The hub of home-grown inspirational women
Nareen Young, CEO of the Diversity Council Australia, argues that employers need to give mothers the flexibility and support they really want – not just this Mother’s Day – but every day. On Mother’s Day, we take the time to acknowledge all the things our mums do for us and the important role mothers play in our society. When we think about Mother’s Day we often think just about soft focus images of mums with snuggly little babies … [Read more...]
If you're a small business owner, you need to be aware that you're a target for scammers. While you may think that scammers will be easy to spot, many businesses still fall prey to common scams. In 2011 and 2012, more than 1 million fraudulent transactions were recorded in Australia. Keep a watchful eye out for anything suspicious, and do your research into any offers you might receive, especially through your email. If you think you've been … [Read more...]
The career of Aussie mumpreneur Rhian Allen could be a blue-print for how to build a successful online business. After falling pregnant with her first child and completing a nutrition course, former lawyer Rhian Allen, left her corporate job to start-up a website to help new mothers to lose their baby weight and feel great post-pregnancy. To date, the online Lose Baby Weight diet and exercise plans have helped Aussie mums to collectively lose … [Read more...]
This information is brought to you by business.gov.au The Small Business Support Line has put together their tips for business planning success. Here are their top 10 tips: 1. Is this a great idea? Research as many aspects of your business as you can before you start it - for example; is there a market for your product/service? Who are your competitors? Do you have the financial capacity to start a business? 2. Have 20/20 … [Read more...]
Many women feel uncomfortable when asking for a pay rise at work and it seems women are holding themselves back from getting what they really deserve. Here is a look at how women can overcome the barriers and get themselves on a level pegging with their male counterparts. The Scenario Picture the scene, a hard working, already high-powered woman is going for a highly substantial promotion. She is up against male colleagues with similar … [Read more...]
The Commonwealth Bank is taking ten women entrepreneurs from Australia to Silicon Valley as part of a study tour of the undisputed tech capital of the world. Departing Australia on May 2013, the 5 day self-funded trip will focus on learning from the innovative workplace practices, business models, and emerging technologies applied by businesses and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley. Upon their return to Australia, the women will share what … [Read more...]
A casual conversation over coffee between two mums in a suburban kitchen gave birth to a novel idea for a business - a high-end male escort agency catering exclusively to the needs and desires of women, with a particular focus on the discerning, professional woman aged between 40 and 60. Although there are several agencies established in Sydney, Aphrodisiac Male Escorts is the first high-end escort agency for women based in Melbourne. Like … [Read more...]
Since the global financial crisis the number of women opening their own small businesses versus men has nearly doubled. And with the advent of technology changing the way women work, there is an unquestionable parallel between the rise of female-owned start-ups and the beginnings of a generation of mothers who are also entrepreneurs. ‘Mumpreneur’ is a term used to describe a woman running a business whilst looking after her children - … [Read more...]
Australian businesses now have even more opportunity to provide supportive and inclusive workplaces with the introduction of Dad and Partner Pay. The new payment is administered and paid directly by the Australian Government, allowing businesses to support their employees without being out of pocket. Dad and Partner Pay is a new payment under the Australian Government’s Paid Parental Leave scheme. It’s available to eligible working dads or … [Read more...]
So you've made the decision to start your own business. Congratulations! Before you get started there are a few important things you need to consider. Get your business off to a flying start with our top 5 planning tips, and help your business not only survive, but thrive. Tip #1 - Decide if you're ready to start your own business Asking yourself if you're ready may seem like an easy question, but there's more to owning a business than … [Read more...]
Is your business in the textile, clothing or footwear industry? If so, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program (TCF SBP) helps small businesses like yours to grow by providing funding for projects. Funded projects cover areas such as: business strategy and mentoring; marketing and branding; manufacturing process upgrades; e-commerce; and export opportunity development. Applications for the current round of funding close 1 … [Read more...]
The first in a series of HomeBiz Expos being held across Australia this year will take place in Sydney on 7 February 2013. For those who can't attend a HomeBiz Expo in one of Australia's capital cities, the HomeBiz Connect website provides information for people starting and running a home-based business, and connects business owners with a range of low-cost and no-cost business advisory services. The Small Business Expos will provide … [Read more...]
Back in 2011, Australia announced the ‘Clean Energy Future Plan’, which gave transitional assistance to clean-tech businesses and start-ups, as well as existing companies who were willing to become greener. Through this plan, eight hundred million dollars were made available to companies who looked to reduce emissions in different ways within a carbon-constrained economy. As well as this, the Australian government became willing to … [Read more...]
Now, I’m sure we’ve all heard this time and time again; that recycling is one of the most important things we can do to our help our planet, and we should all take time to practice it throughout our day-to-day lives. And, although I’m sure many of us try to wherever possible - such as by making sure we separate the cardboard and plastics from the rest of our rubbish - it’s probably fair to say that we could all put a little more effort … [Read more...]
On the twelfth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, business topics in a handy online library. We've developed a set of essential business topics to help you start, run and grow your business. We understand navigating through the vast amount of information available for business can be frustrating and time consuming, so our business topics aim to provide you quality information in a simple, quick and easy to read format … [Read more...]
On the eleventh day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, business advisors in my community. If you're after advice from an experienced business advisor, business.gov.au's Advisor Finder can help you find one nearest you. Simply list the type of advice you're looking for and select your industry and state. Advisor Finder will tell you which services are located in your area and the type of assistance they offer. It also … [Read more...]
On the tenth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, guides to help me start or grow my company. The business.gov.au How-to guides will guide you through the various stages of starting and growing a business. They include information on what to do before starting, running or growing your business. You can get a wide range of information for your business including: writing a business plan writing a marketing … [Read more...]
On the ninth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, a directory of government agencies. business.gov.au's Directory of government and business associations allows you to search for agencies across Australia that may be of assistance to your business. You can search for a range of government agencies including: federal state territory local. Visit our Directory of government and business associations to find … [Read more...]
On the eighth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, an events calendar to help inform me. The business.gov.au Events calendar lists government events, networking functions, seminars, training courses and workshops for business owners. You can search by category, date and/or state to find events that suit you and your business. You can find a range of different events to help improve your business, including events … [Read more...]
On the seventh day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, business news stories emailed regularly. If you're in business, it's important to keep up to date with the latest government news. Whether its new support programs or changes to legislation, business.gov.au's free email update service will help you to stay informed. Get regular business updates on: news resources events services. You can customise what … [Read more...]
Carolyn Majda is one of only a few business women currently leading insurance organisations in Australia. She has a solid foundation in leadership, marketing, and business management and is a renowned industry figure who regularly comments on her fields of expertise. Carolyn realised her executive potential during her first management role for a commercial business, and after starting a family, she decided to fine tune her skills with … [Read more...]
On the sixth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, tips if my business has a party during seasonal festivities. As the end of the year approaches, many businesses have parties to celebrate the festive season and show appreciation for their staff. When planning a work party, you should consider your tax implications and ways to minimise your obligations which may benefit your business when submitting your taxes. As work … [Read more...]
On the fifth day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, handy plans to help grow my company. Planning for your business is one of the most valuable activities you can undertake. A plan gives your business direction and helps you prepare for the future. business.gov.au has a suite of planning templates to help guide your business, including: Business plan templates - to help you start your business, research your market, … [Read more...]
On the 4th Day of Business the business.gov.au website gave to me - the opportunity to influence policy because you don't have to be big to have a big voice. Whether your business is big or small, it's important to have your say on government policy and regulation that can affect the future of your industry. The business.gov.au Business Consultation website makes it easy for you to do just that. It only takes a minute to register to receive … [Read more...]
On the third day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, free apps to take around with me. business.gov.au's free iPad apps step you through the process of creating well-structured plans, tailored to your business. Developed by business experts, our apps give you convenient access to your important business documents, anytime, anywhere. Our suite of planning apps includes: MyBizPlan - this app provides an interactive … [Read more...]
On the second day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, fun and informative videos we're sure you'll want to see! From finding out how business.gov.au can help you to developing your marketing plan, our videos are a great place to find information on running a business in Australia. The videos include information on: business planning marketing planning starting your business growing your business. Watch and share … [Read more...]
On the first day of business the business.gov.au website gave to me, a tool to find government grants for business and it's free! There are many programs and grants available to help Australian businesses develop new ideas. The business.gov.au Grants and Assistance Finder search tool helps you find assistance from federal, state and territory governments. The search tool is free to use and lists over 500 grants and assistance … [Read more...]
Smartline Personal Mortgage Advisors has taken the number one spot in this year’s topfranchise awards, followed closely by Aussie Pooch Mobile in second place and third place winner Drummond Golf. Pandora Jewellery placed fourth in the Top 10 for 2012 as rated by franchisee satisfaction surveys carried out in Australia. A recent survey of more than 1000 franchisees for topfranchise.com.au by research house 10 THOUSAND FEET, revealed the … [Read more...]
Congratulations to Carolyn Creswell from Victoria who was awarded the top prize at the 2012 Telstra Australian Business Women’s Awards in Sydney last night. A mother of four young children, Carolyn also won the Commonwealth Bank Business Owner Award. We would also like to congratulate the other category award winners Cynthia Whelan, Sandy Pitcher, Maureen Clifford, and Chandra Clements. Carolyn Creswell was an 18-year-old … [Read more...]
The Women in Global Business (WIGB) Mentoring Program encourages Australian business women to participate in international export and trade. The program provides support to less experienced business women by connecting them with mentors who have experience in international trade and investment. The Women in Global Business Mentoring Program is currently looking for both Mentors and Mentees. Mentors will share their knowledge and experiences … [Read more...]
The largest provider of employment services in Australia is calling on employers to join them in a bid to find 10,000 jobs before Christmas. The MAX Employment Greatest Gift campaign aims to secure 10,000 jobs before Christmas to help relieve the additional financial pressure placed on struggling families, the long-term unemployed and the disabled, at this time of year. MAXNetWork Managing Director, Deborah Homewood said while finding … [Read more...]
The Australian Government’s business website, business.gov.au have launched a free online resource to give business owners in Australia practical information on managing and seeking finance. Developed with the help of business and finance experts, the Business finances topic at business.gov.au provides essential finance information in an easy-to-read, online format. Managing business finances can be a complex and overwhelming task for … [Read more...]
Mark Brennan, the former Victorian Small Business Commissioner, has been appointed as the first Federal Small Business Commissioner. Commencing on 2 January 2013, the Office of the Australian Small Business Commissioner will work in consultation with industry and governments to ensure that small business concerns are heard and taken into consideration across Government. Federal Small Business Minister Brendan O'Connor said Mr Brennan will work … [Read more...]
When you're starting any business there are many issues to consider. There are those which apply generally to starting a business in Australia. In addition, people intending to use their home as a place of business often have to comply with particular state, territory and local government regulations. These regulations often address the impact your business activities may have on the surrounding area such as pollution, energy use or … [Read more...]
Planning for your business is one of the most valuable activities you can undertake. A good business plan gives you a sense of control over the future of your business. These free business planning apps for iPhone and iPad from business.gov.au provide templates to help you get started. business.gov.au iPhone App We understand that more and more businesses are on the go. You can now access essential business information and resources in the … [Read more...]
Jane Hunt, the CEO of Fitted for Work is the only Australian among 20 international winners selected by The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, in the 2012 Global Social Entrepreneur of the Year competition. In 2012 1,000 applicants from around the world were considered for the prestigious award and each year only 20-25 social entrepreneurs are selected by the Foundation for their efforts in innovation, sustainability, reach and … [Read more...]
Queensland businesswoman Yvette Adams has won the WiT Entrepreneurial Award at the prestigious Women in Technology (WiT) Awards held in Brisbane on 7 September 2012. Yvette's company, The Creative Collective also took out the WiT Employer of Choice Award on the night. The WIT Awards is an annual awards program developed by Women in Technology in association with industry to celebrate the outstanding talent of women in the technology industry. … [Read more...]
Rather than hire models for the photo shoot, Australian fashion label owner Laila Fernandez (pictured), used real mums to showcase her label i&u's Spring range. All the models photographed were real mums with real bodies and real babies in tow. Mother and business owner Laila Fernandez created her label i&u after identifying a gap in the market for fashionable, yet affordable breast-feeding apparel. “When I was breastfeeding my little … [Read more...]
The humble letter box could become the latest casualty of the internet. Australia Post is introducing a new service in October 2012 that could, in time, dispense with the need for a letter box on residential properties. The Australia Post Digital MailBox service will enable Australians to receive and pay their household bills from one location on the web. Consumers will also be able to track and manage their relationships with their … [Read more...]
Australian business woman and mother of three, Dymphna Boholt, has achieved a record price for her non-fiction book on Ebay. Widely recognised as Australia’s leading real estate educator and a very successful property investor herself, Dymphna recently smashed records selling her book on ebay for $19,102 and donated all the money to charity. After a divorce left her penny-less and with two children to support, Dymphna Boholt discovered the … [Read more...]