire, flood, cyclone, storm, and extreme heat) which changes the way people are alerted to natural disaster events.
This means warnings for all hazards are now consistent across the country. Every warning will have an icon that tells you what the hazard is, a colour that identifies the warning level, and actions you should take to be safe. Translated resources in 22 languages are also available.
Now is the time to consider your readiness to deal with a disaster by checking you have a plan and arrangements in place to support your business should it be disrupted by a natural disaster or emergency event. A business continuity plan will help you to identify what events could stop your business from running, what you can do, and what you need to get ready to act quickly and safely.
Use the Get Ready Queensland resources to help you prepare for natural disaster events.
Spotting a Scam
Could you or your employees spot a scammer? Scamwatch data shows that small and micro businesses lost $13.7 million to scams in 2022 - a 95 per cent increase compared to the previous year! The biggest contributor to these losses was payment redirection scams, also known as a business email compromise.
Top tips for avoiding scams:
- Stop – take your time before giving money or personal information.
- Think – ask yourself if the message or call could be fake.
- Protect – act quickly if something feels wrong. Contact your bank and report scams to the ACCC-run Scamwatch.
The best way to protect yourself is through awareness and education. The Little Black Book of Scams will help you spot, avoid, and protect yourself against scams. Translated copies of the previous edition are also available.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Cyber liability insurance is a type of business insurance that can help cover financial losses to your business following a cyber security breach. Policies may include cover for forensic investigation, data restoration and customer notification and rectification.
For small and medium-sized businesses, the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) endorses the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential Eight Maturity Model as a good first step towards improved cyber security health.
Free Workforce Advice and Support
Small businesses can talk to a free Industry Workforce Advisor to help identify workforce solutions and recruitment strategies, develop a workforce plan, or connect with available support. Employers can also get one-on-one mentoring for their business through the Mentoring for Growth program.
The Diverse Queensland Workforce program connects employers with local migrants, refugees and international students looking for work, and the Back to Work program provides eligible employers with a range of support when they employ and retain an eligible jobseeker.
Creating a Custom Business Plan
Thinking about starting anew business, or wanting to improve your existing business plan? Business.gov's new Business Plan Tool is a fast and easy way to evaluate your business idea and set goals for the year ahead. It asks a series of questions about your business, and generates a custom plan for you. This tool can be used by anyone thinking about starting a business or already running a business. It will help you to evaluate a new business idea, set some goals for the year ahead, and keep your business on track.
For more information or to access the tool, please visit:
Mentoring for Growth
Mentoring for Growth (M4G) offers eligible businesses free access to volunteer business experts who provide insights, options and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities you are experiencing in your business. The M4G program assists Queensland businesses to grow and succeed in the current business environment.
The M4G program includes:
- Mentoring for Growth sessions
- Mentoring for Investment
- Mentoring for Pitch
- Mentoring for Export
- Mentoring for Recovery.
When you participate in the M4G program, the Queensland Government matches its mentors' expertise and experience with the business challenge or opportunity you have identified.
Mentors are drawn from a Queensland-wide pool of more than 300 registered mentors. All mentors have expertise and experience in coaching and/or developing businesses.
For more information or to register, please visit: