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Your invitation - Bureau of Meteorology update for the Northern Rivers business community  

Prepare your business for 2025 with the latest seasonal weather outlook. 

Join us for an exclusive Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) webinar tailored for Northern Rivers business and industry. 

What to expect: 

  • Seasonal update insights from Hugh McDowell, Senior Climatologist, including weather hazards in early 2025 that could impact your business. 
  • Information on NSW Reconstruction Authority programs designed to support resilience and adaptation for Northern Rivers business and industry. 

When: Thursday 12 December 2024 

Time: 3.30pm to 4.15pm 

Where: Online (link provided upon registration) 

This is a free webinar – don't miss your chance to stay informed and plan ahead. 

Sign up at https://events.humanitix.com/northern-rivers-business-and-industry-bom-seasonal-update to join the webinar.  

For more information, please contact futurebuildnr@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au. 

We look forward to seeing you online! 

Small Business Cyber Resilience

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service provides free, tailored, person-to-person support for small businesses to improve their cyber security and recover from a cyber incident.

The Small Business Cyber Resilience Service helps small businesses to:

  • build cyber resilience
  • recover after a cyber incident

The service can help your business by:

  • working one on one with you to develop a tailored plan to improve your small business's cyber security
  • recommending specific actions, tools and guidance best suited to your small business's risk, situation and capability
  • providing practical steps you can take to recover from a cyber incident
  • providing case management support, including mental health support, following an incident
  • referring you to additional support services where required.

Cyber Wardens

A free education tool is now available to help all Australian small business stay cyber-safe and protect against financial loss.

The Cyber Wardens is an online program will help empower small business owners and their staff to create a cyber safe environment. Cyber Wardens will be equipped with essential digital security skills and essential information to protect against cyber threats and recover from a cyber-attack.

By bolstering the cyber capabilities of people working in small business, it empowers them to help protect, prevent and become more resilient cyber threats. The course will give Cyber Wardens the skills to support the business to recover from a cyber-attack, or the theft of data or intellectual property.

The program is a free online course delivering accessible content which simplifies cyber security. There is no complex jargon nor specialist knowledge needed, just practical tips and quick wins that any Australian small business can put in place.

Cyber Wardens will learn:

  • Effective steps to defend against digital break-ins
  • how to spot common tricks and scams hackers use
  • better ways to identify and protect your important business information.

Cyber Wardens is an initiative of the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA). The COSBOA want to inspire every Australian small business to train and support their own Cyber Warden. This is achieved by offering quick, accessible and free training to small business owners and employees to help them defend against cyber-attacks. The program is supported by the Australian Government and an industry alliance led by Telstra, CommBank and the Australian Cyber Security Centre.

The Service NSW Business Bureau

Service NSW for Business has become the Service NSW Business Bureau.

The Service NSW Business Bureau provides free, ongoing and personalised support for every stage of your business. 
The Business Bureau helps businesses access government services, information and advice to support them to grow in the NSW economy. 
Businesses can:  

  • talk to a Business Concierge over the phone, in person or online  
  • get advice from an independent advisor or access a range of events, webinars and online resources through Business Connect 
  • engage with a multicultural advisor for in-language support or get culturally appropriate advice from the Aboriginal Business Advisory Initiative (ABAI) 
  • create a Business Profile to make it easier to manage government transactions and business licences   
  • download the free Service NSW Business Bureau app to access support on the go. 

For more information call 13 77 88 or visit service.nsw.gov.au/business. 

Rural Small Business Financial Counselling 

The Rural Business Support Program is an independent financial counselling service available to small businesses in regional centres who are experiencing, or are at risk of experiencing, financial hardship.  If your small business is going through a difficult period, reach out to your local counsellor on 1800 344 090 or connect at www.rfcsnr.org.au  

My Future Workforce  

Find local staff on My Future Workforce.  With a unique job matching approach on the Northern Rivers My Future Workforce platform, employers will only receive applications from the best suited candidates, reducing the time needed to find the right person for the job.  To find out more about linking local employers with suitable job seekers and service providers visit www.northernrivers.myfutureworkforce.com.au    

Launch into Work Program 

Launch into Work trials pre-employment projects that support job seekers to increase their skills, experience and confidence.  Projects are co-designed with employers, jobactive providers, registered training organisations and other stakeholders to ensure both employer and job seeker needs are met.  If you are interested in co-designing a pre-employment project that includes training, mentoring and work experience, and can commit to employing job seekers who successfully complete the project, please register your interest by contacting the Employer and Workforce Strategies Team at workforce@dese.gov.au or visit www.dese.gov.au/launch-work for additional information. 

Workforce Australia 

Workforce Australia is the employment service delivered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.  Workforce Australia includes a new online service and a network of providers to deliver personalised support.  Workforce Australia helps Australians find and keep a job, change jobs or create their own jobs.  To find out more visit www.dese.gov.au/workforce-australia  

Digital Solutions – Australian Small Business Advisory Services  

The Digital Business Solutions program supports the Australian Government’s commitment to enhance the capabilities of local small businesses.  It delivers low cost, high quality digital advisory services to Australian small businesses in metropolitan and regional areas.  To find out more visit www.enterpriseplus.org.au or contact our local Northern Rivers Region Digital Business Advisor, Liza Lyttle on 0429 686 629 or email liza.lyttle@enterpriseplus.org.au  

Strengthening Business 

Strengthening Business connects you with experts to help your business become stronger, more resilient and better prepared for the future.  You will be paired with an independent facilitator to recommend ways to strengthen your business systems, operations and strategies and identify opportunities to improve your business, with a roadmap to get you back on track. 

To find out more visit www.business.gov.au/EP or contact one of Lismore’s Strengthening Business Facilitators:   

Stuart McPhee – Stuart.McPhee@ep.industry.gov.au, 0414 788 278 

Mindset and Mental Health

New Access for Small Business with Beyond Blue is a free and confidential mental health coaching program. It’s for sole traders and small business owners. And the best bit - You don’t need a doctor’s referral to access it. Find out more here.

Rural Aid

Rural Aid also offers free counselling to farmers and their families. 

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