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June 2025 Newsletter

17 June 2025

Alpine Business Newsletter
 Information for business 27 March 2024
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Alpine Business Newsletter

Welcome to the June 2025 edition of the Alpine Business Newsletter!

Welcome to the June issue of our business newsletter where you can find exciting news about upcoming events, grants and other valuable resources for your business!

  • Don't miss the Artificial Intelligence Forum in Wangaratta.
  • The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offer a suite of masterclasses designed to strengthen your business knowledge.
  • Council's Community Grants Program and Event Funding Program are both open. 
  • Commbank iQ spend data at businesses in Alpine Shire is now available on the Business Hub as part of a pilot release.
  • Stay informed about the Right to Disconnect provisions. 
  • Read six tips for making business planning part of your success.
  • Check out your eligibility for the Industry Growth Program.


Thank you for being part of the Alpine Shire business community. Stay tuned to Alpine Shire Business Hub for more updates and resources to help your business thrive. 

Alpine Shire Business Hub is your one-stop shop for up-to-date information on events and news 
The Business Hub has been curated as a one stop shop for business owners and operators in the Alpine Shire to access support resources and stay up to date with the latest grant opportunities, workshops and events. 
 
We highly encourage all businesses to sign up to Engage Alpine and follow the Business Hub to stay in the loop for information and opportunities related to businesses in the Alpine Shire.
Sign up here
Events, Workshops & Courses
Social Media and Content Marketing - Business Victoria Live Webinar
Thursday 05 June 2025, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

This webinar is for small business owners and entrepreneurs who want to learn how to improve their social media skills and create engaging content.

For more information and to register click here.


Artificial Intelligence Forum Wangaratta 
Wednesday 11 June 2025, 10:30 am to 3:00 pm

RDA Melbourne, in collaboration with the Rural City of Wangaratta are hosting an Ai Forum. This forum is a chance for small to medium businesses to hear from industry leaders as they explore the opportunities and practical applications for Ai in regional Victoria.

For more information and to register click here.


Tourism North East June Industry Forum 
Tuesday 17 June 2025, 10:00 am to 11:00 am, online

Join the Tourism North East team to hear the latest updates from Victoria's High Country including projects, marketing campaigns and what's coming up.

For more information and to register click here.


ATO Masterclass - Claiming small business tax deductions
Friday 20 June 2025, 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) offer a suite of masterclasses designed to strengthen your small business knowledge. During these free online sessions, you will have the opportunity to speak with experienced tax officers and gain insights tailored to your business needs.

For more information and to register click here.


Forum, Boost Your Farm's Future: Unlock the Power of Trees for Productivity and Biodiversity 
Friday 27 June 2025, Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre

The forum, hosted by Murray Region Forestry Hub, in partnership with the North East Catchment Management Authority, the Goulburn Broken Management Authority, and Wangaratta Rural City Council, will provide farmers with research insights to increase awareness of the benefits of integrating forestry into farming systems.

For more information and to register click here.


Cyber Wardens Foundations course

The Cyber Wardens Foundations is a short course designed to help you identify cyber security risks and how to implement cyber security habits in your business.

For more information and to register click here.


 

Digital Solutions Program

An Australian government initiative offering mentoring, workshops, and courses to support businesses on their digital growth journey.

For more information and to register click here.


 

Grant Funding Opportunities
2025/26 Community Grants Program

Council's annual Community Grants Program is now open. Funding will support a broad range of initiatives within the Alpine Shire that contribute to building healthy, resilient and connected communities. 


Applications close at 5pm on Monday, 16 June 2025. 

For more information click here.
2025-26 Event Funding Program

Council's Event Funding Program is now open. Funding aims to support the establishment, development and delivery of events that encourage community participation and help strengthen the community.  

Applications close at 5pm on Monday, 16 June 2025. 

For more information click here

 
To find more information about grants, visit the Alpine Shire Grant Finder.
Employment News
Right to Disconnect
For small business employers and their employees, the right to disconnect provisions apply from 26 Augut 2025. Eligibile employees have the right to refuse employer or third-party contact outside of working hours in some circumstances. 

Find out more here.
The Pay Equality Toolkit
Equal pay matters for all Victorian workers. Progress toward an equitable workplace creates benefits for employees and business performance. Generally speaking, contributing to a more satisfied and productive workforce. The Pay Equality Toolkit is comprised of 8 different tools created to help business make progress on pay equality. 

For more information, visit the Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission website..
Other News

Commbank iQ Spend Data at Businesses now available on the Business Hub


As part of a pilot release, we are providing monthly summaries of Commbank iQ monthly spend data at businesses within the Alpine Shire. This data may be helpful for businesses to identify spending trends, target markets and customer behaviour. 

Head to the Business Hub to access the data. 

Make Business Planning Part of Your Success

All businesses need a business plan with clear objectives and actions to set them up for success. Business Victoria have various resources to help businesses develop and regularly update their plan. They provide six tips including reviewing your plan regularly, collaborate with your staff, set goals, describe actions to help meet your goals, plan for uncertainty, and get help from experts.  

Read more here.

2025 Small Business Guide to Online Shopping Days

To help you plan your sales campaigns for 2025, there are a few online shopping sales to mark on your calendar including Click Frenzy, Father's Day, Singles' Day, Small Business Saturday Cyber Monday, and Boxing Day.

Read more here.

Understanding criminal wage theft laws

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry have put together a useful article and Criminal Wage Theft Guide to help businesses understand the new criminal offence in relation to certain types of intentional wage and entitlement underpayments into the Fair Work Act.

Read more here.

Industry Growth Program

The Industry Growth Program is an Australian Government initaitive for startups and SME's (small and medium enterprises to $20M turnover), undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects who are seeking advisory help with those projects and potentially some funding. 

The projects must sit within the government’s seven priority areas for the National Reconstruction Fund (value-add in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries; transport; renewables, and low emissions technologies; medical science; value-add in resources; defence capability; enabling (technology) capabilities). Ultimately, the projects must in some way help build Australian manufacturing capability for the future.

Experienced Advisers provide specialised advice to approved applicants to help them develop and commercialise their projects (usually centred on innovative new products, services, or processes). Following the Advisory Service, businesses may choose to apply for an Industry Growth Program matched funding grant opportunity; grant opportunities range from $50,000 to up to $5 million.

To find out more about the support available click here.

Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC)

Visit the new Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) webpage to find information and resources to help small businesses understand their rights and responsibilities with customers and suppliers. 

To find out more about the support available click here.
Business Support Services

NewAccess for Small Business Owners

Beyond Blue have developed this program to give small business owners free and confidential mental health coaching. 

Delivered over 6 sessions, a NewAccess coach will work with business owners to provide support and practical skills to manage stress during difficult times. 

To find out more about the support available click here.

Victorian Small Business Commission

The Victorian Small Business Commission provides support and information to help small business owners grow their knowledge and understand their rights and responsibilities.

To find out more about the support available click here.
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Alpine Shire Council · Great Alpine Road · Bright, VIC 3741 · Australia