In this edition, you will find information about the State Government Roadmap out of the COVID-19 and updated support for businesses from all levels of government.

With Support from the State Government, Council is offering a COVID-19 Business Support Service and you will learn more about it.

If you would like any further information on any of the articles or would like your business profiled, please contact the Economic Development and Tourism team on 1300 656 564.

From  29 October, the rules for managing COVID have changed for businesses across Victoria, in line with Victoria's Roadmap. Regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne now share the same restrictions which allow people to move more freely across the entire State. The main changes for businesses to remain COVIDSafe are as follows;

  • Mask wearing remains mandatory indoors but are no longer required outdoors.
  • Most indoor settings including restaurants, pubs, gyms and hairdressers will open with no capacity limits but remain subject to the, one person per four square metres (DQ4) limit only if staff and patrons are fully vaccinated. Retail patrons are excluded from being fully vaccinated.
  • Most outdoor settings remain at one person per two square metres (DQ2), up to 500 people where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
  • The same limits apply to indoor and outdoor settings for weddings, funerals and religious gatherings. If the vaccination status is unknown then the 30 person capacity limit applies.
  • Entertainment venues are now able to reopen. These include cinemas and theatres but there is a 75% limit on the capacity for seated venues or, DQ4 limit for venues up to 1000 people. If the venue is indoors and non-seated there will be a DQ4 limit with no patron cap, where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated.
  • Outdoor seated and non-seated entertainment venues, stadiums, zoos and tourism attractions, will be open with a DQ2 limit up to 5000 where staff and patrons are fully vaccinated. 
  • Events – such as music festivals – will be able to host up to 5,000 attendees, subject to any restrictions related to the venue.
  • All businesses are urged to review their employee vaccination requirements and how to check the vaccination status of your customers.
For more detailed information about your business' responsibilities go to Coronavirus website. Click on "Victoria's Roadmap: Regional" 

To support business owners to reopen, business posters, flyers and business support guides/templates have been developed.  For further information please click here

The Victorian Government’s $14.5 million COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program is now open.

The Program will assist businesses across the state to move business activities outdoors by supporting their investment in equipment, services and supplies needed to offer safe retail, personal services (e.g. hairdressing), recreation and dining options for the Victorian public during the remainder of 2021 and beyond.

Businesses can access vouchers of up to $2000 to support initiatives such as the purchase of outdoor furniture or other projects to encourage outdoor hospitality and entertainment.

For more information and to apply, visit the COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program page on the Victorian Government website.


The program will remain open until the program application quota is filled.

The Business Chambers and Trader Groups Program Round Two provides funding for locally-led initiatives that support small businesses.

Up to 30 grants of $20,000 each are available for business chambers and trader groups to deliver activities or programs that maximise business participation in initiatives across Victoria.

Round Two of the program aims to support business chambers and trader groups to run locally-led initiatives between 1 January and 30 April 2022 that:

  • enable local business collaboration
  • educate, inform and empower small businesses
  • support small businesses to build digital capability
  • help members transition into recovery and restart.

Full program guidelines and frequently asked questions are available on the Business Chambers and Trader Groups Round Two webpage

Applications are can be made online until 11:59pm on Friday 26 November 2021.  

The Tourism Jobs Bank is a new pilot program to ensure the Geelong, Bellarine and Great Ocean Road tourism sector is well-positioned to recruit much-needed workers this summer and beyond.

Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism together with Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine have developed a recruitment program to help employers find employees for a prosperous future.

The pilot program, Tourism Jobs Bank, will support the industry to use professional recruitment services to find suitable staff. Direct Recruitment, a Geelong based recruitment service were successful in tendering to deliver this program. The program is underpinned with a dedicated marketing campaign and provides training support for both employers and candidates.

The Tourism Jobs Bank is ready to connect staff with tourism employers in Geelong, Bellarine, and the Great Ocean Road now. Employers and job seekers can register for the Tourism Jobs Bank now or email apinto@directrecruitment.com.au

Applications are now open for the First Peoples’ COVID-19 Business Support Fund.

The fund supports eligible Victorian Aboriginal businesses that have been affected by trading restrictions. Eligible businesses will be provided with a one-off grant of $6000.

Applicants must be a certified Victorian Aboriginal business through Kinaway - The Victorian Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce. Find out more about eligibility and how to apply here.  

The online world is rapidly evolving and today’s customers expect much more than a static promotional website. The adoption of digital technology is fast becoming fundamental to business success. Developing content, understanding social media and search engine optimisation are all considered complex tasks by many busy small business owners.

Led by a digital expert with real-life small business experience, this three-hour workshop will simplify the digital world and help you develop a framework to strategically grow your business online. 

Learn how to:

  • Set your tone and style
  • Write digestible customer-focused content
  • Maximise your exposure in Google with best practice website content, titles, and headings
  • Capture the interest of your target audience
  • Choose tools to automate content gathering and research, such as Google Alerts
  • Develop effective headlines across websites, email marketing and social media
  • Source usable images
  • Develop video content, including dos and don’ts

Date: 24 November  2021
Time: 10.00am -1.00pm
Delivery: Online

Limited spaces are available. Book your space today!
Online access codes and course materials will be sent to registered participants a day before the event.
Round 2 of the Recycling Victoria Innovation Fund aims to support circular economy projects that design out waste to improve environmental and economic outcomes for Victoria.
The fund is distributed through 2 streams:
Stream 1: Textiles Innovation focuses on preventing textile waste.
Stream 2: Collaborative Innovation focuses on preventing waste from multiple organisations in a specific supply chain, sector or region.

The projects must:be delivered by a Collaborative Partnership
  • be innovative (have never been done in Victoria before)
  • explore, test or demonstrate solutions that prevent waste in the make phase or the use phase of a resource lifecycle.
For further information please click here

The EMDG program helps Australian businesses grow their exports in global markets. The grants encourage small to medium enterprises to market and promote their goods and services internationally.

From 1 July 2021 EMDG is operating as a forward-looking grant program, allowing grant recipients to plan their marketing and promotional activities with confidence because they will know how much they will receive over the life of their grant agreement.

Grants are designed to support eligible exporters at different stages of their export journey:

Tier 1: Ready to export

  • First-time exporters
  • Two years and a maximum of $40,000 per financial year.
Tier 2: Expanding
  • Expanding export promotion activities
  • Three years and a maximum of $80,000 per financial year.
Tier 3: Expanding and strategic shift
  • Expanding export promotion activities and making a strategic shift, for example targeting a new market or a new type of customer
  • Three years and a maximum of $150,000 per financial year.
For more information please click here
Applications close on 30 November 2021


With more people turning to the internet to buy products and services, eCommerce platforms provide businesses with software to sell the product online.

When you're deciding which eCommerce platform is best for you, consider the following:
  • How do your customers typically like to pay and what platforms might they be familiar with?
  • What fees are charged, and do these fees include ongoing monthly fees and per-transaction charges (flat rate or a percentage)?
  • How easy is it for you to set up the platform on your existing website, and what it will look like?
  • Consider the legal aspects of privacy, spam and electronic transactions, such as a privacy policy.
To find out more about the Dos and Don'ts of e-Commerce Platform, visit - Business Victoria Introduction to eCommerce 

The Farm Business Resilience program provides farmers with the opportunity to develop a plan for their farm business. Participants will improve their skills and knowledge to better prepare for and manage risk, adapt change and strengthen their farm business’ resilience.

Topics covered in the program include:

  • identifying and managing new emerging risks
  • business planning and financial management
  • succession planning and people management
  • AgTech and Internet of Things (IoT)
  • managing soils and farm water for the future.

The pilot program is targeted for Victorian livestock, grain and mixed farmers as well as all young farmers. Farmers will be supported by Agriculture Victoria staff and a professional Farm Management Consultant to develop their strategic plan for their farm business.

Participants will also be able to access a Farm Business Resilience Resource Library during and after the program, with available resources including program worksheets, presentation materials, videos, podcasts, eLearns and useful websites.

Dairy Australia is delivering the dairy component of the Farm Business Resilience Program, through their Our Farm Our Plan program. More information visit - Dairy Australia website

The Victorian Government and Sidekicker have established a partnership to help employers to connect with local candidates that match the skills and experience you need.

The Jobs Victoria online hub matches job seekers who are ready to work with employers seeking a local, job-ready workforce. You can also access wages subsidies when you hire new staff.

To find out more, head to the  Jobs Victoria website.

With funding support from the State Government, Council is offering a COVID-19 Business Support Service. This service will provide individual assistance to businesses in meeting COVID-19 requirements.

Penny Iddon has recently started working with our Economic Development and Tourism Team as the COVID Business Support Officer. She will shortly make contact with businesses to introduce herself and to find out what it is Council can do to support you to succeed. Her role, while COVID driven also encompasses letting you know what the Economic Development and Tourism team can do for you, such as letting you know what opportunities are available to you and your business to increase your exposure, where to go to access the information you might need and even the Grants that might be beneficial for you to apply for.
Penny is available to contact via email at penny.iddon@moyne.vic.gov.au or her direct line is 45052173. 
For further information about our service or if you need help with accessing any of the resources provided, please contact Council's Economic Development and Tourism Team on 1300 656 564 or general inquiries can be emailed to ecodev@moyne.vic.gov.au