Automatic cash grants jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments are available for regional Victorian businesses following the extension of the current lockdown to the whole state. The support comprises:

Business Costs Assistance Program - Around 18,000 businesses in regional Victoria will automatically receive payments of $5,600 ($2,800 per week) if they have previously received grants under the Business Costs Assistance Round Two or July Extension programs.

Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund - Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 per week will be made to more than 2,000 licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs.

Alpine Resorts Winter Support Program - This targeted program will provide payments of $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 per week, depending on business type and location.

COVID-19 Disaster Payments - Eligible workers who lose work due to the lockdown and sole traders can access the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 Disaster Payment, of $450 for people who have lost 8-20 hours of work over seven days or $750 for 20 hours or more of work lost.

Small Business COVID Hardship Fund - Businesses in regional Victoria that do not qualify for this new support and have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70% are encouraged to apply for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund, which provides grants of $14,000 to successful applicants.

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Australia has the highest incidence of food allergy in the world. Food allergies occur in approximately one in 10 infants, one in 20 children and one in 50 adults. Some food allergies can be severe, and some allergic reactions can be life-threatening or fatal.

New laws introduced in Victoria in 2018, requires that all anaphylaxis cases which present to hospital are reported to the Department of Health and Human Services. This allows for swift action where there is a suspected undeclared allergen in a packaged food or poor food allergen management at a food business. Anaphylaxis notifications and subsequent investigations have already seen food businesses being prosecuted.

As COVID-19 restrictions ease, more Australians are dining out. Foodservice venues are employing staff again and it is likely they have never had training in food allergy. For this reason, it is important that food business owners train all new and returning service staff using the free online food allergen management training – All about Allergens. There are a number of different training courses available including those specifically designed for:

• General food service staff;
• Cooks and chefs;
• Schools and children’s education and care;
• Camps; and Hospitals

Please contact Moyne Shire Council’s Environmental Health Team on 1300 656 564 for further information.

• helps you to prioritise – it gives your business direction, defines your objectives, maps out how you'll achieve your goals and helps you to manage possible bumps in the road.
• gives you control over your business – the planning process helps you learn about the different things that could affect your success. If you're already in business, it helps you to step back and look at what's working and what you can improve on.
• helps you seek finance – if you're seeking finance for your business, you'll need to show banks and investors why they should invest in your business