It’s Grand Final week in Victoria and you can feel the electricity in the air! For the first time in three years the Grand Final is back in Melbourne where it belongs and oh, how we’ve missed it.

Congratulations to Geelong Football Club on a brilliant season and a brilliant win. It may not have been a game to remember but the AFL Grand Final was a moment to celebrate the return of one of our iconic events to Victoria.

National Cabinet has agreed to end mandatory isolation requirements for COVID-19.

Businesses must still observe existing obligations under Victorian health and safety law after the end of COVID-19 isolation mandates.

The start of daylight saving and the burst of sunshine has put a welcome spring in our step after a long and challenging winter.

The Federal Minister for Skills and Training Brendan O'Connor has outlined his priorities “to tackle the most challenging skills and labour shortages to confront the country in decades”.

With Victoria’s pandemic declaration expired at 11.59pm last night, it’s time for us to get on with life and for business to continue its recovery as we focus on the future.

The floods across the state are another powerful reminder of the natural disasters Australians endure. In Victoria, the pandemic has been bookended by bushfires and floods, causing more disruption for thousands of people.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his first Budget on Tuesday night and the Victorian Chamber was pleased to see our advocacy reflected in a number of primary areas that will assist business.

The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) has released a document that helps Australian employers understand their options to hire and retain international students and graduates.

With the Melbourne Cup run and won, the focus now turns to another race - the Victorian Election on November 26. The official campaign began yesterday and the Victorian Chamber released the first of a series of advocacy videos to promote our State Election Platform, Powering Victoria’s Future.

The Mid-Career Checkpoint is an Australian Government initiative delivered by the Victorian Chamber that helps carers re-join the workforce or workers in industries severely impacted by COVID-19 to kickstart their career.

I’m excited to be Acting Chief Executive of the Victorian Chamber this week while Paul Guerra is in Paris bidding on behalf of Melbourne to secure the 14th World Chambers Congress here in 2025.

The Victorian Chamber is committed to providing excellence in our training services. Our suite of high-quality courses includes nationally recognised diplomas.

I am delighted that the Victorian Chamber Board endorsed Adrian Kloeden as President and Jeremy Blackshaw as Deputy President at Tuesday’s Victorian Chamber AGM. Congratulations to Adrian and Jeremy and thank you to Karyn Sobels for her successful tenure as President.

This Saturday Victorians will go to the polls in what is shaping as a critical election for our business community after the many challenges of the past three years.