News

“Call us awesome, brave, legends or just downright crazy”

On Sunday 4 brave individuals and I hiked the Otford to Bundeena Coastal track. A 27km beautiful walk through the Royal National Park. However, Sunday’s weather was anything but beautiful… Mother Nature showed no mercy! The walk alone is a massive challenge, and with constant rain and strong winds, it made it even more of a battle. I use the hike as a training/test hike for when we organise group hikes around Australia or various parts of the world. I always say
“if you can do the Coastal walk you can complete the upcoming hike.” This is not just physically but mentally.

The hike on Sunday we had already postponed twice this year due to bad weather or the recent lockdown. I was determined or some would say stubborn to do it, no matter what!
One of the members, Melodie that completed it summed it up,
“Call us awesome, brave, legends or just downright crazy”

What have you achieved in the past that required you to be stubborn, brave, or crazy..?

Get involved in your local election – paid opportunities available

Council elections are on Saturday 4 December 2021 and the NSW Electoral Commission (‘NSWEC’) is looking to recruit staff, especially to work on election day.  A number of positions are available to work at polling places throughout the Georges River area.

Are you interested to work at a polling place on election day and earn some extra cash?

Information on working at the election can be viewed here

If you are interested, apply via the NSWEC’s Expression of Interest website: https://eoi.elections.nsw.gov.au/EOI/EOIWelcomePage.aspx?EEID=LG2101

A lot of people set unrealistic goals. 

They ask what their goals should be and how long should it take. I don’t care about any of that. It’s gonna take what it takes.

While it sounds vague in light of the promises of other fitness fads, it’s actually the best advice an honest coach will give you. Fitness is a life-long journey that isn’t working if you only do it seasonally.

Getting in shape or reaching ‘your goal’ is easier than you think, but takes longer than you think. That’s where many people go wrong because we’re told the fastest way to success is to increase the intensity as much as possible…
Yet, suffering in a class run off a TV or pounding yourself at the gym is also a sign that you’re doing things your body hasn’t been prepared for. Don’t get me wrong I love a high-intensity workout, it’s one of our core training foundations; LIFT, SPRINT, & PLAY

The coaches at Live Well offer something that’s meant to carry you for decades. We aim to ‘make getting old look easy’.
It’s sustainable and customisable. Because we know it’s natural to overestimate what we can do in a few months and underestimate what we can do in a few years, we do our best to place you at the right starting point and pace you accordingly.

WaterFix® Small Business pilot offer

Sydney Water is re-starting its subsidized water efficiency service for our small business customers. Our goal is to help small businesses save water and reduce the water and wastewater usage charges.

WaterFix® Small Business pilot offer

We are offering a limited number of customers who participate in our pilot program a subsidy of up to $1,000. This subsidy includes a call out and water efficiency assessment valued at $110, as well as works completed by us that result in water savings, such as:

• Leak repairs
• Installation of WELS star rated aeration devices
• WELS 4-star rated showerhead replacements
• WELS rated tap replacements
• Installation of water efficient pre-rinse spray valves
• Toilet repairs and replacements

The service

At the first appointment, our plumbers will complete a water efficiency assessment for your business, check the fixtures and devices for leaks and water efficiency.

Depending on the findings, they may offer to complete the above works on the day or return for a subsequent appointment. To sign up email WaterFixSmallBiz@sydneywater.com.au

Watch now: Mental Wellbeing and Resilience with Silvia de Ridder

Missed last week’s webinar on Mental Wellbeing and Resilience with Silvia de Ridder?

Silvia’s short session covered the following:

• What is resilience and why does it matter?
• Understanding the elements that make up resilience
• Provide the opportunity to connect with like-minded people and learn from each other

You can watch the webinar now.

ABN change to reduce red tape and delays for business

Progression training

Support package to boost outdoor dining, events

Hospitality businesses will be able to apply for grants of $5,000 to set up outdoor dining spaces and planning rules will be further eased to make it easier for businesses to get permission.

The NSW Government is also offering local councils funding to promote outdoor events and revive street spaces.

The trial easing of planning rules which allowed all pubs and small bars to apply to use the footpath and public spaces to serve diners alfresco under exempt development rules has now been made permanent. The changes, trialled from October 2020, aligned pubs and small bars with the existing planning rules for cafes and restaurants.

The rules for alfresco dining on public and private land are also being temporarily changed to include parks, registered clubs and open spaces. Hospitality providers will be able to apply to set up alfresco dining as an exempt development with landowner’s consent. These temporary measures will run for seven months from now until 18 April 2022.

Up to 5,000 hospitality businesses can also apply to the Government for a $5,000 grant to get their outdoor dining venture off the ground.

For more information, visit Alfresco Restart Package.

Resources to help your small business acquire the knowledge and skills to tender for NSW Government contracts and local government opportunities

Selling goods and services to the NSW Government and councils can be an important growth opportunity for small businesses. The NSW Government spends more than $40 billion each year on the procurement of goods, services and construction.

It can be challenging, however, for a business to qualify as a government supplier, identify suitable tender opportunities and navigate the procurement process.

Online Training

The Commission has partnered with TAFE NSW to deliver online training modules for small businesses on how to become a successful supplier to the NSW Government. The modules cover four major topics:

• Getting Business Ready
• Finding Opportunities
• Selling to Government
• Successful Supplying

Those who successfully complete the courses receive a certificate of acknowledgment.

The training is free to access for registered small businesses. For more information, including registration and course information, visit TAFE NSW Selling to NSW Government Micro Skills course.

Guide for Small Business

Apply for the small business fees and charges rebate

The NSW Government has announced that the small business fees and charges rebate will increase from $1,500 to $2,000. In addition, road user tolls for business vehicles will be added as an eligible fee for businesses to claim. We are working on these changes. More information will be available soon.

If you’re a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $1,500.

This rebate helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourages growth by reducing the cost of running a business. Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $1,500 is reached.

Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021. These include, but are not limited to:

• food authority licences
• liquor licences
• tradesperson licences
• event fees
• outdoor seating fees
• council rates.

View the full list of eligible fees and charges.