The need to be fast, agile and ahead of the curve on all levels of customer service is no longer a ‘nice idea,’ it’s a business imperative. This tipping point has created an abundance of work for IT teams in Australia and around the globe, and a backlog of work that needs to be delivered now, not next year. If you, like so many companies, didn’t jump early into this digital race, how do you catch up? While I’m here to advise Australian organisations (small, medium or large) on how to do this, you must first understand that the crisis isn’t over.  

The Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme is ending on 15 January 2022. Although eligible tenants will no longer be entitled to rent relief after this date, tenants and landlords will still have access to support via the Victorian Small Business Commission.

Industry self-regulatory body for the .au domain, auDA, has released its inaugural Digital Lives of Australians 2021 Report. The report finds Australian consumers and small businesses benefit immensely from the Internet, but cybersecurity threats continue to pose a huge concern.

For 23 years, the Australian Government has contracted the Victorian Chamber to deliver a suite of services and support through the Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) at no cost to employers and individuals across Victoria.

Thousands of businesses providing educational experiences for Victorian schoolchildren will be given a boost under the Victorian Government’s $112.9 million Positive Start in 2022 initiative. The funding, announced by Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Education James Merlino, aims to get children back enjoying the experiences they missed out on during Victoria’s lockdowns in 2020 and 2021.

As Victoria emerges from COVID-19, the State Government has bolstered the confidence of organisers of creative, sporting, business and community events to plan and stage events with an interruption insurance scheme and restart package.

Over the next three years, the Victorian Government’s $64 million Digital Jobs program aims to produce up to 5,000 job-ready candidates with up-to-date digital skills that will help Victorian businesses thrive.

Research by Victorian Chamber members Swinburne University of Technology and Readiness, concludes business leaders need to ‘lift their game’ when it comes to psychological wellbeing in the workplace.

One cyber security incident is reported every eight minutes, according to the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), underscoring the urgency for businesses to protect themselves online.

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.

The One Stop One Story Hub Pilot Program aims to ease the burdens faced by people experiencing vulnerability by providing a single access point for a range of support services.

The Victorian Chamber in partnership with the Victorian Government Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions has launched the Victorian COVIDSafe Business Awards to recognise and reward Victorian businesses that have put an enormous amount of hard work and effort in responding to the pandemic through COVIDSafe measures.

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.

The State Government has today given the green light for all Victorian businesses to welcome back customers and staff from 6pm on Friday, 29 October as we prepare to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated target. Importantly, once we hit the 90 per cent vaccinated target there will be only minimal restrictions in place, meaning it will be a spectacular summer.

Your business is only as cyber secure as the weakest link in your supply chain – and the enormity of this risk is changing the insurance landscape. Learn how to navigate these changes and challenges in this article from Gallagher.

The Victorian Chamber is proud to partner with the Victorian Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions (DJPR) to deliver the fourth round of the SummerTech LIVE program, which matches businesses with tertiary students to tackle real, digital technology problems.