NRBM Spring 2015

NORTHERN RIVERS

Spring 2015
$6.95 inc GST

MAGAZINE

Summerland
The Future of Banking

Communications
Effective Communications
Technology

Biz Tips

Show Me
the Money!

Real Estate

Time – When to Sell?

rt

THURSDAY
FR I DAY
SAT URDAY
SUNDAY

1
1
1
1

1
3
1
3

:
:
:
:

05
30
05
30

JE
JE
JE
JE

T
T
T
T

S
S
S
S

T
T
T
T

AR
AR
AR
AR

Departures

Departs

06
09
1 1
1 1
1 1

:
:
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:
:

Airline

30
1 0
05
45
55

REX
JET ST AR
JET ST AR
JET ST AR
REX

1 6 : 00
1 6 : 50

V I RG I N
JET ST AR

Destination

SYDNE Y
SYDNE Y
MEL BOURNE
SYDNE Y
NEWCAST L E
SYDNE Y
SYDNE Y
SYDNE Y

1
1
1
1

3
5
3
5

:
:
:
:

1 5
40
1 5
40

Arrives

08
10
1 3
1 3
1 3
14
17
18

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

20
35
20
10
15
20
20
15

Now up to 58
flights per week.
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport offers up to 7 flights a day, with up to
58 flights per week travelling to Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne.
There are daily services to Sydney and Newcastle and 5 or more
direct flights to Melbourne every week. So whether your trip is for
fun or for business, make Ballina Byron Gateway Airport your first
choice and support your local airport.
* the above times are subject to change and should be confirmed with the airline partner.

www.ballinabyronairport.com.au

Gateway Airport

Editor's Note
W

Our Experts

elcome to your Spring issue of NRBM; the magazine that brings you
business news from your region.
It’s awards season in the region so congratulations to all those businesses
who have been recognised for excellence in their local Chamber Awards and good luck in
the NSW Chamber Business Excellence Awards. It’s good to see the range and quality of
our local businesses. If you didn’t find time to enter your business this year it’s something
to consider for next year, it lifts the profile of your business, inspires your staff and brings
in new business.
In this issue our cover feature is on Summerland Credit Union, this award winning local
credit union is blazing a trail in new banking technology. Showcasing their ‘Branch of the
Future’ which has just opened in Lismore this is the first of its kind outside of the big cities.
Add to this their investment in new apps, internet banking platform and credit card this is
definitely one financial institution that is going places.
Business Matters is a smorgasbord of business information this issue including Biz Tips,
Employment & Training, Real Estate, Banking & Finance, Communication, Marketing and
much more to help your business get in great shape and work smoothly.
This issue I’d like to welcome on board our new expert Andrew Virtue from Newcastle
Permanent Building Society who will be bringing his expert knowledge to help us navigate
the financial maze. This issue he guides us through the changes to the regulations in
property investment.
We hope this issue motivates you to business growth this Spring.
Until Summer,

Moyra Burke-Smith
Editor NRBM
www.facebook.com/NorthernRiversBusinessMagazine
NRBM is and always has been proud to only use local suppliers.

Publisher

NRBM

Ashley Burke-Smith

T: 02 6685 7569
F: 02 6685 5430
W: www.nrbm.com.au
P: PO Box 1777, Byron Bay, NSW, 2481

Editor
Moyra Burke-Smith

Design
www.aguawebs.com
[email protected]
02 6676 2980

Contacts

Editorial Contributions:
[email protected]
Advertising Enquiries/Media Kit:
[email protected]

Jamie Cunningham has worked with 300+
business owners around the world. One
key result of his work is helping owners to
attract and hire top talent, saving them time
and stress in their businesses and their lives.
Clayton Oates, QA Business, our Channel
7 business efficiency guru cuts through
the red tape and helps you streamline
your business to make things happen.
Recognised as one of the Top 25 Global
Accounting Technology Thought Leaders,
the only Australian-based professional
to to be recognised with this honour.
Greg Arnold, Effective Workplace
Solutions has 30 years experience as
a workplace relations practitioner and
manager in a broad range of industries
including construction, engineering,
publishing, and hospitality. He helps business
to reduce the risk and exposure to costly
disputation, court cases and prosecution.
Josh McIntosh, All Pest Solutions, with
over 10 years’ experience in pest control
Josh and his team are passionate about
pest control and provide a high quality
and professional service throughout the
Northern Rivers to business and residents..
Gail Fuller, Byron Coastal Real Estate
providing sound real estate advice in property
management, holiday rental revenue, selling
and buying property. Our team is focused
on increasing your profit and ensuring your
investment is maintained to a high standard.
Kate Cameron Rochdale Accounting
& Business Advisory - Kate started her
career with PWC Sydney and moved
to Lennox Head in 2005. A massive fan
of Xero she seriously enjoys working
closely with businesses to achieve results
and positive change. With experience
in both marketing and accountancy
Kate brings a lot extra to businesses.
Andrew Virtue, Newcastle Permanent
Building Society is Lismore’s home-grown
Branch Lending Manager. With more than
30 years of banking and finance experience,
he provides guidance on how customers can
make their banking products work better
for them and their families’ long term goals.

The Small Print :
Notice: While every effort has been made to ensure the
accuracy of the information in this publication the publisher
accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or
resultant consequences, including any loss or damage arising
from the reliance on information in this publication. The
views expressed in Northern Rivers Business Magazine are not
necessarily endorsed by the editor or publisher. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, internet or otherwise, without the
prior written permission of the publisher.

The paper used to produce this magazine is manufactured by an ISO 14001 environmentally rated mill.

www.nrbm.com.au

Spring 2015

3

Since 1995, Tweed Day Surgery has provided high quality clinical
care and a warm caring environment for patients from the
southern Gold Coast and northern New South Wales.
We recognise the integral role we play as part of the Tweed Heads/
Coolangatta community. This is reflected in the excellent support
programs we offer our patients and referring doctors.
We assist patients with questions about Tweed Day Surgery and their
stay, as well as planning resources for after hospital recuperation.

Our surgical services include:
•
•
•
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General Surgery
Gynaecology
Maxillofacial Surgery
Oral & Dental Surgery
Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery
Urology

• Ophthalmology
• Pain Management
• Gastroenterology &
Endoscopy
• Plastic, Reconstructive
& cosmetic Surgery

To discuss available consulting times or to
arrange a time to view the facility, please contact:
Ms Robyn Sheather
General Manager
Tweed Day Surgery

T: 0755995522
M: 0408162034

Medical Professionals - Consulting Rooms are Available for Hire
www.nrbm.com.au

Contents
8

11

24

23

Regulars

14-15

Cover Feature

News 6-7

Future of Banking

Keeping you up to date with news from the region, including
The Round Up – news from the region’s chambers.

In our feature this issue we visit the ‘Future of Banking’ with
Summerland Credit Union. The recent opening of their new
technology branch in Lismore’s Molesworth Street is the
only state of the art digital services branch outside of the
city. With a host of new apps, internet banking platform and
soon to be released credit card, there’s a lot to explore

Business Matters

8-13 & 18-24

Covering the issues that matter to your business: Biz Tips,
Banking & Finance, Employment & Training, Real Estate,
Communications, Business Efficiency and Marketing.

Pollies Points

26

Find out the key issues that your local pollie is fighting for you.

14-15

Business Matters
Employment & Training

8-10

How to avoid unfair dismissal claims by preparing
your processes

Communications

11

Use communications technology effectively
in your business

Biz Tips

23

How to keep the money flowing in your business

Marketing

24

Tips on how to make the most of your Expo stand

www.nrbm.com.au

Spring 2015

05

news & events
Clarence Confidence Returns
Confidence in the economic future of the Clarence Valley is beginning
to rise as the effects of massive infrastructure developments begin to
be felt.
At last week's Clarence Roundtable delegates from the local
building, construction and real estate sectors said the economy was
moving in the right direction.
Local electrical suppliers, brick companies and
tradies are all benefiting from this.
But the meeting noted the region's traditional
reliance on three to four-bedroom houses had created
a shortage of one and two-bedroom dwellings.
It noted this shortage might be the reason for a
trend to considering more duplex developments.
Training for highway work has also moved ahead
with 180 students enrolled at the North Coast TAFE
campus in plant operator training.
In addition to the highway development,
delegates also discussed the aged care sector, where
there is a shortage of supported living facilities.
This will improve in the next few years with a $34 million investment
in aged care facilities in Grafton.
A number of local businesses are already working on the highway
and picking up more contracts.
There was also focus on post-highway developments with progress
on planning the new 600-bed jail for Grafton, approval for plans that
could make Harwood Marine a centre for ship repairs on the East
Coast and an upgrade of the Gwydir Highway.

Smoother Roads Ahead for Councils

The NSW Government has
acknowledged councils have far
too little money to maintain their
local roads.
But it says help is on the way.
Roads Minister Duncan Gay
told a budget estimates hearing
that grant funding for local
governments would increase by
40% under the 2015-16 budget.
“I don’t have a great argument
with councils. I accept that they’re
doing it tough in their funding
and their management,” he said.
“Some could argue that some
of their internal management
could be better, but that’s different
to this.”
Mr Gay said the response from

06

Spring 2015

councils to the government’s plan
to fund local road projects had
been “terrific”.
“We’re putting (all funding)
through a body where I don’t get
the final say, so I can’t pork barrel
this money,” he said.
An NRMA report in May
revealed councils on the north
and mid-north coasts had a $948
million backlog of road repairs
and upgrades – the biggest buildup of unfunded roadworks in the
state.
The figure was almost onethird of the $3.2 billion shortfall
across NSW, despite the regions
making up only about one-13th
of the state’s population.

Overseas Tourism Flourishing on the
North Coast
New figures show international
visitors are flocking to the North
Coast, with almost 300,000
overseas tourists visiting the region in the past year (a 10% increase),
with more than half (183,000) going to Byron Bay.
It makes the North Coast easily the state's most popular
destination outside of Sydney, almost double the Hunter Valley.
Co-Chair of North Coast Destination Network, Cameron Arnold
said the figures came off the back of years of international marketing
and the joining of the entire North Coast from Forster to Tweed as a
single regional tourism body.
Mr Arnold said while Byron Bay remained the major market
for foreigners, tourists were increasingly more likely to explore the
region and visit the out-of-the-way places.
"The growth is definitely coming from so-called free independent
travellers who are often renting vehicles," he said. "They're definitely
a bit more adventurous and they will do a lot of research and most
of their bookings online."
"We've seen huge growth out of Malaysia and Singapore. Their
market has shifted from away from a shopping experience to a
nature-based experience. And we're in a really good position to
capitalise on that."
A symposium called Byron Tourism 2020 will analyse tourism
trends for the next five years. The symposium will be held at The
Farm from 1-5pm on Friday, September 18.

Essential Energy Stuck in the Past:
Greens
Support for power grid workers has come from an unexpected quarter,
with Ballina Greens MP Tamara Smith slamming Essential Energy’s plans
to slash almost 50 jobs from the north coast.
Ms Smith said the loss of 47 full-time equivalent positions in the
region would have ‘a devastating impact on the community.’
‘A strong workforce is critical to providing a reliable, safe and
increasingly clean power supply to the people on the north coast,’ Ms
Smith said.
‘By slashing 47 jobs, Essential Energy is robbing the north coast of the
expertise needed to undertake the necessary transition to clean energy
technologies.
‘Cutting employee numbers will ultimately lead to higher household
bills, poorer service and a longer transition to renewables on the north
coast.
‘Essential Energy executives are sacrificing frontline jobs and
community safety to boost their bottom line,’ Ms Smith said.
Greens NSW MP and energy spokesperson Dr John Kaye
accused Essential Energy management of ‘covering up for their own
incompetence and lack of imagination.’
‘The union has shown extraordinary flexibility in responding to the
squeeze on the entire industry,’ Dr Kaye said.
He added that the regional high voltage transmission agency,
TransGrid, had ‘managed the cut in revenue without job losses by
working with the Electrical Trades Union and its employees.’

www.nrbm.com.au

the round up
Plateau Awards
The Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce held its 2015
Business Community Awards on the 8th August at the Alstonville
Plateau Bowls & Sports Club.
The night was a great success with 100 guests attending
representing local businesses on the Plateau & the Bowls & Sports
Club showcasing themselves as the perfect venue for weddings and
functions.
The awards were strongly supported by sponsorship from local
businesses with the main sponsors being Tursa Employment &
Training, Ballina Shire Advocate, Elders Real Estate and the Alstonville
& NSW Business Chamber. 12 Plateau based businesses received
awards with the Business Of The Year going to worthy winners
Alstonville Complete Care who also won the Personal Services
Award. Congratulations to all our winners.

Winners are Crowned
Fresh Dental Care was crowned the 2015 Business of the Year on
Saturday night at the annual Clarence Valley Business Excellence
Awards.
190 guests including MP Kevin Hogan and Mayor Richie
Williamson relaxed with pre-dinner drinks at the Yamba Golf and
Country Club but the nervous tension began for the 47 Award
Finalists once the proceedings got underway.
A very special guest Robyn Hobbs, NSW Small Business
Commissioner, gave an inspiring speech at the Awards dinner.
During the sumptuous 3 course meal 16 Awards were presented
to well deserving businesses and staff including Ruth Finlay from
Addictive Hair and Beauty who won the Trainee or Apprentice of
the Year Award.

The judges’ decisions were not always easy ones with many
categories having two or more close contenders. Judging coordinator,
Adam Gordon commented “I was very impressed with the very high
quality of all the participants and they are well deserving of our
congratulations.”
Event Organiser, Erica Fletcher, deemed the event “a success”.
"It's an eight month process to organise the Awards and I was
worried on Saturday that I had missed something but it was all good.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."
Yamba District and Grafton Chambers of Commerce are two of
the generous and long running sponsors of the Awards.

www.nrbm.com.au

Bangalow Music Festival
The 14th annual Bangalow Music Festival surpassed expectations and
was enjoyed by capacity crowds
“This year’s Bangalow Music Festival explored the connection
between the past and present while celebrating the promise of a
bright future” commented Tania
Frazer, Creative Director.
The audience was delighted at some
of the greatest Australian artists of our
generation including, Piers Lane, Karin
Shaupp, Daniel De Borah and William
Barton. New soloists at the dawn of
their careers fulfilled the promise of
that bright future with performances
from Alexandra Flood, the Orava Quartet, Alex Rainer, Ashley Smith,
and the 2015 Fellowship Quartet.
The Festival Prelude has become a tradition of the Bangalow
Chamber of Commerce on the opening night of the Festival. Artists
from the Northern Rivers were joined by featured festival artists for a
memorable , celebratory evening of music in a relaxed atmosphere in
the historic A&I Hall Bangalow.

2015 Ballina Prawn Festival

Set on the banks of the glorious
Richmond River, the 2015 Ballina
Prawn Festival is one whole day
and night of fun, laughter and
community. From tasting the
delicious sizzling prawns, mingling
amongst the buzzing crowds, or
taking an exhilarating spin on the
Ferris wheel, the Ballina Prawn
Festival delights both young and
old.
With the overwhelming
success of the 2014 Ballina Prawn
Festival, it is expected that over
20,000 people will attend the
festival in November 2015 and
join in the fun at what is fast
becoming known as one of the
regions signature festivals!
The festival provides a

wonderful opportunity to raise
awareness of your organisation in
a creative and engaging way.
Ballina Chamber is helping to
organise a significant marketing
campaign launching in the lead up
to the November 14 celebrations
including TV, Print and Radio.
We will also be delivering a
sophisticated and strategic
social media campaign. Festival
sponsorship provides a wonderful
opportunity to showcase your
business to a crowd of thousands!
Talk to us today about how
your business can get involved!
For more information on how
you can be involved in the Ballina
Prawn Festival, please contact our
project team on 6681 5049.

Spring 2015

07

the round up
Plateau Awards
The Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber of Commerce held its 2015
Business Community Awards on the 8th August at the Alstonville
Plateau Bowls & Sports Club.
The night was a great success with 100 guests attending
representing local businesses on the Plateau & the Bowls & Sports
Club showcasing themselves as the perfect venue for weddings and
functions.
The awards were strongly supported by sponsorship from local
businesses with the main sponsors being Tursa Employment &
Training, Ballina Shire Advocate, Elders Real Estate and the Alstonville
& NSW Business Chamber. 12 Plateau based businesses received
awards with the Business Of The Year going to worthy winners
Alstonville Complete Care who also won the Personal Services
Award. Congratulations to all our winners.

Winners are Crowned
Fresh Dental Care was crowned the 2015 Business of the Year on
Saturday night at the annual Clarence Valley Business Excellence
Awards.
190 guests including MP Kevin Hogan and Mayor Richie
Williamson relaxed with pre-dinner drinks at the Yamba Golf and
Country Club but the nervous tension began for the 47 Award
Finalists once the proceedings got underway.
A very special guest Robyn Hobbs, NSW Small Business
Commissioner, gave an inspiring speech at the Awards dinner.
During the sumptuous 3 course meal 16 Awards were presented
to well deserving businesses and staff including Ruth Finlay from
Addictive Hair and Beauty who won the Trainee or Apprentice of
the Year Award.

The judges’ decisions were not always easy ones with many
categories having two or more close contenders. Judging coordinator,
Adam Gordon commented “I was very impressed with the very high
quality of all the participants and they are well deserving of our
congratulations.”
Event Organiser, Erica Fletcher, deemed the event “a success”.
"It's an eight month process to organise the Awards and I was
worried on Saturday that I had missed something but it was all good.
Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves."
Yamba District and Grafton Chambers of Commerce are two of
the generous and long running sponsors of the Awards.

www.nrbm.com.au

Bangalow Music Festival
The 14th annual Bangalow Music Festival surpassed expectations and
was enjoyed by capacity crowds
“This year’s Bangalow Music Festival explored the connection
between the past and present while celebrating the promise of a
bright future” commented Tania
Frazer, Creative Director.
The audience was delighted at some
of the greatest Australian artists of our
generation including, Piers Lane, Karin
Shaupp, Daniel De Borah and William
Barton. New soloists at the dawn of
their careers fulfilled the promise of
that bright future with performances
from Alexandra Flood, the Orava Quartet, Alex Rainer, Ashley Smith,
and the 2015 Fellowship Quartet.
The Festival Prelude has become a tradition of the Bangalow
Chamber of Commerce on the opening night of the Festival. Artists
from the Northern Rivers were joined by featured festival artists for a
memorable , celebratory evening of music in a relaxed atmosphere in
the historic A&I Hall Bangalow.

2015 Ballina Prawn Festival

Set on the banks of the glorious
Richmond River, the 2015 Ballina
Prawn Festival is one whole day
and night of fun, laughter and
community. From tasting the
delicious sizzling prawns, mingling
amongst the buzzing crowds, or
taking an exhilarating spin on the
Ferris wheel, the Ballina Prawn
Festival delights both young and
old.
With the overwhelming
success of the 2014 Ballina Prawn
Festival, it is expected that over
20,000 people will attend the
festival in November 2015 and
join in the fun at what is fast
becoming known as one of the
regions signature festivals!
The festival provides a

wonderful opportunity to raise
awareness of your organisation in
a creative and engaging way.
Ballina Chamber is helping to
organise a significant marketing
campaign launching in the lead up
to the November 14 celebrations
including TV, Print and Radio.
We will also be delivering a
sophisticated and strategic
social media campaign. Festival
sponsorship provides a wonderful
opportunity to showcase your
business to a crowd of thousands!
Talk to us today about how
your business can get involved!
For more information on how
you can be involved in the Ballina
Prawn Festival, please contact our
project team on 6681 5049.

Spring 2015

07

business matters

employment & training

Getting Dismissals Right - Simplifying
the Process

Greg Arnold, Effective Workplace Solutions
robably one of the biggest concerns that businesses have,
particularly small business, is terminating staff; and terminating
staff so that it don’t result in costly unfair dismissal cases. The
lack of consistency that industrial tribunals have applied in the myriad
of decisions over the past 20 years has left employers confused and
concerned about terminating staff. So much so that I have seen many
cases where an employer should have terminated staff but didn’t
because they feared the consequences.
The key to terminating
staff and reducing your
exposure to an unfair
dismissal claim is in the
process. Follow the
process, and there should
be no claim for unfair
dismissal. There are a
number of steps and key
elements that form part
of the criteria of the Fair
Work Act provisions, that should be implemented and followed.
1. Valid Reason - there must be a valid reason for the termination. This
is often subjective, but the employer must have a good and cogent
reason for terminating the employee.
2. Warnings – if the termination is based upon performance reasons,
then there must be warnings in place. The number of warnings
depends upon the nature of the issues involved, however in most

P

circumstances I advise that there be at least 2 written warnings. There
is an “urban myth” that suggests that there must be 3 warnings in
place before you can terminate; this is not correct. The important key
in this area is to be able to demonstrate that the employee was aware
that their conduct, behaviours or performance was unacceptable;
they have been provided with an opportunity to correct or improve;
and that they were aware that if there was no improvement then
dismissal may occur.
3. Response – at the time of termination the employee must be provided
with an opportunity to respond to any allegations. It is also important
for the employer to genuinely consider the responses and take
time to consider that response; don’t have a pre-prepared letter of
termination as this will be perceived as being pre-meditated.
4. Support Person – at the time of termination it is important that the
employee be provided with an opportunity to have a support person
present. This person must act as “emotional support” and not as an
“advocate” for the employee.
These 4 key elements are simply the “basics” of the termination
process. If I have learned anything from the many hundreds of
terminations that I have dealt with, it is that all cases and circumstances
are different. It is therefore vital that professional advice is sought before
terminating staff. A simple phone call or meeting with a professional
may save you thousands of dollars in the longer term.
If you require information on this important area of staff management,
please do not hesitate to contact Effective Workplace Solutions
on: 02 6676 3445.

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8

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www.nrbm.com.au

CREATE AN AWARD WINNING WORK ENVIRONMENT

“…we established an agreement that not only achieved our aims, but
also won Awards from the Federal Government…”
Murwillumbah Services Memorial Club
“…a small price to pay and an insurance policy mitigating against possible
claims that may cost the Club hundreds of thousands of dollars.”
Ballina RSL Club Ltd
“... Greg handled a difficult situation within our workplace with astute
professionalism and obtained an excellent outcome for our business”
Raine and Horne

YOUR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT LAW SOLUTION
• Employment Contracts

• Staff Handbooks

• Advice on Termination

• Dispute Mediation & Resolution

• Payroll Audits

• Workplace Health & Safety

• Enterprise Agreements

• Bullying and Harassment Training

Greg Arnold Principal Consultant

WORKPLACE RELATIONS CONSULTANTS

p [02] 6676 3445

e [email protected]

m 0407 920 840

w www.ewsolutions.com.au

business matters

employment & training

Communication – Do You
Understand?

Brendan McKenna, Head Teacher Education, Employment and Support, North Coast TAFE Tweed Valley
and decodes the content. Communication is
f you search ‘effective communication in the
complete – or is it?
workplace’ on the World Wide Web, you’re
START
!
As you can see in the diagram, the two
likely to get over 3 million hits. Clearly, it’s a
images representing the content as understood
much talked about topic, and there are a large
by each person are quite different. This happens
number of tips, hints and solutions available for
practically every single time two people
you to try out.
‘communicate’.
Here’s one that you’re unlikely to find in that
How do you ensure the two understandings
digital lucky dip:
of the content (= meanings) match and therefore
More time. This is the most ignored but most
communication has actually occurred?
effective solution to poor communication.
Well, ask yourself another question – which
Today’s workplace is frenetic, no matter
person has the true picture of the original
whether you’re in a small business, a large
corporation or anywhere in between. Time is the one workplace asset content? Obviously, Person A. So, clearly, it must be Person A who is
that is arguably the most valuable in communication, yet is the least responsible for checking that Person B’s understanding matches Person
A’s. Not the other way around.
valued.
And that’s where more time needs to be spent - and hardly ever is. The
Ask yourself – how much of your time is spent in fixing up mistakes,
double or triple-handling tasks and project activities or dealing with inevitable result is time-consuming mistakes and mishandling.
Try it for yourself next time – if you’re Person A, who has just
conflict?
The chances are that all of that time could have been saved if you ‘communicated’ something to someone, ask them this question: “What
had invested more time in the beginning to ensure communication had do you think I meant by that?”
Then see how long it takes to sort out true understanding.
actually occurred. Not information-transfer. Not telling someone what to
Communication experts call this ‘sharing meaning’ and it is the single
do. Not hearing an instruction and acting on it. Communication.
most prized outcome you can have between two people – or groups of
Welcome to Communication 101.
In the diagram, Person A has content to communicate to Person people. You just have to invest more time in achieving it.
If you want to explore communication solutions for your workplace,
B. Person A’s brain codes that content into speech, or text, or some
other transfer medium and transfers it to Person B. Person B receives call us at North Coast TAFE to discuss customised approaches.

I

A

B

How to take the time to impr
ove
communication in your workp
lace
How many times have you blam
ed poor
communication for problems in
your workplace?
How many times have you tried
to improve
communication?
And how many times have you
succeeded?
Chances are that you’ve not had
a lot of success.
It’s a special skill, communicat
ion, and acquiring,
transferring or instilling that skill
has its challenges.
One of the biggest challenges
is time. Effective
communication take time, as doe
s improving
everyone’s capabilities in effectiv
e communication.
If you want to explore commun
ication solutions for
your workplace and save time
as a result, take five
minutes to call us at North Coa
st TAFE.
It’ll be time well spent.
North Coast TAFE - Your Busines
s Advantage.
Visit northcoasttafe.edu.au or call
1300 628 233
to discover your competitive edg
e.

10

www.nrbm.com.au

business matters

communications

Technology for Your Business
Stephen Moon, Coastal Voice and Data

C

oastal Voice and Data have been providing
the Northern Rivers with total business
communications and IT services for 25 years.
We find out more about how they help businesses
use technology to improve and simplify their
communications and business systems with CVD
Manager, Stephen Moon.
What areas of business communications do
you focus on?
We have a team of specialists that focus on 3
distinct areas: mobility, phone systems and IT. They
work both individually for clients within these specific
areas and as a team when working with a client needing a
solution across the board.
Can you give me an example of a business solution you’ve
worked on recently?
We recently worked with a plumber who had 6 guys out on the
road so they needed a phone system in the office to take customer
calls, a set of mobile phones and easy task systems to make the
business run smoothly. So for example we recommended that
each of the mobile staff had ipads so that when on a job they can
integrate with the office accounting system with the job sheet, get
it signed off by the customer using Docusign and invoiced straight
away. This saved a huge amount of time in admin and reduces the
risk of paperwork getting lost.
Another element we recommend for mobile teams is Navman

which is a system that helps improve vehicle
monitoring, job dispatching, scheduling
and worker safety.
So would you say technology
has
changed
the
face
of
communications for business?
The impact of technology has been
huge. We used to specialise in phone
systems but now we are involved in a
much wider reaching industry. We often
are approached by businesses to look
at phone systems and end up reviewing
their whole communication and IT systems,
because they all interact with each other, and
providing a smooth solution for that interaction
makes it easier for them to do business effectively.
What would you say is the most common pitfall that businesses
fall into?
Businesses are often keen to find a solution to the problems or
issue they have today. What we do is work with them to find out
not only the state of play today but also where they’re heading so
we can ensure they have a solution that will grow with them and
not stay static.
How do you see the future of communications technology?
5 years ago we used mobile phones for phone calls, now you
can run a whole business through your phone. The possibilities are
endless.

KEEPING YOU OPEN FOR BUSINESS

CVD has supplied communication solutions to local businesses for over 25 years. Our clients
receive the highest standards of customer service, value for money and the most innovative
products and solutions available.
Business Quality Communications
IT Solutions
Cloud Services

Mobility Solutions
Vehicle Tracking
Business Application Services

For the Best Advice and Solution for Your Business, Call CVD Today:
www.cvd.net.au
1800 115 795
[email protected]

www.nrbm.com.au

11

business matters

banking & finance

Investing in Property? Get the Financial
Low Down
Andrew Virtue, Newcastle Permanent Building Society
ecently, I’ve encountered many home buyers
keen to understand changes to the regulation
of home loans for investment properties,
something which quickly became more topical when
major banks started increasing the pricing of their
investment loans.
The Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA)
regulates all Authorised Deposit-Taking Institutions in
Australia, including building societies, credit unions and
banks. APRA has provided ‘guidance’ to all lenders, big
and small, to implement what many are calling a ‘speed limit’ of 10%
on the growth of their investment home loan portfolio.
This means that all financial institutions regulated by APRA will
need to make sure the portion of their home loan portfolio made up
of investment loans does not grow any more than 10% each year.
In response we’re seeing lenders change what they offer to investors
in an effort to effectively manage the volume of investment home
lending they provide.
Where investors may once have received discounted fees and/or
rates on their loan, they may now experience a higher rate or fee than
an owner occupier. Some home lenders are also increasing the size
of the deposit that investors will need to take a loan, so investors can
only borrow up to 80% of the value of the property, not up to 95%
as has been practiced in the past.
As well as the investment loan ‘speed limit’, APRA has also
tightened rules around the amount of capital the major banks and

R

Macquarie Bank must hold
against their home loan
portfolios, in response to
recommendations from the
Australian Government’s
Financial System Inquiry
which was finalised in late
2014.
The major banks have
already announced their
capital raising plans to comply with the new requirements from APRA
which are effective from 1 July 2016.
Looking ahead, customers may find that the major banks further
increase lending rates or decrease deposit rates to increase profitability,
assisting them in maintaining their return on an enlarged capital base.
It’s also important to note that APRA’s guidance only relates to new
investment home loans. Repricing their existing investment home
loan portfolio could just be an attempt to increase profitability from
customers. If your bank has repriced your existing investment home
loan, it may be worth talking to another lender in case you could get
a better deal.
So if you’re in the market for an investment property,
have a conversation with your local lender about the options
available to you and how your lender is responding to these
and other market influences. For more information visit:
www.newcastlepermanent.com.au.

Better value
banking,
year after year
After years of taking out awards from Smart Investor magazine, they’ve just
handed us the “Decade of Excellence” Financial Review Smart Investor Blue
Ribbon Award for 2015. And we’ve got to say this one means the most.
That’s because it shows that we can offer our customers a better way of
banking – where profits go back to providing more competitive rates and
lower fees. And it proves what our customers have known for over 110 years –
we have some of the best value banking products in the country.
So make the switch today.

13 19 87 newcastlepermanent.com.au/awards

Terms and Conditions apply. Newcastle Permanent Building Society Limited ACN 087 651 992, Australian Financial Service Licence/Australian Credit Licence 238273.

12

NPB3081 HP

www.nrbm.com.au

business matters

banking & finance

Get Your Head in the Cloud

Kate Cameron, Rochdale Accounting and Business Advisory

M

ost small business owners spend too much time
bookkeeping and completing admin and not enough time
growing their business. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Cloud computing has changed the way business owners can operate
allowing far more efficient bookkeeping and real time monitoring of
your business from wherever you may be.
Xero cloud software automatically updates with bank transactions
and matches them with bills and invoices and remembers common
transactions, all leading to less time bookkeeping and more time doing
what you love.
Data should flow from other sources too and not just your bank
account. Whether it be a POS, job management, inventory control,
or rostering software, they can all integrate and be in the cloud –
everything is faster and more accurate plus you save time on double
handling data.
A great case study is a café client that has 3 outlets in different
locations. The implementation of Xero allowed the client to firstly be
tracking real time numbers and easily track and report actual results
against budgets for each division. The owner can view the real time
results for each of the locations from anywhere. The implementation
of Xero immediately highlighted the business needed to focus on cost
control strategies for wages and revise pricing strategies for varying
input costs. Deputy, a cloud based rostering program was implemented.
Deputy allows the business to plan rosters seeing the expected cost
of each planned roster. Employees can be notified by an app when
new shifts become available and most importantly, the cost of a shift
can be closely monitored against real time sales as the client’s cloud
based Point of Sale program also integrates. The payroll for the casual

workforce is easily completed
in minutes as timesheets are
approved in Deputy and
integrated into Xero at
the press of a button,
ready for payment –
no double handling
or data re-entry. The
implementation of
the 3 integrating cloud
based systems has cut
the bookkeeping time
(and costs) by 1 day per
week and allowed a far
more informed and timely
business decision process.
For tradies or people on the move,
there are some great cloud based applications that make bookkeeping
and job management easier and more efficient. You can now be
onsite, accurately cost a job and send an invoice from your mobile
device, improving cash flow substantially as clients are now invoiced
as and when the job is complete and not at the end of the month.
Invoicing integrates seamlessly into your bookkeeping software to also
improve debtor management.
We love helping clients implement solutions to improve the way
they do business. Anything that allows less time bookkeeping and
better business decision making is certainly a winner. Speak to Rochdale
today to see how your business could benefit from cloud solutions.

Want more time to grow your business and
less time bookkeeping?

www.rochdalehouse.com.au
www.nrbm.com.au

GOLD
PARTNER

02 6620 0300
13

cover feature

Summerland The Future of
Banking

H

ow do you get the best banking solution,
just for you? Everyone’s banking needs are
different. Some prefer to do it all on their
phone – pay bills, transfer money, check balances
and know when their pay is there. Others want to
go into a branch and speak with the staff, get their
cash and be treated like a real person. Many banks
struggle to deliver the type of service everyone is
happy with.
Things have changed. One financial institution
has fused the digital age with great personal
service. Summerland Credit Union, based right here
in the Northern Rivers. A financial institution owned
by their customers where decisions are made to
benefit their customers, not external shareholders.
The redevelopment of the Summerland Credit
Union Molesworth Street ‘Branch of the Future’ is
complete and open for business. This is not just an
upgrade; it’s a launch into the ‘Future of Banking’
with a completely new open design that has to be
seen to be believed. It’s the only financial institution
in the entire region with such a great new branch.
What’s different? - the sleek modern design,
open feel throughout the whole branch, use of
latest technology, private areas for one-on-one
discussions and the self-service ATMs and coin
counter. Plus, while you’re there, you can enjoy
free wifi whilst being entertained and informed
with tips, trivia, upcoming events and games all on
an in-branch instant app. The comfortable lounge
and X-Box for those a bit younger make the time
spent in the branch relaxing and refreshing.
Gone are the wire barricades, opening up the
branch into a much friendlier environment for
customers. But security is there, with each Banking Advisor or
teller having a locked ATM built into their workstation which
cannot be accessed during business hours. So there is enhanced
security for customers and staff.
The row of iPads in the branch makes it easy to access Internet
Banking.
After winning the Professional Services Award in the Lismore
Business Chamber’s Excellence in Business Awards for two years
in a row, you’re certain to receive great service. Summerland also
won similar awards last month in Grafton and Kingscliff.
In addition to the ‘Branch of the Future’ redevelopment,
Summerland has recently released new iOS and Android apps
for banking anywhere, anytime. In mid-August, an up-to-date
Internet Banking system was rolled out.
The Video Wall or ‘Window to the Future’ is a huge integrated
9-screen system showing off the latest from Summerland,
sponsored community events as well as beautiful video of natural
elements from around the region.
How can customers benefit from all this new digital technology?
It’s about helping customers do their banking at a time & place
that suits them. If you’re out and about and don’t want to get to

14

Spring 2015

a branch, you can use your computer at home or work, laptop,
tabloid, iPad or smartphone to do all your banking, 24/7. You can
use phone banking to do all your popular banking tasks anywhere
on your phone. But if you want to speak with their contact centre,
you can phone, txt, email, webchat or click online and they’ll ring
you. The contact centre is in Lismore. Staffed by locals and they’re
trained to help you with all of your enquiries. You don’t need to be
transferred to anyone else. They can look after everything.
When you arrive in the Lismore branch, you are greeted at the
door and directed to the most appropriate person to help you
with your transaction, or you can move to one of the many private
areas to discuss your enquiry without others listening in.
If you want to use your card to get cash out, a customer-only
ATM inside the branch is a safe place. Another ATM which also
accepts deposits will be installed shortly. If you want to deposit all
those coins from your piggy bank, there is no need to sort them.
Just tip them into the machine and they are accurately counted in
a flash. Buskers love it. They can deposit the money they’ve earned
quickly so they get back out into the day.
Businesses are also catered for with a business-specific section
to assist business customers with their daily banking: fast and

cover feature

efficient. In a few weeks, Summerland will release their Mobile
Point-of-Sale system – perfect for tradies and market stalls. If you’re
in the business of doing work in the field, such as an electrician
or plumber, it’s important to get paid as soon as possible. With
Summerland’s mPOS, you can swipe the customer’s card and be
paid in full. No need to send out an account and be paid at some
time in the future. This dramatically improves your cash flow and
makes it easier for the customer as they don’t have to post in a
cheque or get your account details.
Whilst mum and dad are waiting for a loan interview, the X-Box
and screen in the Play Space keep the younger ones entertained.
(Dads can try and beat the kid’s score if Mum has the time.)
The Banking Specialists who help with organising your home,
personal or car loan are available in the branch as well. They are
experienced in assisting people get the right loan to suit them.
They specialise in helping people refinance, moving their bank
loan over to Summerland.
Plus, the branch is sleek. The walls are silver, the breakout
rooms are modern, decked out in either purple or orange, the
lounges are comfy and the benches are free of clutter.
Many environmental friendly building products have been

www.nrbm.com.au

included in the redevelopment. These include:
• Carpet - ECS Level 4, the top grading in the
ACCS Environmental Certification Scheme for
the environmental performance of carpet
• Acoustic wall fabric – accredited under ISO
9001 & ISO 14001 Quality & Environmental
Management systems. Has low embodied
energy, minimum 60% recycled content from
PET bottles and supports safer indoor air quality
• Floor Tiles – rated A+ for ISO 16000, Low VOC
emissions (volatile organic compounds) and
CMR compounds (toxic emissions)
• Lights – High efficiency LEDs used throughout
with sensor timers
• All board material and laminate used in the
refurbishment is certified and rated E0 meaning
it has extremely low toxic emissions including
VOCs
• All local contractors were used in the
redevelopment construction, reducing the travel
involved and resources used
• Internally, digital signage is used, reducing the
need for paper posters. Energy efficient LEDs
are utilised in the poster frames.
This is on top of the existing strong environmental
values of Summerland. The credit union has their
non-CSG/fossil fuel mining Position Statement on
the website, were the first to achieve Silver Partner
status in the NSW Government’s Sustainability
Advantage Program and are working on being the
first Gold Partner on the North Coast.
Later this month, the first Summerland-branded
Visa credit card will be launched. A Low-Rate &
Rewards option will be available. A great incentive
to switch existing cards over to Summerland will
be launched and cards no longer needed will be
turned into guitar plectrums (picks) and donated to
local community music groups. A great recycling
idea. The Rewards program is the best ever. Instead
of earning points which you need to redeem to
get a …. toaster, with a Summerland Rewards
credit card, you earn DOLLARS. And the cash is
credited back to your account automatically, at
regular intervals. You don’t have to remember to
do it. Summerland does it for you. So you never have any rewards
expire. You get the cash so you can spend it any way you like.
It’s like an extra savings bonus. Great for that little extra cash at
Christmas.
As a financial institution with an Australian banking licence,
Summerland customers receive protection from the Federal
Government with the Deposit Guarantee, to the same dollar
amount as the large banks. This gives depositors and investors
peace of mind with Government protection of their funds.
It’s easy to bank with Summerland. You can open an account
online or at any of the 13 local branches from Coolangatta to
Grafton. You can also do lots of other banking online including
opening accounts, applying for cards and loans, send money
to and receive money from overseas and apply for insurance to
protect what’s important to you.
Customers demand the best. Now they can easily switch
their banking to Summerland and enjoy the very best, right now
and support a great local, environmentally-focussed business.
Summerland’s digital sleek meets personal service with exceptional
results. No wonder more and more people are swapping their
banking over.

Spring 2015

15

business matters

business efficiency

Investing in Learning
Clayton Oates, QA Business

W

ith over 90% of the world’s online data having been
created in the past 12 months, including 300+ hours
of YouTube video uploaded every minute and hundreds
of millions of hours viewed every day – there is no shortage of
information in the world – but how do you work out what is worth
learning and what’s not?
Two phrases about learning that have resonated with me over
the past few years are:
• You’ll never out earn your learning! (Brad Sugars)
• Allocate 10% of your Income for the purposes of learning
Having set out to diligently follow these guides I have discovered
that the second point is harder to do especially when the first one
holds true, the more you learn the more you may earn.
Learning opportunities are broadly categorised into two distinct
groups these days - In Person and Online.
Online learning opportunities include Podcasts, Blogs, YouTube
channels, Webinars, LinkedIn, Facebook Groups and following
your respected peers and Industry Thought Leaders on Twitter. It
enables efficient delivery of information in huge volumes but it’s not
the single source of future learning. There is no doubt that online
learning is here to stay and further develop, however, there is also a
resurgence in the need for face to face, live human events, it seems
as though the Higher the Tech the Higher the Touch required.
One solution to spending the money you have earmarked for
your “Learning Fund” is to travel (both locally and overseas) to
attend conferences in your chosen field. In the past 12 months I
have spent over 70 days at events and it’s amazing how well a 14
hour international flight prepares the mind for absorption of ideas

and inspiration, so long as you stay away from the bar in the sky!
So why not do it? Seek out the number one global event in your
industry or profession and commit to attending it within the next
12 months. Plan on taking your spouse and schedule some time out
days before the event if you can, so you land in the conference chair
eager to learn and dedicate some time post event to review what
you have learnt and set goals and devise strategy. However a word
of warning! - You may get hooked on this approach to learning and
your passport will quickly start to fill up.
Another thing I have learnt is that learning is a daily task, so learn
to develop a learning calendar, that reminds you of this and lock in
the major industry events you would love to attend in the coming
12 months (no matter where in the world). Remember that it’s not
just about business (professional) development, take time out also to
enhance your personal learning too; it’s amazing what you can learn.

“Creating
Time for Moments
That Matter”

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(formerly referred to as QuickBooks in Australia)

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business matters

real estate

Time – When should you sell?
Gail Fuller, Byron Coastal Real Estate

T

ime is a measure, it doesn’t change. We think we can control it,
we feel it catches up with us or we believe we can run out of
it. Of course none of this is true, it’s simply a marker of where
you are in your day.
Some days it appears to move slowly, others quickly for no
apparent reason.
In my work team we all remark on it if the day is slow, relative to
the ticking of the clock, and we have lots of space to complete so
much we feel time is on our side.
Time only seemingly runs out when we are rushing, in this stressed
state you can never catch it and your body runs on nervous energy.
Logically you should get more done if you’re doing it at speed but
generally the stiller you are the more time feels available to you.
I often hear the comment “I’m in no rush to sell.” or “We have
plenty of time.” What does that truly mean? What are we saying
about time when we make those comments? Do you have a predetermined set number of days that you are ok with passing before
you want to sell. Could you really be saying that you’re not quite
ready to commit to moving onto the next chapter in your life?
It’s interesting how if an early offer is received clients often feel
they shouldn’t take it but wait for longer. How has time or a clock
on the wall taken over what we feel we should do?
Is time true? Aren’t we just circling the sun and returning to the
same spot? If you considered returning to the same spot each day
would you choose differently when you made the choice to sell?
How many times do you need to repeat the same rotation around
the sun before you say yes to a decision?

www.nrbm.com.au

Another interesting
time aspect I see in real
estate is when you
bring an offer early
on a property the
client says the
commission
should
be
reduced as you
didn’t spend
enough time
on it. Yet clients
are happy to pay
when you have
spent what they
consider ‘enough’
time on selling their
home. How did time
become related to results and
performance? Is it not the price and
your personal situation that is the factor you consider when you take
an offer on your house?
Time could be a trap for many considering how often we refer to
it as passing us by. If we just let time be a marker or a point in which
to mark an event, not be our controlling force, then our choices
may be vey different, and quite possibly our lives more enjoyable
and simple.

21

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business matters

biz tips

Show Me The Money!
Jamie Cunningham

L

ack of money, profit and cash flow sucks; it’s stressful, frustrating and
sometimes embarrassing. Particularly if you are working long hours
with nothing to show for it. The good news is that it doesn’t have
to stay that way … really.
The first step is to identify the true problem. Is it a profitability problem,
a cash flow problem or both?
Most business owners believe they just need more sales to fix things
and this is rarely the right answer. Firstly you need to understand if you
are profitable and secondly know how well you are doing at turning
profits into cash.
We Need to be More Profitable
Profit is just the difference between revenue and costs. So all we have
to do is increase revenue and/or decrease costs. If only it were that simple!
Well it almost is. You have variable costs (Cost of Goods Sold - that
are incurred when you make a sale) and you have fixed costs (overheads
– incurred regardless of making sales).
These two costs must align for your business model. Are you making
money when you make a sale? (decent margins) and/or “Are your

overheads as low as they can go without compromising business?” If
they are, then more sales is the answer (look for my article next issue on
this). If not, then getting these numbers in line is your first task.
Account for your own time too when factoring your margins.
We Are Profitable But Consistently Short on Cash
This is actually good news because there are a number of simple
strategies we can use to quickly change this. Here are the main causes
for poor cash flow that you need to look into:
1. Paying for inventory (or labour) before being paid by customers
(Negative Cash Cycle)
2. Poor inventory management (stuff in stock for too long)
3. Poor accounts receivable management (not collecting fast enough)
4. Paying bills too early
5. Paying off debt principle
6. Investment in assets (buying stuff)
7. Owners taking too much cash out of the business
8. Theft.
To improve cash flow in a profitable company, it would be common
to adjust several of these.
Management of costs, effective pricing and cash flow management
are some of the least sexy parts of running a business. But they are the
absolute lifeblood. Without a good handle on your numbers, you are like
a ship without a rudder; no ability to steer and react to get you to your
destination. On my website I have some free videos about understanding
your numbers (www.jamiecunningham.com/free_videos). If this is not a
strong area for you, invest the time to educate yourself.
There is a very strong correlation between financial literacy of the
business owner and profitability. Until next time, happy counting.

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23

business matters

marketing

Make Your Expo Stand Work
Moyra Burke-Smith, Cool Promo

E

xpos have the potential to offer a great return on investment - but
only if you know how to grab the interest of the passing footfall.
You’ve invested all that money to get there so let’s get to work.
You have to focus on two key things; attracting visitors to your stand
and once there interacting with them. Get it right and you can expect
new connections, increased conversions and plenty of new business
leads.
With every stand vying for attention how can you stand out?
Attracting visitors to your stand
Here are 4 tried and tested attention grabbers:
1. Entertain your visitors – It could be a Scalextric track, a juggler or
a game/competition. Entertainment is a sure-fire way of gaining
initial attention
2. Spectacular stand design – Whatever your budget, make your
stand attractive. Bold colours and innovative lighting can help to
draw people to you
3. Interest – Attendees are looking for new, innovative and workable
solutions to business challenges. So do your research and
demonstrate that you have solutions to their problems
4. Technology – A neat gadget or two can be like a shiny object to a
magpie. The most popular piece of tech I’ve seen is a drift racing
simulator, which had visitors queuing. Everyone passing by wanted
to see what the fuss was about, so it gained the stand even more
attention!
Engaging visitors at your stand
There is no ‘one size fits all’ way to do this, instead it’s best to
combine a few techniques.
1. Coffee – obvious, but it works;

* It’s hard to come by good
tea and coffee at events, so
they’ll love you
* Caffeine is a pick me up and
creates a positive psychological
link with your brand!
* A hot drink gives you time to engage
in conversation while they wait for it
to cool
2. Engaging staff – Don’t stand behind your table, make people want
to stop and chat further about your brand
3. Bribery - Use a quality promotional gift they'll keep & use as an
incentive
4. Videos – A high-quality video is eye-catching, stimulating and
informative. Include a call-to-action such as “take one of our
leaflets” or “scan this QR-code” to increase follow-up contacts
5. Live Tweets – Display a live Twitter feed and allow visitors to follow
you, use your #hashtag and ask questions to your offsite social
media sales team – engage and informing your visitors even when
expo staff are busy
6. Get your iPad out – Technology and cool gadgets help attract
visitors and are a great way of gathering contact details, completing
surveys and demonstrating your products.
Following up
Always follow up your new leads within a few days of the expo.
A personal message is more memorable and does wonders for your
brand perception.
Exhibitions are a big investment – done well they deliver huge
rewards. So plan ahead and make it work.

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local government

pollies points

Input Sought to Keep
Communities Safe

Jobs for NSW Established

Chris Gulaptis
Member for Clarence

Geoff Provest
Member for Tweed

Community consultation will begin on how the NSW Government’s $10
million Community Safety Fund is best spent to stamp out anti-social
behaviour.
The Fund will invest up to $250,000 in individual grants for nongovernment or not-for-profit organisations, community groups,
Chambers of Commerce and businesses to enhance safety throughout
the state.
This fund is an extension of the efforts the NSW Government is doing
to fight crime and I urge the community to take this opportunity to
suggest additional local initiatives.
Ideas on how communities can benefit from this investment including
CCTV, safety campaigns, and lighting are being sought.
Communities can create unique solutions for their local challenges
ensuring the Government is investing in projects that will make the
greatest difference.
Minister for Justice and Police Andrew Gee MP will lead consultations
in September meeting local community and business groups to discuss
crime-fighting projects best suited for our towns and suburbs.
The Community Safety Fund will support projects that:
• Address local crime hot spots
• Address anti-social behaviour in communities
• Promote safe and inclusive use of public spaces
• Promote collaborative approaches to community safety and crime
reduction, prevention and detection initiatives
For further information visit: http://www.justice.nsw.gov.au/.

The NSW Government will establish “Jobs for NSW” - an innovative
new body to drive the creation of 150,000 new jobs over the next four
years across the State.
The NSW Government will deliver its commitment of $190 million
over four years to support business investment by establishing the
Jobs for NSW Fund. The Far North Coast will benefit from this groundbreaking initiative that will be led by the private-sector, working with
government to attract and retain businesses in NSW.
Former Telstra Chief Executive and incoming CSIRO chair, David
Thodey has been appointed as its inaugural chair and has welcomed
the opportunity to work with the NSW Government to deliver jobs
across the state.
The Jobs for NSW fund will complement and support the following
funding initiatives which are part of a broader $678 million, four-year
investment by the government in jobs growth:
• Jobs Action Plan provides NSW businesses with a $5,000 payroll tax
rebate when they employ new workers in new eligible employment.
This scheme has just been extended until 30 June 2019
• $2,000 Small Business Employment incentive: provides a grant of
up to $2,000 for non-payroll tax paying small businesses when they
hire new employees from 1 July 2015
• $25 million Jobs of Tomorrow Scholarship Fund: provides 25,000
scholarships for students undertaking qualifications for technology
and growth jobs
For more information visit: www.industry.nsw.gov.au

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