Seacc Small Business Internet Resources

• www.eurobodallabiz.com.au
  The Eurobodalla Shire-wide Internet Business & Tourism Directory
• www.bayinfo.com.au
  Batemans Bay's Community, Business and Holiday Information Portal
• www.coomatown.com.au
  Discover Cooma
• www.sapphirecoastproducers.com.au
  Site of the Sapphire Coast Producers Association
• www.sapphirecoast.com.au
  For all your Sapphire Coast tourist information

• Bega Valley Shire
• Bombala Shire Council
• Cooma Monaro Shire Council
• Eurobodalla Shire Council
• Snowy River Shire Council

Agriculture Advancing Australia (AAA)
The Government announced the Agriculture - Advancing Australia (AAA) package in September 1997 to reflect confidence in the capacity of farmers to master change and in recognition that government has a role in supporting farmers to make the most of changing market conditions.
The aim of AAA package is to help the rural sector to be more competitive, sustainable and profitable by focusing on four key objectives: help farmers profit from change; give farmers access to an effective welfare safety net; provide incentives for ongoing farm adjustment; and encourage social and economic development in rural areas.

Agriculture Gateway
is a one-stop-shop for all government information on rural industries. You will be able to find government information on agriculture, regardless of whether it is Commonwealth, State or Local information.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
The ACCC's Small Business Programme has three main objectives

educating small business about its rights and obligations under the Trade Practices Act
promoting small business aspects of the ACC's activities, and
enforcing the Trade Practices Act in relation to small business issues.

The Trade Practices Act and the work of the ACCC play important roles in the promotion of a fair and competitive operating environment for small business.

Area Consultative Committees (ACCs)
The core functions of ACCs include regional consultation and identification of appropriate project activity. They bring together key business, regional and community representatives to identify priorities and opportunities for job growth, skills development employment and regional growth. ACCs identify and facilitate projects for funding under the Regional Assistance Programme (RAP) and other government programmes.

Australian Taxation Office
The ‘For Businesses’ area contains information and online services relating to large, medium and small businesses. Information topics include: Paying tax and claim rebates; Operate a business (including information about getting business advice and a link to the Registered Software Facility ); Employees; Start or end business; Study and Tenders and opportunities.

AusIndustry
AusIndustry is the Commonwealth Government's principal agency for delivering information, programs and services that support industry, research and innovation.

An agency of the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources (ISR), AusIndustry serves the needs of Australian businesses in the manufacturing, resources and services sectors seeking to enhance innovative activities and improve competitiveness via a range of commercial incentives and information services for Australian businesses.

Australian Business Register (ABR)
The Australian Business Register (ABR) Online is a publicly available, online database that contains some of the information that is provided by businesses when they register for an Australian Business Number (ABN).

Australian Standards
Standards Australia delivers knowledge-based services which improve organizational intelligence and efficiency, and enhance competitive advantage both nationally and in overseas markets.

Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA)
Contains information on key steps in making an AWA, how to draft an AWA, how to submit an AWA for approval and the filing and assessment process.

Austrade Online
Austrade is the Australian Trade Commission - the federal government's export and investment facilitation agency. It helps Australians win export business and generate inward and outward investment.

Australian Job Search
Australian JobSearch (AJS) provides a new way for job seekers to search for a job. The aim is to give all job seekers the best possible access to the biggest choice of jobs. The national vacancy database contains: Every job listed with every Job Network Service around the country; Jobs advertised in some national newspapers; Jobs listed in the Commonwealth Public Service gazette; Jobs lodged directly by employers using our advertise a job service; and Jobs from RCSA (Recruitment and Consulting Services Association).

Awards and Industrial Relations (NSW)
The Department of Industrial Relations promotes compliance with NSW industrial legislation by providing information, advice and assistance relating to awards and other industrial entitlements; undertaking industrial inspections and industry targeted campaigns; administering and issue of retail trading hours exemptions retail trading hours legislation; providing industrial licensing services to hairdressers and entertainment industry representatives; where necessary, prosecuting breaches of industrial law; and providing an efficient, cost-effective long service payments scheme for building and construction workers.

Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF)
A ims to increase the rate of commercialisation of Australian biotechnology ventures by reducing the cost of demonstrating "proof of concept" for new biotechnology initiatives. The program aims to address the critical gap between the research and commercial stages of development, where it can be difficult for companies to source funds to prove the viability of a new concept.

Building on IT Strengths Program (BITS)
aims to build the strength and competitiveness of the Australian information industries sector, including fostering much stronger commercialisation linkages with R&D organisations and the creation of clusters of innovative IT&T business

Business Entry Point (BEP)
This Commonwealth Government Internet portal aims to make it easier for business to find government information, to complete compliance processes and to identify suitable support or assistance programs. It provides information and online services from Federal, State, Territory and local governments in Australia as well as a number of industry and business associations.
All State and Territory governments support and participate actively in the Business Entry Point initiative.

Business Enterprise Centres
Business Enterprise Centres (BECs) are non-profit, community-based organisations established under a company structure with boards of directors to provide free and confidential advice and assistance to existing and potential small business owners and operators.

Additional services offered include:
provision of training workshops (including New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) for some BEC's) assistance in business plan creation access to business information, both in print and electronically networking and numerous other business-related activities

For further information contact your local Business Advisory Service Centre

Snowy Monaro BEC

Bombala Street Cooma

(02) 64 52 5392

South Coast Business Enterprise Centre

163 Auckland Street Bega (covers Batemans Bay, Narooma, Moruya and Merimbula)

(02) 6492 3944

Business Incubators
Small business incubators are designed to assist new and growing businesses to become established and profitable by providing premises, advice, services and other support. Funds are available to help cover the costs of setting up an incubator, and, in certain circumstances, existing incubators may apply for enhancement funding.

Business Licences Information Service (BLIS)
BLIS offer intending and existing businesses a first-stop point of enquiry through which application forms for all Federal and State business licences (including name registrations, transactions registrations and licenses which apply to specific industries and activities f you are in business or thinking about setting up a business, the NSW Department of Fair Trading has information resources to help you.

Business and Regional Development (NSW)
From starting up, to taking the first steps into export markets and winning major overseas contracts, the Department provides a range of services to help small and medium businesses become more competitive. Visit the small business website to access information, tools and programs for small business growth.

Copyright
The Copyright Council offers many ways to learn about your rights and obligations with regard to copyright.

Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET)
Government program that focuses on innovation and its commercialisation. COMET is designed to increase the commercialisation of innovative products, processes and services, by providing individuals, early-stage growth firms, and spin-off companies with a tailored package of support to improve their potential for successful commercialisation.

Company Registration
This section of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission website provides commonly used ASIC forms that can be downloaded and printed.

EDGE is ASIC's electronic lodgement service designed specifically for large volume lodgements of company annual returns and change documents.
ECR enables Australian companies to be registered electronically using smart cards and public key technology. The system is designed for intermediaries (shelf company promoters, accountants, lawyers, and others).

E-Record
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has developed E-Record, a free electronic record keeping package, to assist small/micro businesses and non-profit organisations keep good business records. E-Record is a base line product designed for businesses operating on a cash basis of accounting, who are using paper based records and not already using a commercially available accounting package. A free copy of E-record is available by contacting your local Small Business Assistance Officer, Sarah Hannebery on 6492 1166 or sarah@seacc.org.au by calling the ATO

Education and Training (NSW)
The Department of Education and Training coordinates the delivery of education and training services across New South Wales, Australia with responsibilities for Early Childhood and Primary Education, Secondary Education, Vocational Education and Training, Higher Education, Adult and Community Education

Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)
The Scheme provides assistance to small and medium Australian exporters committed to, and capable of, seeking out and developing export business by repaying part of their promotional expenses. Applicants may qualify for up to 50% reimbursement of eligible export marketing expenses above $15,000 pa to a maximum of eight grants. Up to $200,000 pa may be reimbursed.

FarmBis
Provides funding to members of the farm management team (comprising principal operator, spouse, family members, partners and staff employed in a management capacity),. FarmBis assists these people to build on their existing skills by providing direct financial contributions towards the cost of training activities. Activities supported include skills development, farm management planning, business and financial planning, farm performance, benchmarking, quality assurance, risk management, skills auditing , leadership development and marketing.

Farm Help - supporting families through change
Farm Help delivers welfare support and advice to the farm sector, as well as providing assistance to farmers who wish to exit the industry.

Farm Innovation Programme

The Programme encourages businesses in the farming; food, fisheries and forestry sectors to adopt already researched innovative practices, processes and products. The adoption of innovative practices, processes and products is important in stimulating economic and employment growth in Australia and helping Australian rural businesses to improve their profitability or output, and sustainability of the natural resource base.

Farm Forestry Program (FFP)
The aim of the Farm Forestry Program is to encourage the incorporation of commercial tree growing and management into farming systems for the purpose of wood and non-wood production, increasing agricultural productivity and sustainable natural resource management. The program recognises that commercial opportunities can stimulate private landholders to undertake farm forestry activities that provide both economic, environmental and natural resource management benefits.

The Foundation for Regional Renewal
A new philanthropic foundation to help provide a viable social and economic future for Australia’s rural and regional communities was unveiled at the Regional Australia Summit in Canberra.

The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal aims to encourage innovative collaboration between business, community and government in philanthropic endeavours that will boost the economic and social well-being of regional Australia.

GrantsLink
This Internet portal makes it easier to find suitable and relevant grants for your community projects and business from the many Commonwealth grants that are available. GrantsLINK also helps you find the best source of funding and assists you to complete application forms.

Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commissioner
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity is a national independent statutory government body, established in 1986 by an Act of the federal Parliament, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act . The Commission plays a central role in contributing to the maintenance and improvement of a tolerant, equitable and democratic society, through its public awareness and other educational programs aimed at the community, government and business sectors. These programs provide information and strategies to improve the enjoyment of human rights in Australia, the key message being that the elimination of discrimination and harassment are prerequisites for the enjoyment of human rights by all Australians.

Indigenous Small Business Fund
In May 1999, the Federal Government announced a major initiative, the Indigenous Employment Policy . This policy supports a new way for the Government and the private sector to work with each other, and with indigenous communities, toward a common goal — creating more jobs for indigenous Australians. An important focus of that policy is to help to nurture and support indigenous small businesses. The Indigenous Small Business Fund (ISBF) is a joint initiative of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, to foster the development of businesses owned, operated and managed by Indigenous people and promote sustained indigenous employment opportunities.

Innovation Investment Fund (IIF)
aims to provide venture capital (equity) to assist small companies in the early states of development to commercialise the outcomes of Australia's strong research and development capability.

Industrial Supplies Office (ISO)
The offices in the ISO network are funded by the respective State and Territory Governments to undertake research into goods and services that may be imported by purchasers who are unaware of a credible, capable and competitive Australian company producing the requirement. ISO is recognised by both industry and Government as the authority on Australian industry capability. Opportunities for Australian industry in supplying project requirements so that both project developers and local industry benefit.

Information Technology Online Programme (ITOL)
This initiative is managed by the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) a portfolio agency of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

ITOL is designed to accelerate the national adoption of electronic commerce business to business solutions, especially by communities of small and medium enterprises (SME's). The projects demonstrate new and innovative online solutions that improve business competitiveness for identifiable clusters of Australian business for real business benefits. ITOL provides competitive grants (for maximum of $150,00) of up to 50% of total project funding to collaborative projects targeted at delivering online business benefits to key sectors of the Australian economy.

Local Government Incentive Programme
This programme, which is now in its second year, recognises the need for support to be given to local councils to improve the delivery of services and to lead local communities. The focus of the programme in 2000-01 is on three priority areas: activities that lead to the adoption of best practice and sharing of technical expertise across councils; the promotion of an enhanced role for Local Government in leading their communities; and increasing the capacity of Local Government to contribute to regional development.

New Apprenticeships
This website explains how New Apprenticeships work, the benefits for your business and where to get more information including pamphlets in languages other than English.
New Apprenticeships provide real benefits for your business and can contribute to your bottom line with practical skills and knowledge acquired through apprenticeship training. They combine practical work with structured training to give young people a nationally recognised qualification and the experience they need to get the job they want.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)
the programme is administered by the Department of Employment Workplace Relations and Small Business. It assists eligible unemployed people to establish commercially viable new business through a comprehensive package of assistance.

The package of assistance offered under NEIS includes:
training in small business management, business skills and business plan development;
NEIS Allowance for up to 52 weeks following training, equivalent to the basic adult rate of the Newstart Allowance; and
business advice and mentor support during the first year of business operation.
The scheme is delivered locally by the NEIS managing agents and is funded under the Government's Job Network.

New Industries Development Program
The Federal Government is providing $21.7 million over five years commencing 1 July 2001 for the expansion and enhancement of the New Industries Development Program (NDIP). The main aim of the active of the NIDP is to provide competitive - based funding assistance for "pilot commercialisation' of new innovative agribusiness products, technologies and services. The program aims to develop approaches that may be adopted more widely to 'incubate and hatch" new niche agribusiness ventures.

Office of the Employment Advocate
The OEA provides assistance and advice to employees and employers (in particular, employers in small business) on the Governments Workplace Relations Act 1996, especially workplace agreements (AWAs) and freedom of association.
The OEA has also released a new internet service, AWAonline to assist business to draft and lodge AWAs. AWAonline includes a bank of template AWAs and model clauses specifically aimed at making AWA's more accessible for smaller enterprises

Office of State Revenue (NSW)
The Office of State Revenue is one of two offices which comprise the NSW Treasury.
OSR administers State taxation, collects revenue, develops policy and implements legislation relating to State taxation for and on behalf of the people of New South Wales. The Office of Financial Management is responsible for State Government accounting, banking, funding and economic advice.

OZeCulture: IT making it work programme
aims to accelerate the national adoption of ebusiness solutions, especially by small and medium sized, not-for profit cultural enterprises across a range of different projects and geographic regions. OZeCulture provides competitive grant based support for the development of collaborative projects. The OZeCulture grant maybe a catalyst for cultural industry groups to come together to solve common problems on a sector wide basis, rather than working individually and developing multiple solutions and , in some cases , duplicating outcomes. Contact ozeculture@dicta.gov.au

Patents, Trademarks and Design
IP Australia is the federal government agency that grants rights in patents, trademarks and designs. Our mission is to ensure that Australians benefit from the effective use of intellectual property (IP), particularly through increased innovation, investment and trade. IP Australia incorporates the Patent, Designs and Trade Marks Offices. It is a division of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (ISR) but operates independently and reports directly to the Minister.

R & D Start Programme
The R&D Start program, administered through AusIndustry, is available to Australian companies and is a merit-based program designed to assist Australian industry to undertake research and development (R&D) and commercialisation through a range of grants and loans.

Research and Development (R & D) Tax Concession
The concession aims to encourage increased investment in R&D by Australian companies in order to make them more innovative and increase the international competitiveness of Australian industry. The tax benefit derived from the concession can provide companies with the opportunity to reinvest resultant tax savings in their future. With new and improved products and services, companies a can enjoy the benefits of greater competitiveness through increased sales and consequent profits.

Regional Partnership Programme
Provides funding support for regional development projects. The Government will invest in projects that focus on: strengthening growth and opportunities by investing in projects that strengthen and provide greater opportunities for economic and social participation in the community; improving access to services by investing in projects that, in a cost effective and sustainable way, support communities to access services. It will give priority to communities in regional Australia with a population of less than 5,000; supporting planning by investing in projects that assist communities to identify and explore opportunities and to develop strategies for action; and assisting in structural adjustment by investing in projects that assist specifically identified communities and regions adjust to major economic, social or environmental change. Your local ACC is the best place to start if you wish to access funding through Regional Partnerships .

Regional Tourism Programme
The program aims to help boost the capacity of business and organisations to deliver higher quality tourism attractions, products and services in regional Australia.

Retailers Council of Australia
The Australian Retailers Association was established in June 1996, combining the resources of The Retailers Council of Australia, The Retail Traders' Association of New South Wales, The Retail Traders’ Association of Victoria, The Retail Traders’ Association of South Australia, The Retailers Association of Queensland and The Tasmanian Chamber of Retailers.
Its mission is to be the pre-eminent, cohesive, nationwide organisation which is recognised as representing the diverse interests of all retailers and is the most effective provider of quality information and services to members which fosters an environment conducive to their business success.

Rural Book
Part of the COUNTRYLINK Australia Programme, the Rural Book draws together information that Government agencies and departments provide on matters ranging from health and education to taxation and business development .

Rural Transaction Centres Programme
provides funds to help small communities gain access to basic transaction services such as banking, postal services, Medicare easyclaim, phone and fax.

Small Business Enterprise Culture Programme
The SBECP aims to develop and enhance the business skills of small business owner-managers and demonstrate the contribution that such skills can make to business viability and growth. It will achieve this by supporting initiatives designed to enhance small businesses’ access to skills development, mentoring and information services.

Stronger Families and Communities Strategy
The Stronger Families and Communities Strategy is a Commonwealth Government Programme aimed at capacity building initiatives to support and strengthen Australian families and communities.
To help communities, the Strategy includes new initiatives to encourage potential community leaders, to build up the skills of volunteer workers, to help communities develop their own solutions to problems and promote a 'can do' community spirit.

Statistics
The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia's official statistical organisation. We assist and encourage informed decision-making, research and discussion within governments and the community, by providing a high quality, objective and responsive national statistical service.

Superannuation Guarantee
The superannuation guarantee, which has applied from 1 July 1992, means that most Australian workers are provided with superannuation contributions by their employers. Employers must choose between providing superannuation support for their employees, or paying the superannuation guarantee charge.

Trade Practices
An independent statutory authority, the Commission administers the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the Prices Surveillance Act 1983 and has additional responsibilities under other legislation. Under the national competition policy reform program the Trade Practices Act has been amended so that, with State/Territory application legislation, its prohibitions of anti-competitive conduct apply to virtually all businesses in Australia.

In broad terms, the Act covers anti-competitive and unfair market practices, mergers or acquisitions of companies, product safety/liability, and third party access to facilities of national significance. The Commission is the only national agency dealing generally with competition matters and the only agency with responsibility for enforcement of the Trade Practices Act and the associated State/Territory application legislation.

TradeStart
is designed to improve access fro small to medium businesses in regional and rural Australia to export assistance services of Austrade. TradeStart is a national network of export assistance officers in partnership between Austrade and a range of public and private sector service providers. TradeStart staff represent Austrade and work to promote export awareness within their local region.

Wagenet
WageNet provides access to wages and conditions of employment information

Women in Rural Industries
offers grants for rural women's national non government organisations in their leadership roles in supporting women's contributions to rural industries.

Workers Compensation (NSW)
WorkCover NSW manages the State's workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems. It works with industry, the workforce, and insurers to promote a culture of safety through public awareness programs, education and other community activities and to improve the performance of the workplace safety, injury management, and workers compensation systems.