Guide to Reopening: COVIDSafe Plans - Templates and Resources
Temporary Outdoor Dining Permits
Business Victoria Financial Support
Upcoming Webinars
Brimbank Business Recovery Grants Program
Brimbank.Localised Business Meetup

The following services are now open with restrictions in place:

- Retail
- Hospitality
- Hair and Beauty Services
- Outdoor Gym Classes
- Community Sports Organisations

See the full summary of the easing of restrictions here.

Industry Restart Guidelines
The new guidelines, which include Industry Restart Guidelines and Industry Restriction Levels, have been developed for hospitality, retail, hair and beauty businesses.

Six Principles of COVIDSafe Workplaces

Every Victorian business that is open must follow the six principles to ensure a COVIDSafe workplace.

ensure physical distancing (1.5 metres)
wear a face mask
practice good hygiene
keep good records and act quickly if staff become unwell
avoid interactions in close spaces
create workforce bubbles.

It is also mandatory for every Victorian business to have a COVIDSafe Plan. High-risk industries must have a specific High Risk COVIDSafe Plan in order to operate.

Here are some useful fact sheets that provide essential information on the COVIDSafe principles:

COVIDSafe Plan template
FACT SHEET - How to create a COVIDSafe workplace
FACT SHEET - What to do if a worker is unwell
FACT SHEET - What to do if a worker test positive
COVIDSafe Stakeholder Kit

Translated Fact Sheets in Vietnamese, Cantonese, Madarin, Somali, Punjabi and Arabic:

Covid19 Information Pack - Vietnamese
Covid19 Information Pack - Cantonese
Covid19 Information Pack - Mandarin
Covid19 Information Pack - Somali
Covid19 Information Pack - Punjabi
Covid19 Information Pack - Arabic
Do you need help creating a COVIDSafe Plan - Translator Service
Signage, posters and questionnaires to assist in communicating key messages to workers and customers.

For more information about these new requirements and how to make your workplace COVIDSafe, please visit the coronavirus website.

Please contact Business Victoria if you require any further assistance on 13 22 15

The Victorian Government has announced that as we move towards the next Step of the Victorian Governmentâs roadmap, hospitality venues can operate largely focusing on outdoor dining and with specific controls.

Business Victoria have Business Grants to support outdoor dining and entertainment, and Council has developed COVID-19 temporary outdoor dining permits for hospitality venues. Businesses are encouraged to read the Covid-19 Temporary Outdoor Dining Permit Guidelines before completing an application which are issued free of charge.

In some areas outdoor dining can only be accommodated by using existing car parking spaces. The temporary and short term use of some car parking for outdoor dining will help our restaurants and cafes reopen and stay viable. Theyâll also attract customers back into our centres and support surrounding businesses too. You can help by supporting the use of car parking for temporary outdoor dining.

For more information and to apply for an outdoor dining permit click here.

A range of financial support is available from the Australian and Victorian governments to help your business through coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Business Victoria Financial Support page will help you find programs and other support options available to you and your business.

For more information click here

Conversation #1: Economically Speaking, A Pathway to Recovery, 28 October, 12-1pm - Register here

Plan Your Business Website, 29 October, 10am-12.30pm - Register here

COVIDSafe Plan: What you need to know, 10 and 12 November - Register here

COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak is causing economic disruption in many sectors including retail, tourism, hospitality, education, property, manufacturing and supply chains.

Council has established a $300,000 Brimbank Business Recovery Grants Program (Business Grants Program) to support local start-up and small businesses in adapting and responding to COVID-19 and strengthening their business as part of the Brimbank City Councilâs COVID-19 Response and Recovery Strategy â Economic Development Response.

Grants Categories:

Two streams of funding are now available to support local Small Businesses:

Small Business Support (up to $10,000)
Small Business Booster Grant (up to $10,000)

Business Grants Program Flyer - English

Business Grants Program Flyer - Vietnamese

For more information about what can be funded under each stream click here

Friday 6 November
9.30-10.30am

The Localised Brimbank Meetup is a great way to connect with a vast range of businesses within Brimbank and explore opportunities to buy from, sell to or partner with local businesses.

Speaker: Androulla Sakkas from EmpoweredBeyond will cover 4 keys to staying focused, building momentum and growing your business.

The Localised Business Meetup events are easy and effective. It's a great way to introduce yourself, your business and your expertise by getting up and promoting your business to the crowd in the form of a lightning pitch (only 20 seconds!). 95% of attendees say they discovered a local business they hadn't heard of before and 72% say they will be following up immediately with someone they met in the meetup.

Register here

Click for Vic encourages Victorians to get behind the tourism industry by buying local products online.

The campaign aims to connect consumers with Victorian businesses offering at-home, virtual or delivered to your door experiences and to help keep businesses operating during this unprecedented time in our history.

The Click for Vic campaign is supported through advertising across television, digital and print, and further supported through Visit Victoria's public relations, partnerships and owned social media channels.

It showcases a selection of dine at home options from cafes, bars and restaurants, Victorian produce straight to your door, a range of drink at home delights, and gifts for friends and family. Download the industry toolkit to see how your business can get involved.

Having an Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) listing is fundamental. Without a listing you canât be included on the Visit Victoria website, or participate in programs such as the Click for Vic campaign.

Visit Victoria have training available to help create ADTW listings. This Visit Victoria link provides more information and background

For more information on Click for Vic here

Have you responded to the Business Impact Survey?

We'd really like to hear from you to gain an understanding of how COVID-19 (coronavirus) is impacting your business. Your input will be used to inform action and advocacy for assistance, and inform government on short and long-term recovery priorities. This survey is mainly multiple choice and will take approximately 5 minutes to complete.

Complete the Business Impact Survey here

Legal Essentials for Start-ups and Small Business - Register here
Making COVID-19 Count - What have we learnt - Register here

Small Business Victoria
A series of webinars to improve business success - for further information click here

Melbourne's North Food Group
Webinar - Economic Recovery: The challenges and opportunities for businesses - register here

Upskill My Business (Business Victoria)
Develop your business skills and strenghthen your business - for further information click here

ATO: Support for Small Business Webinar
A wide range of interactive online webinar seminars presented by experienced tax officers, where you can ask questions to help you apply the information to your situation - register here

Australian Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS)
ASBAS is delivering FREE online workshops and Business Resilience programs for Victorian businesses:

Online Workshops - Register here
Business Resilience Program - Register here
Business Resilience Mentoring - Register here
Business Resilience Workshops - Register here

Business Mentoring

Council's partnership with the Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) and ION Group provides businesses with vouchers to access mentoring sessions. Sessions are provided either online via Skype/Zoom or by telephone.

SBMS mentoring sessions are designed to provide operational support and identify resources for businesses in these extreme times. There are different mentoring options available, and they can be provided in languages other than English.

ION Group provides a strategic âwhole of businessâ approach to their mentoring sessions. These sessions include an opportunity to review your situation, undertake planning and business strategy, and prepare adaptation strategies for re-opening, reinventing and rebuilding your business.

For more information and a discussion about your mentoring needs, contact the Economic Development Team ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

Brimbank.Localised - itâs more than business to business â itâs business to people, people to business â itâs a business community â itâs letting people know where there is local expertise, local services and local opportunity.

There is no cost to sign up to Brimbank.Localised, and by signing up you will receive ongoing promotion and exposure to other Brimbank businesses, access to local supply chains and local business networks.

Brimbank.Localised is ready for Brimbank businesses to upload their profile, business information, articles and blogs - you'll just need a photo, logo, website and business details to create your profile account and get started.

Guide to getting started

Brimbank.Localised Getting Started guide (English)
Brimbank.Localised Getting Started guide (Vietnamese)

Find out more about Brimbank.Localised and upload your business profile here

The Think. Shop. Buy Local Alpaca map aims to make it even easier for locals to find out who is open, and to support and stay connected to their local business community.

All businesses in Brimbank are welcome to have their business listed on the Think. Shop. Buy Local map - and if you're offering take-away, delivery, online shopping, online fitness classes or virtual services during COVID-19 it's even more important to let locals know.

Find out more about the Think. Shop. Buy Local alpaca map

Download the Think. Shop. Buy Local flyer in Vietnamese

Explore the Think. Shop. Buy Local map

If youâd like to have your business listed, contact the Economic Development Team.

A special edition of LINK has been produced which focuses on COVID-19 business support and assistance from Council and Government. There is also information about Brimbank.Localised, the Brimbank Think. Shop. Buy Local alpaca map and the 2020 Business Development Program.

Download a copy of LINK here
or go to www.brimbank.vic.gov.au/business-and-tourism

Are you a local business looking for new staff and want to employ local?

There's no cost to join the Joblink community or to post your employment opportunities. Youâll also receive promotion for your business on the JobLink Facebook Page.

Check out Brimbank Joblink for more information and be sure to LIKE us on Facebook.

For further information about this newsletter please contact the Economic Development Unit on 9249 4000 or email ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au

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