Small Business

If you are self-employed or working in a small business, time is a precious commodity, but even a minute or two can be revitalising.

More guests per household, no compulsory mask-wearing at retail venues, eased restrictions on the square metres spacing rule, and more…

A concept with heart, soul and lofty aspirations, Global Sisters Marketplace is Australia’s first not-for-profit online marketplace dedicated to supporting women achieve financial independence.

If you’ve had an extended absence from work, developing a personalised ‘return to work’ plan gives you a sense of control over your hours, duties and the support will best meet your needs.

Sickness, injury and other life events that require extended time off work can happen at any time. When you own a business and that business depends on you, taking unexpected leave can threaten your operations and financial situation. Developing a plan of action for unplanned leave is a proactive way to protect you and your […]

Owning a business can be wonderful, however, at times it can also place considerable strain on your personal relationships.  The responsibilities of work can consume so much of your time and focus that it can be difficult to ‘switch off’ and be present with those you love. At the start, your partner and family may […]

For the Icon Group, delivering world-class cancer care across Australia, New Zealand, and Asia has required extensive travel to train staff and support its cancer centres and other sites.  The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way they work, with teams embracing cutting-edge technology including augmented reality headsets to continue delivering essential care.  The Icon Group […]

Many of us will notice changes in the people around us and get the feeling that ‘something is not right’ or is different with them. You may not want to say anything for fear of making the situation worse or because you don’t know what to say if they confirm your concerns. While these conversations […]

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we work, fast-tracking the digitisation of business and our ideas around flexible working.  While many people talk about the future of work in the context of big business, the topic is just as important for small businesses. The rise of ‘location-independent workers’ widens the talent pool for businesses […]

COVID-19 has tested business owners’ personal and professional resilience like never before and entrepreneurs continue to need internal fortitude as they face ongoing uncertainty. So, what is resilience, and how can it be strengthened? “From a psychiatric point of view, resilience is a complex concept but the easiest way to conceptualize it is one’s ability […]

As Australia’s leading provider of synthetic and medicinal chemistry services, Epichem met the challenges of COVID-19 head on, by protecting its business and employees while supporting the community and launching new innovations.  Founded in Perth in 2003, Epichem creates specialised products and provide technical expertise to customers in more than 40 countries in the pharmaceutical, […]

As a friend, family member or business colleague you can make an important contribution to someone’s recovery from mental ill-health. Working in small business can sometimes be isolating and when people experience challenges with their mental health, they can be tempted to isolate themselves further. The practical, emotional and social support that a small business […]

Aiming to not just outperform meat but replace it, Australian cultured meat company, Vow, has banked US$6 million of fresh funding. In 2019, Vow became the world’s first company to make a food product from the cells of an undomesticated animal, instead of the animal itself.  The company has since grown its library to 11 […]

2020 was a year of unprecedented challenge for business owners. Almost overnight, businesses of all sizes were scrambling to find new customers and devise innovative ways to sell to existing customers. Uncertainty and fear abounded, but so too did resilience and ingenuity. At both a state and federal level, the Australian government acted quickly and […]

It is common for people working in business to be concerned with or stressed about their business finances at some point. Unpredictable income, cash flow and delayed payments are common experiences for people working in small business and these can put you at increased risk of poor mental and physical health and family conflict. It […]

The customer is always right is an adage that has been driving the way we do business for years. While the concept of customer experience (CX) has evolved, business processes have not.  Today, the smartest organisations are creating competitive advantage by placing customer wants first and managing their customer experience from start to finish. In the […]

As COVID-19 wreaked havoc nationally and demand for safety equipment grew, Victoria’s regional medical device manufacturer Care Essentials pivoted its focus to produce a range of PPE products, surgical face masks and N95 respirators.  “Our decision to explore making PPE masks came because we kept receiving calls from hospitals, federal and state departments asking if […]

The recent Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, looks at some of the devastating impacts that technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are having on many of us.  Through an AI lens, it examines the causes of the recent polarisation of society; why, how, and who controls our information; and the effects of social media on mental health […]

Who could have predicted 2020? Many of the resolutions that you may have made in your business likely got swept aside in the chaos of the pandemic. As the world starts to emerge and economies recover, what are the 2021 resolutions you can make that will put your business in a strong position for the […]

Many small business owners work long hours and can often be on their own. Having people around them to check in on how they are doing can make all the difference. Have you noticed changes in someone’s behaviour recently? Has a business owner you know been doing it tough financially, been impacted by a weather […]