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.

Safe Work rebate

Small business owners, sole traders with an ABN and less than 50 full time employees, charities and not-for-profits can now apply for the $1,000 Safe Work Rebate to help purchase safety items to improve work health and safety in the workplace.  

Find out more & apply via Service NSW

2023 Covid-19 aged care support grants

The 2023 COVID-19 Aged Care Support Program grant opportunity assists providers to transition towards managing the costs of COVID-19 outbreaks as part of their business-as-usual arrangements.

$4.28 million total grant value. Eligibility criteria applies.

Application closes 3 April 2024 

Find out more & apply via Grant Connect.

Sole Traders toll rebate

If you’re a sole trader with a personal and/or business toll account, you may be eligible to claim a 40% rebate (you need to spend more than $402 on each toll account in the 2023-24 financial year to start receiving a rebate). 

For toll spend 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 – claims close 30 June 2025.

Find out more & apply via Service NSW. 

Farm Business Resilience Program 

The farm business resilience program is for farmers, farm managers, and their employees, who want to upskill and learn about risk management, how to adapt to a changing climate, and improve the economic, environ., and social resilience of their business. It provides business coaching to subsidise learning & development opportunities in strategic business, farm risk and natural resource management along with personal and social resilience.

Closing date December 2025

Find out more through the NSW Government.   

Farm Innovation Fund

Farmers can borrow up to a maximum of $1 million per project, with a total of $1 million outstanding at any one time to build on-farm infrastructure, including stock containment areas.

The Farm Innovation Fund is a long term, low interest rate loan scheme for NSW farmers for permanent on-farm infrastructure. 

Find out more & apply through the NSW Government 

Energy Starters and New Buildings

The NSW Government will fund initiatives to drive new buildings towards high energy performance and reduce emissions in existing buildings. These initiatives build on the wide reach and effectiveness of the NABERS program and are part of the NSW Government’s Accelerating Net Zero Buildings program.

The third round offer is open until 1 December 2023, or until funding for this round is exhausted.

Find out more & apply via NABERS

LOCATION SUBMISSION

Get paid for Screen NSW to film at your property. List your property to the library  of available film locations for location professionals to view when seeking the perfect location for their projects.

Find out more & apply via Screen NSW 

e-commerce export supporT

If you’re an eligible e-commerce business looking to expand into new international markets, Investment NSW can help. The new Digital Health Check provides free support to get started or grow your e-commerce export sales. 

The Digital Health Check is free but availability is limited. This means eligible businesses will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. 

Find out more & register your interest via Investment NSW

Mates on the Move

Is a social enterprise that supports collection and re-use / recycling of certain waste materials, and making a profound difference to the environment, and to people who deserve a genuine second chance.

Find out more & request a quote via Mates on the Move

Live Music Australia (Round 7) – Contemporary Music Team

Round 7 focuses on live music festivals, aligning with industry demand and continues to support the sustainability of the live music sector and the presentation of more original live music. 

Application closes 30 June 2024 

Find out more & apply via Grant Connect

Fee-Free training for trainees

Through Fee-free traineeships NSW, businesses can benefit from free qualification training for their trainees. Making it easier for NSW businesses to get the skilled staff they require.

Application closes 31 December 2023 

Find out more & apply via Business.gov.au  

Infrastructure Grants: Sport and Recreation

Funding is available to support sport and recreation infrastructure such as sports centres, playgrounds and swimming pools.

Application closes 18 December 2023

Find out more & apply via NSW Grants 

Infrastructure Grants: ARTS and CULTURE

Funding is available to support arts and culture infrastructure such as museums, art galleries or cultural centres.

Application closes 18 December 2023

Find out more & apply via NSW Grants 

Infrastructure Grants: DISASTER READINESS

Funding is available to support disaster readiness infrastructure such as evacuation centres, capital equipment or a multipurpose community facility.

Application closes 18 December 2023

Find out more & apply via NSW Grants 

Infrastructure Grants: community infrastructure

Funding is available community infrastructure such as a multipurpose community hub or a service for an eligible community group.

Application closes 18 December 2023

Find out more & apply via NSW Grants 

The Structural Adjustment Fund 

The purpose of the Fund is to support the employment of people with high support needs, and assist the sector to evolve in line with the guiding principles for the future of supported employment (guiding principles) through the provision of grants. Applications will only be considered by organisations registered as National Disability Insurance Scheme providers.

Application closes 18 January 2024 

Find out more & apply via Australia Grants 

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.

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.

New Education and Training Model (NETM)

The Western Parkland City is a growing centre for innovation and advanced manufacturing, and the skills needed to fill new jobs are changing. This is why the New Education and Training Model (NETM) has been developed in partnership with industry, universities, vocational education and training (VET) providers and government.

NETM will deliver small-scale packages of learning, or micro-credentials, that allow people to build knowledge, skills and experience in a particular subject area aligned to employer needs.

For employers, this means access to an agile and highly skilled workforce that can meet the demands of advancing operations. For students and workers, it means access to lifelong learning and the potential for an exciting career that can evolve over time.

So far over 15 registered training organisations are on board which include TAFE and University of Sydney and there are 5 identified priority areas for training;

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Aerospace & Defence
• Freight & Logistics
• Agribusiness
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

To find out more or get involved head to Western Parkland City Authority. 

Micro-credentials in delivery

A list of micro-credentials are open for enrolment here. Visit the relevant education partner's site to enrol or read further information regarding the micro-credential content and upcoming course dates.

First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program

The FNTMP is a new, free mentoring program for First Nations tourism businesses across Australia. They can support First Nations tourism businesses to grow and achieve their goals by connecting them with skilled, experienced and culturally respectful industry specialists who can provide one-on-one advice and support.

To find out more visit First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program 

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.

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)

The Federal Governments New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) helps eligible individuals’ setup and run their own small business. NEIS can help participants create a Business Plan, provide them with accredited training in small business and provide advice and mentoring for the first 12 months of their business operation. All of the training is at no cost and we also provide clients with access to training materials. 

This opportunity is open to everyone, people curious about business, people looking for guidance with their business idea, those that are not in employment, education or training, everyone. 

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

Judith Hannan MP is an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly who has served on Wollondilly Shire Council for 17 years, 3 of those years as the Mayor. Judy represents Wollondilly as an Independent.

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
• Business.gov.au - Risk Management  13 28 46

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.

AHEAD FOR BUSINESS

Ahead for business helps small business owners take action on their mental health and wellbeing through personalised resources and tools tailored to their specific needs. The portal provides tailored resources, check-ups, personalised action plans and showcases the experiences of small business owners through podcasts, videos, blogs and case studies.

Create a mentally healthy workplace

Learn about your work health and safety obligations for mental health and how you can create a safe and healthy workplace here. Creating a mentally healthy workplace has many benefits to the people around you as well as your business operations. It's also a legal requirement for business owners.

Manage Stress in your business

As a business owner you may experience stressful situations. Find out the warning signs of stress and how you can manage it here.

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.