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    Wodonga Council
    Business Resources Directory

    Page URL: https://www.wodonga.vic.gov.au/Business-Investment/Business-in-Wodonga/Business-Resources-Directory

    Business Resources Directory

     /  Business + InvestmentBusiness in WodongaBusiness Resources Directory

    Last updated: November 2024 

    These resources are available to businesses to assist with training, advice and support, tools and templates, tax incentives, subisides and funding, networking and advocacy and council services. 

    Training

    Australian Taxation Office 

    The ATO offers tax time essentials, learning resources, tools and services to support small business, including: 

    • Tax time toolkit for small businesses 
    • Essentials to strengthen your small business online learning platform 
    • Cash flow kit 

    Click here for more information. 

    Business Victoria 

    Business Victoria provides information, support and resources to help business owners develop essential skills and understand their legal obligations. 

    Business Victoria’s website has comprehensive learning and advice resource designed to help you start, run and grow your business. On this website you can find: 

    • Workshops and Small Business Bus 
    • Courses and webinars 
    • Virtual mentor sessions 
    • Articles and advice from business leaders and industry experts 

    Click here for more. 

    Cyber Wardens 

    The Cyber Wardens fast training is made for busy small businesses with quick and simple cyber safety solutions. No tech skills required. 

    The Cyber Wardens program is a simple education tool designed to make your small business cyber-safe. Educating your team about cyber threats will help to protect your small business against cyber threats and recover from a cyber-attack. 

    What you'll learn: 

    • Identify and protect your important business information 
    • Take simple and effective steps to defend against digital break-ins 
    • Spot common tricks and scams hackers use to attack small businesses 
    • Promote cyber safety in your team 

    For more information, click here.    

    Indigenous Business Australia workshops 

    Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) offers free online workshops designed to enhance the business skills of First Nations entrepreneurs. These workshops cater to various stages of the business journey, from starting out to growing your business.  

    Topics include Marketing Fundamentals, Obligations and Finances 101, One Page Business Plan, and more. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable insights and resources.  

    Click here for more. 

    Advice and support

    Partners in Wellbeing Helpline 

    The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline provides free support and advice to improve your financial, business and emotional wellbeing. 

    For more information, visit https://partnersinwellbeing.org.au/ or call 1300 375 330. 

    Self-Employment Assistance 

    Self-Employment Assistance can help you turn your business idea or existing small business into a viable business. The program is delivered by local providers and allows you to choose the level of support that meets your needs and the needs of your small business. 

    Self-Employment Assistance offers free workshops, courses and personalised business advice. Services include: 

    • Exploring Self-Employment Workshops 
    • Business Plan Development 
    • Accredited Small Business Training 
    • Business Advice Sessions 
    • Business Health Checks 
    • Small Business Coaching 

    For more information, click here.  

    Small Business Bus 

    Whether you're planning, starting or growing your business, the Victorian Government's Small Business Bus can help you to develop your business ideas and capabilities. 
     
    The Small Business Bus comes fully equipped with expert advisers to provide general business assistance as well as financial and wellbeing support from trained experts. To further support businesses in flood-affected areas, Business Recovery Advisers will be onboard to offer dedicated recovery support. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Small Business Commission 

    The Victorian Small Business Commission offer low-cost dispute resolution services, including mediation, and champion the rights of small businesses. Everything they do is to empower Victorian small businesses with the right tools to avoid or resolve disputes quickly, so they can focus on building their businesses. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Small Business Debt Helpline 

    The Small Business Debt Helpline is a not-for-profit that helps small business owners and sole traders in financial difficulty. The service is free, independent and confidential. 

    They’re experts in small business finance, debts, negotiating and counselling, and can help you with: 

    • understanding business and personal debts, and personal guarantees and their implications; 
    • grants and training for small business owners that you may be able to access; 
    • considering business viability and whether your business can survive; 
    • disaster relief for events such as bushfires and COVID-19; 
    • options for payment arrangements with the Australian Tax Office (ATO), creditors, suppliers and service providers; 
    • information about closing your business, including bankruptcy and insolvency; 
    • where you can access dispute resolution; and, 
    • emotional support. 

    For more information, visit https://sbdh.org.au/ or call 1800 413 828 

    Small Business Peak 

    The Small Business Peak program provides free and instant access to essential information – quick insights to keep business owners informed, with step-by-step guides to save time and make it easier for you to apply the latest workplace legislation changes. 

    No more deciphering legal jargon. Peak simplifies the most intricate industrial relations changes, making compliance a straightforward process for your small business. You can simply download Peak’s plain English resources, including information kits with fact sheets, FAQs, compliance checklists and more, which can assist you in navigating, understanding and implementing the new legislation in your small business. 

    For more information, click here.  

    TradeStart 

    The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) helps grow Australia’s prosperity by delivering quality trade and investment services to businesses. Austrade can assist by: 

    • Helping exporters to expand in new markets. Programs include export market development grants and agricultural expansion initiatives. 
    • Gathering and publishing export information. This includes market analysis and insights for exporters. 
    • Providing Australia-based sector specialists and overseas advisers to help businesses understand local markets and make valuable connections. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Tools and templates

    Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) 

    The Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) provides information on state, territory, local and Australian government: 

    • licences 
    • permits 
    • approvals 
    • regulations 
    • codes of practice 

    The guided search uses information that users provide to find the licences and information they need for their business. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Business Victoria 

    Business Victoria provides information, support and resources to help business owners develop essential skills and understand their legal obligations. 

    Business Victoria’s website is a comprehensive online resource designed to help you start, run and grow your business. On this website you can: 

    • access information about key business issues and get your questions answered 
    • access information about specific industry sectors 
    • identify the government licences and regulations that apply to your business 
    • step through interactive guides customised to your business situation 
    • find relevant financial support, advice and training. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Grant Guru 

    Wodonga Council has partnered with AlburyCity to establish Grant Guru for our community under the Two Cities One Community and Invest AlburyWodonga banners. 

    This is a joint initiative that enables business and community groups to search local, state and federal grant opportunities in one place. The platform will provide you with the guidance, support and framework on how to apply and get the most out of your business, committee, activity or event. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Have you been hacked? 

    This tool is designed to step potential victims through a series of scenarios that help them assess if they’ve been hacked and guide them on how to respond in that scenario. Scenarios include ransomware attacks, malware, e-mail compromise and identity theft, as well as phishing and fake website scams accessed via sms and mobile devices.  

    The tool is simple to use and includes typical warning signs, scenario explanations, and easy-to-follow steps on what to do next to remedy the situation. The tool also tailors its advice to users’ impacted devices. 

    Use the ‘Have you been hacked?’ tool.

    Mature Age Hub 

    Boost your business’s productivity, resourcefulness and client satisfaction by hiring mature-aged workers. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations offers a comprehensive hub of resources for businesses, including information on wage subsidies, self-paced training on employing and retaining mature-aged workers, and a self-assessment tool to help you evaluate how well your business manages mature-aged employees. 

    Visit the hub here. 

    Small Business Cyber Security 

    The Australian Signals Directorate has developed a suite of online resources to help small businesses improve their cyber security. These resources include tips, checklists and an assessment tool. 

    For more information, click here.  

    TM Checker 

    TM Checker makes it easier for small businesses to check if a trade mark is available. The easy to use tool gives your business: 

    • An early indication of if your proposed trade mark can be used in the relevant classes of goods and services 
    • An estimate of how much your application could cost 
    • An estimate of how long the trade mark application could take 
    • A seamless link to our trade mark application process. 

    To use TM Checker, click here.  

    Council services

    Business Concierge 

    • Site selection 
      • Have a business idea but not sure where to launch it? Our Business Concierge can assist you in identifying how the areas or properties you are considering will affect the permits required to get your business started. 
    • New business assessment tool 
      • Our new business assessment tool will let you know what permits you will require from the council. Once submitted, the information is sent to our Business Concierge who will make contact to discuss next steps. 
    • Single application form 
      • Wodonga Council has developed a single application form to streamline business applications that require multiple permits. 

    Looking to launch a new business in Wodonga? Email ecodev@wodonga.vic.gov.au      

    Investment facilitation 

    We actively support investment in our region and are ready to assist you in launching your business in Wodonga. 

    Looking to Invest in Wodonga? Email ecodev@wodonga.vic.gov.au    

    Tax incentives, subsidies and funding

    Digital Jobs Business Host 

    Does your organisation need talented people with digital skills? 

    Hosting a Digital Jobs participant is a great way to fast-track recruitment for digital roles and increase diversity in your digital team. Digital Jobs is a nation-leading program upskilling 5400 talented mid-career Victorians to transition into high-demand jobs in the digital economy. 

    Participants are over 30 years of age, come from diverse backgrounds and have experience in a wide range of sectors. With newly acquired digital skills, demonstrated aptitude, and transferable skills from their previous careers, participants can make a valuable and immediate contribution to your business 

    For more, click here. 

    GrantGuru 

    Wodonga Council has partnered with AlburyCity to establish Grant Guru for our community under the Two Cities One Community and Invest AlburyWodonga banners. 

    This is a joint initiative that enables business and community groups to search local, state and federal grant opportunities in one place. The platform will provide you with the guidance, support and framework on how to apply and get the most out of your business, committee, activity or event. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Industry Growth Program 

    The program provides an advisory service for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects that are within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) and help build Australia’s manufacturing capability for the future. 

    Eligible businesses will be connected with an Industry Growth Program Adviser. The Adviser will provide specialised advice to support your commercialisation and growth opportunities and priorities. Once you have received this advice, you may choose to apply for: 

    • grants of $50,000 to $250,000 to support early-stage commercialisation projects 
    • grants of $100,000 to $5 million for commercialisation and growth projects. 

    For more information, click here. 

    Research and Development Tax Incentive 

    The Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive program is the Australian Government's most significant lever for funding innovation and R&D. It plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation's economic future and bolstering Australia's global competitiveness. The program encourages companies of all sizes to undertake R&D activities they might not otherwise. 

    The ATO and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) jointly administer the R&D tax incentive. Your R&D activities must be registered with DISR before claiming the tax offset. 

    For more information, click here. 

    Small Business Energy Incentive 

    The small business energy incentive is designed to help businesses improve energy efficiency and save on energy bills. 

    Businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will have access to a bonus 20 per cent tax deduction for the cost of eligible assets and improvements that support more efficient use of energy. The incentive applies to eligible expenditure on assets between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 (the ‘bonus period’). 

    For more information, click here.  

    Small Business Export Loan  

    Export Finance Australia are offering their Small Business Export Loan is for businesses that need to borrow $20,000 to $35,000. This financing can be used for contracts and purchase orders, export market development, general working capital, equipment finance, tourism services and online businesses. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Small business income tax offset 

    The small business income tax offset (also known as the unincorporated small business tax discount) can reduce the tax you pay by up to $1000 each year. 

    The offset is worked out on the proportion of tax payable on your business income. 

    For more information, click here. 

    Small Business Technology Investment Boost 

    Small businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $50 million will be allowed an additional 20 per cent tax deduction to support their digital operations and digitise their operations. 

    The boost applies to eligible expenditure incurred between 7.30pm AEDT on March 29, 2022 and June 30, 2023. The boost is for business expenses and depreciating assets and is capped at $100,000 of expenditure per income year. You can receive a maximum bonus deduction of $20,000 per income year. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Networks and advocacy

    Australian Chamber of Commerce 

    The Australian Chamber of Commerce is the nation's peak council of business organisations and the authentic voice of Australian enterprise and industry. They aim to make Australia a great place to do business. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Business Wodonga 

    Business Wodonga is the peak business representative body in Wodonga and North East Victoria’s premier business networking, support and representation organisation. 

    Business Wodonga is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation supporting our members, sponsors and key stakeholders in business for individual success and the success of Wodonga and our region. They currently have around 340 members, being the fourth largest Chamber of Commerce in Victoria. They work with nearly 7,000 employers and employees across the region and are funded by members and sponsors. 

    For more information, click here.  

    Victorian Small Business Commission 

    The Victorian Small Business Commission offer low-cost dispute resolution services, including mediation, and champion the rights of small businesses. Everything they do is to empower Victorian small businesses with the right tools to avoid or resolve disputes quickly, so they can focus on building their businesses. 

    For more information, click here.  

    The Australian Industry Group (Ai Group) 

    The Australian Industry Group is a peak industry association in Australia which along with its affiliates represents the interests of more than 60,000 businesses in an expanding range of sectors. 

    Their longstanding involvement with diverse industry sectors including manufacturing, construction, transport, labour hire, mining services, defence, airlines and ICT means they are genuinely representative of Australian industry. 

    For more information, visit www.aigroup.com.au  

    Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry 

    The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the peak body for business in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state. 

    Their focus is on leading business into the future. They are committed to being the voice for business, representing and championing their members in a difficult regulatory environment. 

    For more information, visit https://www.victorianchamber.com.au/  

    Victoria’s Cross Border Commissioner 

    The Cross Border Commissioner works with border residents, businesses and community organisations to identify and advocate for change along Victoria’s borders. This involves working with Victoria’s departments and agencies, helping them to ask the border questions on specific issues and across their portfolios of work. 

    The Cross Border Commissioner also works with interstate counterparts, including the NSW Cross Border Commissioner. 

    For more information, email enquiries@crossborder.vic.gov.au