March Business Before Hours

Join us for our March Business Before Hours with three local industry experts:

Total HRM ​

Speaker: Ashly Baikaloff

Topic: Closing the Loophole - Update on Recent IR Changes

Closing the Loophole - Update on Recent IR Changes delves into the latest alterations in Australia's industrial relations (IR) landscape. In light of recent legislative amendments, this discussion examines the revised frameworks governing employer-employee relationships, workplace conditions, and other important changes. By dissecting these changes, the session aims to provide clarity on the implications for businesses, and workers alike. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the motivations driving these reforms and their anticipated impact on workplace dynamics, productivity, and fairness in employment practices across various sectors in Australia.

Key takeaways: Updates on Changes to Casual Employment Details on the "Right to Disconnect" Sham Contracting Arrangements Discussions on the changes to the definition of "Employment" Underpayment Compliance

Speaker Overview: Ashly is a HR Lead with over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and hospitality, both local and overseas, ranging from large multinational companies to small family-owned operations. Throughout his career, Ashly regularly led teams with over 30 employees while continually growing the business and aligning business strategies with employee capabilities. Ashly has qualifications in Applied Management and Human Resources and a strong leadership and people management background. Ashly combines his experience with his qualifications to develop great workplace cultures while delivering practical support.

Leora​

Speaker: Swathi Stirling

Topic: Mental Health Insurance for your Business

You don't think twice about getting insurance to protect your business's physical assets. But what about protecting your employees who are often your biggest and most important asset? Psychosocial risks are the fire within individuals and having a system in place to manage these risks is just as important as any other type of insurance you can get for your business.

Key takeaways:

1. There's a generational shift in how younger generations want to work. This points to why businesses are struggling to find and retain employees. It's no longer about working to live, younger generations want to have a meaningful impact in the workplace, and the broader society. Because they are so invested, it comes with increased psychosocial risks.
2. Business owners have multiple responsibilities, even the things you don't enjoy. One of those is managing your employees' mental and emotional health while at work. This can be a huge burden that without proper training, you aren't equipped to handle. How do you take on that burden and remain objective about running your business?
3. Legislation is starting to catch up, now requiring businesses to manage psychosocial risks in the same way they manage physical risks. What steps can you take as a business to manage these risks? Solutions like Leora give businesses an easy and accessible resource to turn to, freeing up your time to do what you do best. Thanks to the initiative between ABC and Justin Clancy your insurance premiums are free for the first 12 months.

Speaker Overview:

Swathi Stirling is a counsellor and psychotherapist in training. She loves working with local businesses to understand their challenges and find solutions to support their staff's mental health and well-being needs. As Leora's local team member, Swathi spends much of her time connecting with regional businesses and mental health professionals. After growing up in a city of millions and living in Sydney for a few years, Swathi and her husband moved to the Albury region to be closer to family. She quickly found her place here and enjoys the personal service and customer experiences regional small businesses deliver. "I've always enjoyed living in smaller places because I want to be able to go to the local coffee shop and remember a name and have a chat. Being here and living here for the last two years, every time we leave, by day two or three in the city, we're ready to come back."

THE Rural Woman​

Speaker: Laura Loveard

Topic: Equip your business for growth with Digital Solutions

What are the 5 things you can do for your business today to: - Establish mechanisms for long-term growth in revenue - Overcome isolation when running a business in rural and regional areas - Widen your target audience - Implement tech to support your business as it scales This 'taster' topic covers some of the key areas of the Australian Small Business Advisory Services Digital Solutions program which is being delivered in the Albury region by THE Rural Woman.

Key takeaways:

How to make tech your biggest asset for the long-term viability and growth of your small business - How to prioritise the tools and strategies that will be most impactful - Understand the free and low-cost Digital Solutions offering developed by the Australian Federal government - The power of welcoming digital progress into your business

Speaker Overview:

Laura Loveard is the Business & Operations Manager for THE Rural Woman. THE Rural Woman provides community, support, and education Australia-wide for the advancement of rural women and girls. THE Rural Woman is the delivery partner for the ASBAS Digital Solutions program in the Albury region, providing small businesses with free and low-cost access to education, skills development, and digital action plans to secure their growth and success in an increasingly digital landscape. Laura Loveard holds a bachelor's degree in Business (Marketing) and has almost a decade of experience working in business development, marketing, operations and systems analysis. Raised between Sydney and remote rural NSW, she understands first-hand the power of community, and the pressures faced by businesses to operate and perform online.