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FAQs: COVID-19 resources for Camberwell traders

April 27, 2020

FAQs: COVID-19 resources for Camberwell traders

The Camberwell Centre Association is committed to providing Camberwell traders and businesses with critical information to help them throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

You will find advice and information about financial support, business continuity measures and other resources below.

Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants

The Energy Efficient Communities Program – Small Business Grants provides small businesses with grants of up to $20,000 to improve their energy efficiency. Grants may be used for equipment and component improvements, energy audits, feasibility studies and/or energy use and emission monitoring. Get further details here.

Increase your online presence with Castle Jackson

Camberwell Traders’ Association has teamed up with Castle Jackson to help all local businesses in the Camberwell precinct to get expert advice on how to increase your online presence. We want to ensure that not only are your getting the exposure you need but also making sure the traffic you receive is converting. To book an appointment please make an enquiry with either Castle Jackson or Camberwell Traders’ Association.

Local networking and educational seminars

To find a range local and online networking and educational seminars, visit Camberwell Business.

Upskill My Business

The Victorian Government is giving businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic free access to online short courses and training events so they can plan for a stronger future and take advantage of new opportunities. Upskill My Business is part of the $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package supporting Victorian businesses and workers through the impacts of the coronavirus crisis. The online programs, short courses and events on the Upskill My Business platform cover topics ranging from business innovation and staff development to export preparation. Examples of courses available include the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Adapting Your Business in a Pandemic.

Commercial lease support

  • The Victorian government has introduced a commercial tenancies relief scheme to support commercial tenants and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The scheme includes a six-month ban on evictions, proportionate rental payment waivers and deferrals, and a temporary freeze on rent increases. Find more information here.
  • There is also a commercial tenancy code of conduct, which provides a set of good-faith leasing principles for commercial tenancies. The code was first announced by the federal government and has now been implemented by the Victorian government.
  • The Victorian Small Business Commission is offering resources and services to help small businesses that are having difficulty paying rent due to COVID-19. Click here for more information.

Energy cost support

Energy networks in Victoria, NSW and South Australia have announced small business rebates for traders affected by COVID-19 and other support measures. Find more information here.

JobKeeper wage subsidy

The JobKeeper program is a wage subsidy payment provided by the federal government to keep Australians in work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide about six million workers with payments of $1,500 per fortnight through their employers for up to six months. The federal government has also amended workplace laws temporarily for the JobKeeper program – you can find more information about the changes here. You can read more about the JobKeeper wage subsidy here.

Victorian Business Support Fund

The Victorian government’s Business Support Fund is providing eligible businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with one-off grants of $10,000. Eligible businesses must employ staff, have a turnover of more than $75,000, and have payroll of less than $650,000. Click here to apply and find more information.

Victoria’s business support measures

The Victorian government has launched an economic stimulus package to support businesses and workers through the COVID-19 pandemic. The package includes the $500 million Business Support Fund, as well as:

  • Payroll tax refunds
  • The waiving of liquor licence fees
  • Land tax deferrals
  • Rent relief for tenants in government buildings
  • Fast tracking of outstanding supplier invoices.

If you’re unsure what financial assistance your business might qualify for, call the Business Victoria coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15 or visit the Business Victoria website here. You can find more information about the payroll tax refund and other measures on the State Revenue Office’s website here.

Federal government’s business support measures

The federal government has also announced a package of financial assistance for businesses and workers, including the JobKeeper program. The business support measures include:

  • Boosting cash flow for employers, with tax-free cash flow boosts of between $20,000 and $100,000 to eligible businesses. Find more information here.
  • Apprentice and traineeship subsidies, covering wages up to 50 per cent between January and September 2020. Read more.
  • Increased instant asset write-offs, with the threshold raised from $30,000 to $150,000. More information here.
  • Temporary relief regarding creditors for financially distressed businesses. Click here.

Click here for more information about the federal government’s business assistance measures. Certain support measures will be carried out by the ATO, so you can find further details on the ATO’s website here.

Business activities and restrictions in Victoria

There are significant restrictions on non-essential services and activities in Victoria due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Stage three restrictions are currently in place and you can find more information about the restrictions here.

These restrictions will be enforced with on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses. If you have questions about whether your business is allowed to open under the restrictions, you can call the Business Victoria coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15 or send a message.

Getting ready to reopen

If you can open, it’s important to follow the Victorian Government’s recommendations for organisations, workplaces and employers to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.

The National COVID-19 Coordination Commission has created a checklist to help businesses reopen their doors safely. The NCCC has also produced a downloadable toolkit to help keep workplaces healthy, safe and virus-free.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce has advice on protecting your employees here. Business Victoria said Victorians will still be able to go to the supermarket, the bank, the pharmacy and access other essential businesses, like petrol stations and convenience stores.

If you’re looking for hygiene information posters to put up in your stores and workplaces, the City of Boroondara has created some free posters and decals that you can print yourself here. The state’s department of health has also created some printable posters and resources here.

There is advice for food businesses available here, as well as workplace health and safety information from Safe Work Australia here.

If you need promotional materials, MBE Camberwell can design and print customised decals, posters and stickers, in addition to arranging letterbox drops and mail services.

Snap Printing Camberwell can also help with all your printing and marketing materials.

For health and safety materials for the workplace, Shop For Shops has hygiene stickers, sanitisers and free posters as PDFs.

If you’re looking for perspex screens, A Frame signs and decals, then check out Bay Media’s range here.

Slimline Warehouse is also supplying goods to assist businesses with reopening, including floor signs, poster stands, cafe barriers, A-boards, barrier signage and more. View the range of business support essentials here.

Footpath trading area extension

To help food businesses in Camberwell increase their capacity, the Boroondara City Council is providing temporary footpath trading area extensions to businesses in Camberwell at no cost. The council has already sent trading area extension application forms to local businesses, which must be completed and returned by email to [email protected].

Businesses will need an existing commercial street furniture permit to apply, but if you don’t have one, you can apply for one here. If you need a new form or assistance completing the application, please contact Christopher Southavong, senior support services officer on 9278 4949.

Bank assistance

The Australian Banking Association said Australian banks will defer loan repayments for many businesses affected by COVID-19 for six months. Assistance may include deferrals of scheduled loan payments, waiving of fees and charges, or debt consolidation. For more information, visit the Australian Bank Association website or contact your bank.

Health information

Find the latest COVID-19 health advice and information in Victoria at the Department of Health and Human Service’ website here.

For the latest national COVID-19 health information, visit the federal health department’s website here.

COVID-19 information in your language

The City of Boroondara has provided COVID-19 information in the following languages:

For COVID-19 information in other languages, visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website here.

Australian Business Economic Impact Survey (ABEIS)

The Australian Business Economic Impact Survey (ABEIS) is an initiative to respond to the rapid change experienced by businesses as a result of COVID-19 and the need for insights at a local geographic scale.

While many people are dealing with the day-to-day pressures caused by the pandemic, it is also important to remember that the crisis will pass and that we need to plan for the future. To support a rapid recovery and demonstrate the impact for your businesses and our local area, a strong quantifiable evidence base is critical.

Insights from the survey and subsequent REMPLAN analysis will be provided to federal, state and local governments to enable a targeted response that addresses the impact to local businesses, local employment and in turn broader supply chains.

Take the survey here.