What a year! As this is my last message for 2022, it seems only fitting to end the year on a positive note, with news that office occupancy in Melbourne’s CBD is climbing as Victoria continues its recovery.

Well, we didn’t get the outcome that we wanted for business with Federal Parliament passing the Industrial Relations Reforms Bill last week. So, we will now be ensuring we support you and your business to understand the impact of the changes and how you can navigate them.

The WorkSafe Incentive Scheme for Employers (WISE) offers businesses a rebate of up to $26,000 to employ a worker with work-related injury or illness.

The Victorian Chamber will partner with Jobs Victoria and Youth Activating Youth (YAY) to improve pathways for multicultural youth facing barriers to employment.

Female participants in the inaugural Chamber Change program say the initiative by the Victorian Chamber has increased their networks, benefited their organisations and set them up for business success.

One of the great things about Australia is that we live in a democracy. We all had the chance to vote on the weekend and we congratulate Premier Daniel Andrews and the Labor Party on what was a decisive win in the Victorian Election.

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.

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.

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

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.

A study from Safe Work Australia (SWA) has explored the cost of work-related injury and illness in Australia.

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.

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 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.

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.

A new study from Melbourne Chamber member Monash University reveals the need for workplaces to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV).