The Victorian Chamber was proud to team up with CareSuper and celebrate the day by asking some of our most influential female business leaders their thoughts on the #ChooseToChallenge theme and discuss what is needed to encourage further female participation in the workplace. In case you missed it, I encourage you to watch our special video featuring VCCI President Karyn Sobels, CareSuper CEO Julie Lander, Bendigo Kangan Institute CEO Sally Curtain and MCEC Director of Business Relaunch Helen Fairclough. Thank you for your involvement and sharing these important messages.

Even though it’s short week in Victoria, I have a long list of important updates I want to share with you. Later this month the JobKeeper scheme will come to an end and the true cost of the global pandemic on Victorian businesses will be revealed. Please read our article with answers to your most frequently asked questions about the end of JobKeeper and ways the Chamber can assist your business. The Chamber will continue to advocate strongly on our members’ behalf to ensure no businesses gets left behind and our recovery from the pandemic is as smooth as possible.

The media is reporting the possibility of job losses, and I have been speaking with Federal Government representations about the targeted support that will be required for those industries hardest hit. We must be cognisant that future generations will be picking up the tab for any assistance, so it needs to be targeted and responsible.

As the COVID-19 vaccine rollout gathers momentum, Victorian businesses will need to balance their legal requirements to provide a safe workplace against the rights of individuals who do not want to get the vaccine. As I said in the Sunday Age, the Victorian Chamber is calling on the Federal and State Governments to provide clear and tangible guidance in rollout plans on what will be one of the most significant workplace relations issues of the year.

It was fantastic to see the Federal Government extend its wage subsidy scheme for apprentices and trainees for another year. Incentivising businesses to take on apprentices and trainees with a 50 per cent subsidy has never been more important. You can read more on the extension of the program here, and please take advantage of the Victorian Chamber’s free apprenticeship services to assist your business.

I am looking forward to appearing at the Melbourne Conversations event on Thursday, hosted by the City of Melbourne, to discuss how Victoria is looking up after lockdown. I’ll be joined by MC Andrew Wear, author, Director of Economic Development and International at the City of Melbourne; Associate Professor Janine Dixon, economist at the Centre of Policy Studies, Victoria University; and Sharon Hamilton, CEO, Fella Hamilton. Tickets are still available but if you can’t make it in-person, you can watch the live stream.

Finally, I have some exciting news coming up on the progress of our Victoria Summit 2021. Next week, we will be revealing the members of our Reference Group, who will provide overarching strategic advice on the Victoria Summit’s scope, planning, implementation, engagement and activity, ahead of their first meeting on Wednesday. Stay tuned to our website and social media channels for all the details!

Enjoy your week.

Regards,
Paul.