As Victoria emerges from COVID-19 and business confidence returns, there has never been a better time to take on an apprentice or trainee - a crucial pathway to kickstart our economy post-pandemic and secure talent for Victoria’s future workforce.

How good was it seeing our state roar back to life over the weekend? It was so exciting to see crowds at events and smiles on the faces of so many as they celebrated Victoria’s reopening over the past few days.

After enduring the world’s longest lockdown and inconsistent periods of extended closures, Victorian businesses are ready to leave the last two, difficult years behind them as they begin reopening under COVID-Normal conditions.

With the hospitality and retail sectors in the process of reopening their doors and workplaces welcoming staff back to their offices in coming weeks, focus has shifted to how businesses should request and handle COVID-19 vaccine certificates and vaccination information.

Sunday was a good day for most when we heard the State Government’s roadmap had been bought forward. I cannot wait to see the smiles on the faces of business owners, staff and customers when we start to emerge from lockdown in Metropolitan Melbourne this week.

Victorians have been rewarded with further easing of restrictions after hitting the state’s 70 per cent double vaccination target ahead of schedule. As businesses reopen, they will need to be prepared to manage any conflict that may arise due to overseeing and enforcing COVIDSafe requirements. Learn how we can assist via our new training course.

The Victorian Chamber, in partnership with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has produced an employer guide to Victorian Public Health Orders Mandating COVID-19 Vaccination in the Workplace in response to strong demand from members.

Do you have a technology problem that you desperately want to solve but don’t know the personnel or resource to do it? Then read on because the SummerTech LIVE program could be the answer you are looking for.

October is finally here, and we are three weeks or less from hitting the 70 per cent target to start the reopening. It’s within sight now, and we can finally start to think about waving goodbye to lockdowns forever. The Victorian Chamber is continuing our push for the State Government to revise openings at both the 70 and 80 per cent targets.

Businesses and workers have sacrificed, suffered and done their bit to protect us all from COVID-19. They stayed closed, in some cases without work, pivoted their services to keep Victorians employed and many lost what they had spent years building. Businesses across the State are in crisis.

Victorian businesses have today received the clarity and certainty they have been waiting for, with the State Government’s announcement that COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory for all Victorian authorised workers.

The State and Federal Governments have announced a further $2.27 billion in grants and financial support to assist Victorian businesses and workers struggling through the final weeks of lockdown.

I had a close friend message me from London on the weekend, as he sat comfortably in a coffee shop on Regent Street.

More than 1300 businesses across all sectors, sizes and regions provided feedback to the Victorian Chamber on the State Government’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and viewpoints on vaccination conditions. Here are the results.

The Victorian Chamber is boosting business confidence during the pandemic via the launch of a new webinar series created to help support businesses through the latest COVID-19 lockdown and beyond. 

For more than 40 years, iconic Australian brand Bakers Delight has continued to uphold its commitment to ‘real bread, real people and real delight.’ Hear how the family-owned and run organisation has thrived through the pandemic, and how it has maintained its reputation as the nation’s most successful bakery franchise.