Victorian Chamber launches free helpline and support hub for bushfire-impacted businesses

Through its involvement in the Mentally Healthy Workplaces program, Truffleduck has strengthened its long-standing commitment to staff wellbeing. Using data, reflection and leadership development, it has supported its people in one of Australia’s most demanding industries.

Victorian businesses are warning the State Government its proposed work-from-home legislation will increase costs, damage hiring and push jobs and investment interstate. New research reveals business concerns have escalated sharply since the policy was first announced.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Committee for Melbourne have unveiled a comprehensive election platform aimed at strengthening Victoria’s economic performance and supporting regional industries.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Committee for Melbourne have released a business-led election platform outlining practical reforms to strengthen regional economies, including the border city of Wodonga, which continues to experience significant population and business growth.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Committee for Melbourne (CfM) warns that Geelong risks losing the next generation of industrial investment unless Victoria urgently addresses rising energy costs, regulatory complexity and business competitiveness.

Regional Victoria holds the key to the state’s future prosperity, but decades of underinvestment, rising business costs, workforce shortages and growing infrastructure pressures are limiting its potential.

Founded in 1851, the Victorian Chamber has been part of Victoria’s business landscape for almost as long as the state itself. Over the past 175 years, industries, society and the Chamber’s advocacy have continued to evolve.

The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) has released its latest gender pay gap results for 10,500 Australian employers, highlighting progress in key areas, with the Victorian Chamber retaining its Workplace Gender Equality Citation.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has outlined key employer obligations and deadlines for 2026, urging businesses to stay on top of tax, superannuation and reporting requirements to avoid compliance action.

A new Victorian Chamber initiative is helping Victorian businesses take meaningful action to prevent gendered violence and create safer, more respectful workplaces.

A wide range of grants, subsidies, programs and tax incentives are available from governments and key national agencies to help drive business growth.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a dedicated 2026 Bushfire HR Support Helpline and an expanded Bushfire Support Resource Hub to help businesses across fire-affected regions navigate the significant disruption caused by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires.