Contact

The Tourism and Business Support Team 
Call (02) 4677 1100 or email Business@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au or follow us on Facebook.

Newsletter Sign Up

Are you on the Business Wollondilly database? Join FREE to receive up to date information and opportunities within our region, specifically in response to the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Sign up to our Business Newsletter.

Business Wollondilly Facebook Group

Wollondilly Shire Council have developed a new Business Wollondilly Facebook group specifically for local businesses to connect and share ideas, updates and opportunities in response to bushfires, drought, floods and Covid-19.

Join Business Wollondilly.

Working with Wollondilly Council

Wollondilly Council offers opportunities for small to large businesses to apply for tenders, provide quotes and submit expressions of interest for providing services that contribute towards community projects.

Businesses can complete an online registration to become a pre-approved supplier through councils Tenderlink system. Online registrations streamline the application process when an opportunity becomes available and registered suppliers will also receive notifications when new opportunities are open.

Covid-19 Business Grant

If you’re a business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation in NSW and you've been impacted by the recent COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible for a one-off grant of $7,500, $10,500 or $15,000.

The 2021 COVID-19 business grant provides cash flow support for businesses that experienced reduced demand or had to close due to the public health orders. Eligible applicants across NSW can use the grant for business costs incurred from 1 June 2021, including:

• utilities, wages and rent
• financial, legal or other advice to support business continuity planning
• marketing and communications activities to develop the business
• the cost of perishable goods that can no longer be used
• other activities to support the operation of the business.

Apply online through Service NSW. 

Jobsaver

JobSaver will provide cash flow support to impacted businesses to help maintain their NSW employee headcount on 13 July 2021. Eligible businesses with employees will receive fortnightly payments backdated to cover costs incurred from week 4 of the Greater Sydney lockdown (from 18 July 2021 onwards).

The payment will be equivalent to 40% of the weekly payroll for work performed in NSW.

• Minimum payment will be $1,500 per week
• Maximum payment will be $10,000 per week

Apply online through Service NSW.

Micro Business Grant

If you’re a small business, sole trader or not-for-profit organisation with an annual turnover between $30,000 and $75,000 impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible to apply for a fortnightly payment of $1,500 to cover business expenses.

Apply online through Service NSW.

FEE Waivers & Tax assistance

Payroll Tax Deferrals

• Businesses can opt in to defer payments on the 2020-21 annual reconciliation return and wages paid in July and August. Interest-free repayment plans for up to 12 months will be available.

Payroll Tax Concessions

• Concessions to help reduce overheads for eligible businesses with a 30% decline in turnover.

Instant Asset Write Off

• The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has increased its instant asset write-off threshold to $150,000 per asset for eligible businesses.

Find additional assistance and apply online through Service NSW.

Fees & Charges Update

If you are 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.

Apply online through Service NSW.

Covid-19 Disaster Payment

The Covid-19 Disaster Payment is a lump sum to help workers unable to earn income due to a COVID-19 lockdown, hotspot or period of restricted movement. The payment can help you when Covid-19 restrictions last for more than 7 days. 

Check your eligibility and claim online. 

Test & Isolate Support Payment

A COVID-19 'Test and Isolate' support payment of $320 is now available to support eligible workers who are required to self-isolate and unable to work while waiting for a COVID-19 test result. Currently, to be eligible for this payment, workers must be older than 17 years and live in one of the local government areas of concern. This new payment is an addition to the range of financial support packages available for individuals and businesses. More information and guidelines can be found on Service NSW.

Businesses can download the toolkit  containing adaptable key messages, website/newsletter copy, and social media content to help with communications. 

Service NSW Business Concierge

The Business Concierge team at Service NSW provides free, personalised support to small business owners as they start, run and grow their businesses. If you own a small business in the Wollondilly area, your local Mobile Business Concierge can help you find the support you need.

Look out for Julie Lewis from the Service NSW Mobile Business Concierge team. Julie offers a range of support in person on all things small business. Julie can help you navigate government requirements at local, state and federal levels, including applying for grants, licences and permits, understanding government regulations and more. Julie is based in our community and brings expert local knowledge and connections across our Councils, business chambers and other government agencies to work with you one-on-one.

If you miss Julie visiting your area, call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit the Service NSW website to request a call-back.

Business Connect

Business Connect is a dedicated and personalised NSW Government program that provides trusted independent business advice and events to help you start, run, adapt or grow your small business. In Wollondilly we are lucky enough to have two local advisors familiar with the region who can provide a tailored service for you and your business.

Call 1300 134 359 to connect with one of our local Wollondilly Business Advisors.

NSW Small Business Commissioner

The Office of the Small Business Commissioner provides many useful services to support small Australian business. 
Services include;

• Easy to Do Business - Starting a business can be a daunting experience without the complication of deciphering all the licence and permit requirements. With this in mind, Easy to do Business was created to make the process easier. The free service streamlines business application processes online with Service NSW. 
• Supporting Business in NSW - The NSW Small Business Commissioner role was created to give small businesses a strong voice within government.
• Business Connect  - Whether you are just starting out with a great business idea or looking to expand and grow your business, Business Connect services can help you on your journey to business success.

Business Entrepreneur Programme (Strengthening Business)

If you have an ABN, turnover less than $1.5 million annually and have been trading for more than two years there’s a strong chance you qualify for Business Australia’s Strengthening Business Programme, which provides eligible businesses with a dedicated facilitator to work with you to develop a roadmap, navigating the challenges and opportunities to achieve your business vision.

The Strengthening Business initiative provides free support to help refresh and renew your business with strategies, planning, insights, recommendations, and referrals to local connections. The support is ongoing for up to 12 months and offers unparalleled access to some of the best business advice out there.

Our Wollondilly advisor Giles has founded and successfully grown his own businesses built around helping hundreds of small companies across Australia. He’s also developed and taught digital strategy programmes for SME’s at University of Sydney, so he understands the common barriers to small business growth and how to overcome them.

If you’d like to find out more about how to get your business from where it is now to where you want it to be, call Giles on 0482 165 668 or email giles.white@ep.industry.gov.au 

Easy to Do Business

Starting a business can be a daunting experience without the complication of deciphering all the licence and permit requirements. With this in mind, Easy to Do Business was created to make the process easier and faster. The free service streamlines business application processes online with Service NSW. Call 13 77 88 to start your conversation with one of the Easy to Do Business Concierge staff. 

To help stop the spread of COVID-19 Service NSW and the NSW Government have released a travel pass for Greater Sydney.

Workers will need to register to travel if they:

• are an authorised worker from a local government area (LGA) of concern and need to leave the area for work
• are a worker entering a LGA of concern for work
• need to travel 50kms outside of Greater Sydney (which no longer includes Shellharbour and Central Coast)

To register, you will need log into or create a MyServiceNSW Account. Registering for the travel pass will require suppling contact information and travel details and dates. When complete you will receive their unique travel registration by email.  

Please note any one travelling must carry their registration and proof of address at all times, as they'll need to provide these to NSW Police if requested.  

Register online with Service NSW.

Dine & Discover

Dine & Discover provides individuals across NSW with vouchers to spend at participating businesses and inject much needed funds back into the economy.

Dine & Discover NSW Vouchers are divided into two categories:

• 2 x $25 Dine Vouchers for restaurants, cafes, bars, wineries, pubs and clubs
  (from Monday to Thursday)
• 2 x $25 Discover Vouchers for entertainment and recreation (7 days a week)

To be eligible for the Dine & Discover scheme your business needs to:

• Have an active ABN and be registered for GST
• Operate in NSW in one of the eligible industries listed on the registration webpage 
• Have a COVID Safety Plan in place and be registered as COVID Safe

Step 1: Register - Register your business online.
Step 2: Connect - Once registered you will receive an email with instructions on how to set up the Service NSW Business app to scan and track the vouchers.

Need assistance? Call our Wollondilly Business Concierge Julie Lewis on 13 77 88

When step 1 & 2 are complete, you will receive a pack for your business including a shop window sticker to let people know they can spend their vouchers at your business. Your business will also appear on the Business Finder where users can search for Dine & Discover approved businesses across NSW.

Register your business.

Western Sydney Business Centre Training

Western Sydney Business Centre deliver Small Business Workshops for new and existing business owners on fundamental topics in your small business. The workshops are low cost, practical and run by experts in their field. All sessions provide practical, real-world information on how to build a successful, profitable and dynamic small business.

Take a look at upcoming opportunities online.

$10k Export Grants

The Export Assistance Grant supports export businesses impacted by COVID-19, bushfires, or drought.  Reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses up to $10,000 is available for current or previously exporting businesses enabling access to new or re-entering previous markets. Eligible expenses include:

• Marketing materials
• Website internationalisation
• Pivoting to online delivery
• E-commerce development
• Market research
• International tradeshow and missions
• International market business protection
• And more!

For more details including eligibility and how to apply, visit the Service NSW website.

Support for primary producers who export into key overseas markets

Primary producers of certain high-value products, such as seafood, premium red meat, dairy and horticulture, may be eligible for the federal government’s International Freight Assistance Mechanism, which aims to help exporters get their goods into key overseas markets. 
Primary Producers can express their interest or visit infrastructure.gov.au for more information.

NSW First

Destination NSW delivers the NSW First program to assist tourism businesses around the State to develop, promote and sell their tourism products. It includes free face to face workshops and online webcasts that offer ‘how-to’ insights on a range of topics for the tourism industry, with events to be added to the calendar throughout the year.

Find out more and get involved.

Destination Sydney Surrounds South

Destination Sydney Surrounds South (DSSS) is one of six Destination Networks formed as a result of the review by Destination NSW into the effectiveness and structure of regional tourism industry organisations. Destination Networks are ‘administration zones’ responsible for delivering on the NSW Government objective to double the Visitor Economy by 2020.

The DSSS zone receives over 11.3 million visitors per year and encompasses 6 local government areas being; Wollongong, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven.

Find out more.

Are you thinking about starting or growing your business?

Don’t become overwhelmed with the processes and steps to open or grow your business. Service NSW have done the hard work for you so you can take it one step at a time, checking things off as you go with support available through Council, Business Connect, The Office of The NSW Small Business Commissioner and NSW Business Chamber and our local associations.

There is a wealth of knowledge and assistance waiting for you to help with writing your business plan, setting prices, choosing a business structure, getting online and more!

 Visit Service NSW to find out more or call your Business Support Team at Wollondilly Council on 4677 1100.

Federal  & State Recovery Funding

Wollondilly Shire Local Government Area has now been confirmed as being able to access Federal-State recovery funding for Small Business, Primary Producers and not-for-profit organisations.

• For further information on the Natural Disaster Grants, please call the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593
• For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444
• For information and to apply for business recovery grants for business, go to Service NSW
• For Bush Fire clean up, read through the NSW Recovery Fact Sheet

Picton Chamber of Commerce

Business activity in Picton is on the move. Local business owners and entrepreneurs who join the Picton Chamber of Commerce meet to form business relationships, create opportunities, share information and seek potential partners for future ventures. If you are a part of Picton’s growing business network, join the next chamber meeting!

Appin Chamber of Commerce

The Appin Chamber of Commerce is a local business network which supports the growth of local businesses and advocates on behalf of issues that affect businesses in the Appin community. Members of the Chamber are local business owners and employees, who meet bi-monthly to discuss opportunities for Appin businesses. The Appin Chamber of Commerce also endeavour to support the wider Appin community, other not-for-profit organisations and community-based initiatives.

Wollondilly Women in Business

Established in 2015 as a not-for-profit organisation, the Wollondilly Women in Business Network (WWIBN) was founded with the desire to provide assistance to Wollondilly women who found themselves isolated and separate from many of the support services so readily available within the Greater Sydney Region. WWIBN unites business women to provide support, encouragement and inspiration to one another.

WWIBN offer a range of opportunities for our members to promote their businesses while building firm, personal connections.  There is also a selection of yearly events specifically designed to suit diverse schedules, interests and priorities. WWIBN also host local business awards each year.

Wollondilly Tourism Association Inc.

The Wollondilly Tourism Association Inc (WTAI) is a membership based community group formed in 2000 offering support to tourism operators and businesses in Wollondilly. WTAI regularly communicate with their membership base and meet quarterly at their 'Tourism After 5' networking events. Contact WTAI to find out more about the benefits of joining and sign up to become a member.

Member for Wollondilly

Nathaniel Smith MP is an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2019. Nathaniel represents Wollondilly on behalf of the Liberal Party.

member for hume

Elected in 2013, Hon Angus Taylor MP is the member for Hume NSW and Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.

Australian Taxation Office

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is a business portal not only for taxation information and services but also other services for small business.
These include;

• Business Benchmarks
• Business assistance program
• Record keeping
• Registrations
• And more

Fair Trading NSW

Fair Trading NSW is a division of the NSW Office of Finance and Services (OFS) whose role is to make doing business in NSW simple, accessible and fair for employees, consumers and industry.

Safe Work NSW

With more than a third of Australia's entire economic output coming from NSW, SafeWork NSW is NSW's workplace and safety regulator.

Services include;

• Advice in improving work health and safety
• Provide licences and registrations for potentially dangerous work
• Investigate workplace incidents and enforce work health and safety laws in NSW

Keep checking in with your fellow businesses, friends and neighbours and keep looking out for each other. The following are free services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

• Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
• Lifeline 13 11 14
• Mensline 1300 789 978
• Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
• Beyondblue 1300 224 636
• Liverpool Hospital's Mental Health Line 1800 011 511

NewAcCess

NewAccess  is a free and confidential mental health coaching program, developed by Beyond Blue to give small business owners, including sole traders the support they need. The program is run over six structured sessions which offers practical tools in a tailored, personal program.

 No referral or mental health plan is required, you can reach out online or by calling 1300 22 4636.

Service NSW 
Information and guidance on Federal and State support for business. Directly contact 9132 2344 for business support.

Australia.gov.au
Bringing you the latest news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia.

Business.gov.au 
Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for new government support for Australian business.

NSW Treasury
Information on the Australian Governments economic response to Covid-19.

The Department of Health
Updates on how the Australian Government is monitoring and responding to the Covid-19 outbreak and how you can help slow the spread.

The Australian Tax Office 
Assistance including instant asset write off, superannuation early access, boosting cashflow for employers and more.

Small Business NSW
Download the information resource toolkit for small business owners.

Fair Work Ombudsman
Clarification on your rights and responsibilities as an employer.

Business Australia 
Support lines, information, resources and templates for business owners.

Austrade
Investing, importing and trade information.

Destination NSW
Information and support for tourism operators and major events in NSW.

Picton Chamber of Commerce 
Opportunities to build business relationships, find opportunities, share information and seek potential partners for ventures.

Appin Chamber of Commerce
Local business network furthering the interests of businesses through supporting growth and advocating for business issue.

Wollondilly Women in Business Network 
Find opportunities to build strong connections and promote your business.