|
About Seacc
Media Releases
|
Media Release
Eurobodalla Labour Market Under Spotlight
28% of employers in the Eurobodalla anticipate employment growth in the next 12 months and 41% of recruiting employers expect to have difficulty recruiting over the next twelve months. This is just some of the information coming from 244 employers surveyed in the Eurobodalla by the Australian Department of Employment and Industrial Relations (DEWR) conducted in October 2006.
DEWR conducted a Better Connections workshop at Narooma last week with a range of labour market agencies in attendance. They outlined that the workforce from 2005 to 2010 will show a shortfall of 195,000 workers nationally with the biggest shortages being in the Retail (22,000 jobs), Health and Community Services (8,000 jobs) and Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants (12,000 jobs).
The workshop came about through the South East NSW Area Consultative Committee (Seacc) approaching DEWR on behalf of south east labour market organisations.
Guest speaker at the workshop John Dedman from Seacc considered a variety of developments planned for the Eurobodalla shire and raised a range of issues and questions that those attending needed to consider.
Another topic discussed included the need for businesses to employ and maintain the services of the older people through innovative employment practices.
The outcome of the workshop resulted in Greg Bowman who was representing the Eurobodalla Shire and the Eurobodalla Business Development Board organising to meet with Rhonnie South from Eurobodalla Community Education, Ben Conolan from Campbell Page and Richard Jefferis from South Coast Workplace Learning to look at how important workforce planning information can be made available to the business sector.
Seacc injects $1.5 million into region
Eden cruise ships, the Delegate School of Arts kitchen, an oyster grader for Batemans Bay oyster farmers, marketing seminars for small business – it’s that diversity of projects the South East Area Consultative Committee (Seacc) is involved with that constantly excites Chairman Greg Malavey.
“Seven large cruise ships called into Eden last summer,” Mr Malavey said. “That’s absolutely new business for Eden and Seacc helped make that happen.
“We helped Sapphire Coast Tourism back in 2001 to access Australian Government funding to promote Eden to the international cruise market and we’ve assisted them again this year to gain more funds for marketing over this summer.”
Mr Malavey says over the past year Seacc has helped inject over $1.5 million in seed capital into the region from the Australian Government’s Regional Partnerships program for 14 projects with a total value of $4.5 million.
“That’s across the Bega Valley, Bombala, Cooma-Monaro, Eurobodalla and Snowy River Shires, and we’re not just talking about big projects like cruise ships,” he said.
“One was the upgrade of the kitchen at the Delegate School of Arts hall.
“That hall is the hub of the Delegate community, everybody uses it. The kitchen needed upgrading to meet health requirements and keep the hall functioning. Seacc helped the Delegate community access Australian Government Regional Partnerships funding.”
Mr Malavey said another standout project in Seacc’s last 12 months was the 53 seminars held for small businesses across the region that attracted over 1,000 participants.
“Subjects ranged from future business trends, to tax basics, to pricing what you’re worth.” Mr Malavey said.
“One of the Australian Government’s key roles for the 56 area consultative committee across the country is to build community skills and capacity.
“Well we’re doing it in barrow loads. Most people in small business wear many hats in their communities so we’re not only building individual businesses through these seminars, we’re also building our communities.”
Seacc’s annual general report 2005-2006 is available on the website www.seacc.org.au.
New information technology cluster for the South East region
Last week saw the formation of a very exciting new industry cluster for our region on Information Technology(IT). Web Designers, UNIX programmers, Graphic Designers, Sound engineers, Digital Photographers, Hardware suppliers, Internet Service Providers…are some of the industry people who attended the first of many meetings in the region.
“It was great to see nearly 30 IT specialists across the region attend our first meetings which were held following the Spam and Internet security seminars conducted by Seacc.” said Sarah Hannebery, the Small Business Answers Officer. “The level of interest was great to see with areas such as work sharing, 'intellectual isolation', insurances and lifting community awareness, just some of the topics discussed.”
Sarah Hannebery went on to say, “Anyone who works in the IT industry and would like to increase their networking should join the clusters. At the moment we have clusters in the Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and Snowy-Monaro region which all form part of the greater South East region IT cluster.” Our next step is to attract more IT specialists who would like to be part of the clusters and schedule our next meetings.”, said Sarah.
One of the members said “some of our work in web-designing currently gets sent to Sydney or Wollongong if our schedule or expertise cannot fulfill it, it would be great to find someone local who we can hand over the work to…”
Another said “…one of the greatest voids can be the “intellectual isolation” of working in a specialist field such as IT. It's great to get-together with other IT specialists to discuss issues and share ideas”
Activities and services which the cluster can provide include: networking amongst peers, sharing work overload, sharing technology, attending expos, Intellectual Property issues, Marketing, Developing Community Awareness of IT services, industry awards, youth career training, accessing larger contracts/tenders…to name just a few.
If you are interested in joining an IT cluster in your region simply contact Sarah Hannebery, Small Business Answers Officer for more details on 64921166 or .
The Small Business Answers Programme is an Australian Government Initiative under Ausindustry.
. |
Come and join us at a free tax basics seminar
If you are a small business owner or operator, come along and learn tax information and get practical tips relevant to your business.
Do you need some help understanding your taxation obligations? The Tax Office understands tax matters can seem a little confusing so, in conjunction with the Small Business Answers Program, a free tax basics seminar is being held in March 2005 for people who are new to business or those who just need some extra information.Topics to be covered include:
- getting started in business (including Australian business number and business structures)
- income tax and expenses
- record keeping
- goods and services tax (GST)
- (including activity statements and pay as you go tax)
- reporting and paying tax
- budgeting for tax, and
- employing people
Date
Tuesday, 15 March 2005
Time
3.00pm – 6.00pm
Venue
Conference Room
National Parks & Wildlife Service Building
Jindabyne
BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL AS NUMBERS ARE LIMITED
To register phone Sarah Hannebery at Small Business Answers on (02) 6492 1166, or email Sarah on
by COB Thursday 10 March 2005
Note: refreshments will be provided
The Small Business Answers Programme is an Australian Government Initiative under Ausindustry.
|
Careers diary for students
What are you going to do when you leave school?
How many times are teenagers asked this question, and how many teenagers respond by saying, "I don't really know"?
To assist student in years 10, 11 and 12 with this question, the South East NSW Area Consultative Committee (Seacc) has again developed a free student diary for 2005 that is full of information regarding sources to obtain career information, jobs, further education, plus local details about services available for young people.
The diary features artwork and photographs from schools throughout the South East Region, and will be provided free to students in years 10, 11 and 12.
The diary is full of quotes, tips and websites that will be of interest to students (and parents). There are features on job interviews, Indigenous programs, New Apprenticeships, jobs with good prospects, local labour market information, as well as information on the Job Network.
The diary is predominantly funded by the Australian Government , with additional sponsorship from Illawarra Institute of TAFE, the University of Canberra, La Trobe University, Rotary, New Apprenticeships, Mission Australia, Wesley Uniting Employment, Campbell Page, Sertec, Auswide Projects and Workways.
John Dedman, Executive Officer of Seacc said "the student diary aims to target that difficult period for many young people when they are trying to work out what they will do when they leave school. The diary provides information on seeking job opportunities, enterprising skills development programs plus numerous career related websites to explore", he said.
The diaries were given to Year 10,11 & 12 students in South East NSW high schools in the first week of the new school year.
Inquiries about the diaries can be made to the Seacc office on 02 6492 5688.
This is an Australian Government initiative.
Contact:
John Dedman
Ph. 64925688
Email:
|
Training opportunities
Are you looking to upgrade your skills in 2005?
The local training website southeasttrainingproviders.org has been updated to assist local residents access courses for 2005.
The site lists shorter term training opportunities with 6 local training companies and TAFE in South East NSW.
Over 200 training courses are listed under the main categories of
- Business and computers
- Retail
- Tourism and hospitality
- Rural,
- Building, construction and engineering
- Health and exercise
- Community services
- Recreational and hobby.
The site displays course information such as dates, times, costs, enrolment information etc. It is suggested that you bookmark the site for future reference for yourself or other members of the family.
Residents are encouraged to make use of the site which is co-ordinated by the South East NSW Area Consultative Committee (Seacc) - an Australian Government initiative in Regional Australia. Enquiries about the site can be directed to John Dedman on 02 6492 5688.
Media enquiries to:
John Dedman
Ph. 6492 5688
Email:
|
Anti spam seminars for business in the Eurobodalla
Free seminars to provide businesses with information on how to comply with the Spam Act, avoid their computer systems being 'hi-jacked' by spammers and reduce the amount of spam they receive is being sponsored by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA).
The seminars will be held at:
The BATEMANS BAY Coachhouse Marina Resort on Monday 14th February from 9:30am to 11:30am
The NAROOMA Golf Club – on Monday 14th February from 3:00pm to 5:00pm
“The ACA is responsible for enforcing the Spam Act and educating businesses on how to comply with it,” Acting ACA Chairman Dr Bob Horton said.
“Our message is that anyone sending commercial electronic messages should examine their business practices and mailing lists to ensure that they have consent from the recipients of messages. They should also make sure they include accurate sender information and an unsubscribe facility,” Dr Horton said.
“Consent may be explicit, or under certain circumstances it can be inferred from an existing business or other relationship, or from the actions of the parties. However, the ACA's view is that the failure of the recipient of an unsolicited commercial electronic message to unsubscribe does not allow the sender to infer future consent.”
A practical guide to the Spam Act for business is available from the ACA website at www.aca.gov.au or call 1300 855 180.
Under the Spam Act 2003, which came into effect on April 10 2004, it is illegal to send, or cause to be sent, 'unsolicited commercial electronic messages' that have an Australian link. The Spam Act covers electronic messages of a commercial nature and can impose penalties of up to $1.1 million a day for repeat corporate offenders.
The free seminars will be followed by an informal networking session for those who wish to share ideas and discuss opportunities for the IT industry in the Eurobodalla.
“Many businesses either use computers and the Internet in their day-to-day activities or are an integral part of the industry. If your business relies on IT and you would like to be part of a local IT cluster, this seminar is a must.” says Sarah Hannebery from Seacc.
To register, please contact Sarah at Seacc on 64921166 or email . |
|
|
|
