Sheryle Moon FAICD, FAHRI

Local Capability Fund (Western Australia)- Aboriginal Round. The Aboriginal Business Round provides funding support to Aboriginal Western Australian small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their business capability and capacity to supply to major Western Australian State or Local Government agencies, the Australian Government and the private sector. The level of funding support under the Aboriginal Business Round is 50% of eligible costs (excluding GST) up to a maximum funding level of $50,000 per successful applicant. To be eligible for funding, applicants must: Be an Aboriginal business (at least 50% owned by an Aboriginal interest); Be registered with either the Aboriginal Business Directory Western Australia or the Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct; Be operating in a trade-exposed industry (or an industry that faces competition from other national or international SMEs); Be registered for GST for at least 12 months prior to application submission date; Have an Australian Business Number (ABN); Be a for-profit organisation or business, or an incorporated not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation operating as a commercial enterprise; Have its principal place of business in Western Australia; Have been operating for at least 12 months in Western Australia at the time of submitting an application for funding; and Employ less than 200 people. https://lnkd.in/g8ZCmvvf

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Today I announced new guidance to help agencies make smarter use of taxpayer dollars through private sector strategic leasing partnerships for infrastructure. This 'PPP-lite' approach ensures New Zealanders can get the quality infrastructure they need, where and when it's needed, while retaining flexibility to changing circumstances. Strategic leasing complements our recent PPP Framework refresh, adding another tool in our infrastructure tool belt to better deliver a different class of assets. Read the guidance and the full release below.

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STATEMENT FROM VRCA Regional Victorian Building Industry in Crisis: Urgent Government Intervention Needed The Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance (VRCA) is calling for immediate Government action as the residential building industry throughout the State faces an unprecedented crisis. Despite the high demand for housing, regional and rural areas are witnessing a major downturn in all aspects of the housing and residential building industry. Land sales in new subdivisions have virtually stopped and agents are reporting a notable increase in land resales, where the current market value is significantly below the initial purchase price. Prospective homebuilders are therefore experiencing increased difficulty in securing bank finance to build and alarmingly, there has been an unprecedented number of defaults on land settlements. This downward spiral flows onto builders, who are unable to secure stable work which in turn impedes the commencement of much-needed dwelling construction projects across regional Victoria. Earlier this year Victoria experienced its lowest dwelling approvals in over a decade. January saw a staggering 9.8% decline in approvals compared to the previous month, illustrating a severe slowdown in construction activity. This trend underlines the financial strain faced by industry players, threatening the stability of the entire sector. Furthermore, the erosion of confidence in the building sector has led to a notable shift in consumer behaviour, with prospective buyers increasingly favouring established homes over new land and build options. The absence of first-home buyers, residential investors and upgraders in the current land market further exacerbates the challenges faced by industry stakeholders. “The Victorian Government must urgently intervene to address these pressing issues and safeguard the future of the building industry,” says the VRCA. “The Government has set a target of 80,000 new homes in Victoria in the next 10 years. Who is going to build them? Small construction companies are going out of business, looking to commercial work to survive or exiting the industry. “Supply chain issues continue to cause gaps in the construction process, and sub-contractors are stood down until materials arrive, so they too are looking for work outside of residential projects. “Immediate measures such as reassessing land tax policies, revisiting windfall-gains tax regulations, and implementing targeted financial support are essential to restore confidence and stimulate activity. “We call upon the Victorian Government to the prioritise regional and rural Victoria and take decisive action to mitigate the current crisis. Failure to act swiftly risks long term damage to the State's economy and housing market,” the VRCA said. Contact Jodie Gillett for further information

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The recommended system  Tier 0 – Purchase visibility: No registration requirements are needed and applies only to goods purchased from retailers, such as ramps from hardware stores, where no support is provided to the participant. Authorities would have visibility over this via real-time purchasing arrangements.  Tier 1 – Basic registration: Worker screening not needed. Subject to complaints process and must report incidents. This tier is for those providing lower-risk supports, such as sole traders and those with limited one-on-one contact with people with disability.  Tier 2 – Self-directed registration: This would apply to participants or their guardians who directly contract all their supports, such as service for one arrangements. Workers don’t have to register, but the participant or self-director will.  Tier 3 – General registration: Worker screening needed. This tier is subject to the complaints process and must report incidents. It could apply to providers offering supports that require skill and training, such as complex bowel care or injections, and those involving significant one-on-one contact with people with disability.  Tier 4 – Advanced registration: Worker screening needed. This tier is also subject to the complaints process and must report incidents. It could include those offering supports and services in high-risk settings or in closed settings like group homes.  Source: NDIS Provider and Worker Registration Taskforce Report 

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What is the government going to do to bring excessively high public service remuneration packages into line with community expectations? AND What can the government do to stop excessively overpaid elites lecturing us about disadvantage?

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📢 Consultation Paper Released: NDIS Proposes New Safeguards and Penalties The NDIS Commission has published a consultation paper detailing proposed reforms under Bill No. 2. These changes, aimed at enhancing safety and accountability within the NDIS, are part of the government’s response to recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission. 🔹 Key Reform Areas: 💼 Enhanced Penalty Framework and Statutory Requirements: The proposed legislation introduces new statutory duties for NDIS providers and key personnel, with civil penalties for non-compliance. Higher penalties and new criminal offences would address serious breaches, including unregistered operations and violations of banning orders. The Commission believes these changes will deter misconduct and promote accountability. 🔒 Expanded Safeguarding Measures: Banning orders could be applied to additional roles, such as consultants and auditors involved in unsafe practices, not just providers and employees. Anti-promotion orders would also restrict misleading advertising that could exploit NDIS participants. 📄 Strengthened Information Gathering Powers: The reforms propose faster access to crucial documents, shortening response times for providers when participant safety is at risk. A new requirement to store participant information within Australia would ensure quick access during investigations, with expanded authority for the Commission to establish rules for information-sharing with other bodies. The NDIS Commission is seeking feedback from NDIS participants, providers, and other stakeholders on these proposed measures, focusing on practicality and impact. Public input will shape the final structure of these reforms, aiming to strengthen safety and reliability within the NDIS. For more information or to participate in the consultation, visit the NDIS Commission’s website below: https://lnkd.in/gQGUwfJX

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Some great news for Local Governments in WA! 🙌 The Minister for Local Government announced that the FREE placemaking training for all LGAs staff and elected members in WA will be extended until 30 June 2025, as well as The Minister's Place Innovation Awards are back for 2024! The Minister’s Place Innovation Awards 2024 have proudly been made available by the Western Australian Government and are managed by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC) and administered by Town Team Movement. Established in 2023, the Awards are designed to recognise and promote innovative place-related projects, policies and activities involving local governments in Western Australia (WA). The three Award categories are: - Metropolitan and Peel - Regional WA - Outstanding achievement (either metropolitan or regional-based initiative) More information about the Awards and nomination form are available on: https://lnkd.in/gZHJ6Kkp #placemaking #placeapproach #innovation #localgovernment #lgas #doingWITHandBY #collaboration #awards

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What a welcome relief for many NDIS participants, their families and the broader community. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission launched a new Digital Compliance Register to search providers by name, state, ABN of business name. This will make it easier for people to search if there has been any compliance action taken against a provider or individual. Check out the register on the https://lnkd.in/gRPV-qVv #NDIS #ndisprovider #safeguarding #ndischanginglives #NDISReform

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These times of transformation offer an opportunity to create a connected & effective aged care sector with pragmatic solutions. Home and Community sector can and will be part of the solution.

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One of the underappreciated benefits of attending training is reminding yourself that the challenges you face are shared by others. I am very appreciative of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course not just for the quality of the course (it was excellent) but for the opportunity to connect with other stellar professionals from a range of industries. A brilliant reminder that the challenge of steering amazing companies through the most complex of environments is not as lonely as you think it is. Just my little plug for taking the time to get out of your office and join with your peers outside of the day to day challenge of operational management.

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Bill Shorten Media Release: New NDIS providers receive grants to co-design new payment options The Albanese Government is trialling a new approach to paying for disability supports to ensure National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants receive high quality supports that produce meaningful outcomes. As part of the 2023-24 Budget, the Australian Government committed $24.6 million over four years to work with participants and providers to trial blended payments which will test if there is a better payment option than the current fee-for-service model. Since then, the Albanese Government has been working closely with participants, providers and representative groups to design the best way forward on the trial.  The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) today announced 31 providers would share in $330,000 and take part in the co-design of blended payment options to explore how they might work. Minister for the NDIS the Hon. Bill Shorten MP said the Blended Payments trial is an opportunity to test different ways providers can be paid which encourage them to deliver better quality supports and achieve outcomes for participants.  “Under the current fee-for-service model, a participant pays a provider for their services and often that’s the end of it. The idea of a blended payment method will test if there might be a better option – where both participants and providers are clearer from the start on the desired outcome and thereby work more effectively towards that,” Minister Shorten said. From next year, following the co-design process, the NDIA and Department of Social Services (DSS) will begin trialling blended payment methods (among small groups of voluntary participants) to test their effectiveness. The trial will involve combining two types of payment. The first is an enrolment payment, where providers are paid for providing supports over a period of time (for example 1 or 2 years). The second is an outcome-based payment where a provider is paid when a participant’s goal is achieved. By trialling the blended payment method, we are testing if changing the payment approach can achieve better outcomes for participants. The fee-for-service payments currently used can narrow the focus to be on the amount of support delivered, rather than whether the supports are achieving results for participants. “This is a necessary innovation in shaping how payments could work differently in the NDIS in the long-term. We need to give participants more options in the future on how they engage providers and how they may pay them.” “To ensure we get this right, we’re co-designing the payment model with participants, Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs), providers and peak bodies.” Full story:

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Did you know there are a wide range of programs, initiatives and tools available to businesses in the #VisitorEconomy to uplift their #Management capability? Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) has compiled a helpful summary with links that outlines resources and initiatives for #tourism businesses nationally, as well as in individual States and Territories offered by our government and industry colleagues: https://lnkd.in/gh9YPuez Have we missed any programs? Let us know so we can keep our list up to date for the benefit of delivering the national visitor economy strategy THRIVE 2030 which has a theme of modernising. #SupportForBusiness #BuildingCapability

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Looking for a Government Grant and don't know where to start? You don't need to pay to find Government Grant information - both State and Federal governments have websites and databases where you can search for suitable grant programs, and identify those that might be a good fit for your business or organisation.

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🚨 Big and Important #NDIS Changes Announced 🚨 Today, Minister for the NDIS, Bill Shorten, announced changes aimed at increasing protections for NDIS participants and improving the quality and safety of their supports. Here’s what’s changing: ⚖️ Huge Penalty Increases Penalties for providers will jump from $400,000 to over $15 million when an NDIS participant is harmed. This brings penalties in line with those for workplace injuries under WHS laws. 👩‍⚖️ Criminal Prosecutions for the First Time The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will now have the power to refer providers for criminal prosecution if they seriously fail to meet registration conditions. 🛡️ Stronger Regulatory Requirements The proposed legislation will impose stricter regulatory requirements, criminal offences, and tougher penalties for those doing the wrong thing. 🔍 Improved Monitoring & Compliance Enhanced information-gathering powers will help the Commission ensure better compliance across the NDIS sector. 🚫 Expanded Banning Orders Banning orders will now cover not only providers but also people involved in auditing and consulting within the NDIS. These reforms are based on recommendations from the Independent NDIS Review and the Disability Royal Commission, ensuring stronger safeguards for participants and a better, more transparent NDIS. 📣 Consultation on these changes will begin immediately, with broader engagement in November 2024. Stakeholders, participants, and advocates will all be involved in shaping this next chapter for the NDIS. 💬 Minister Shorten emphasised that these changes will help protect participants, stop dishonest providers, and ensure higher quality, sustainable NDIS supports. You can learn more at this link: https://lnkd.in/gXV8fXc9

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From rapidly evolving technology to social changes, shifting economies to environmental pressures, our local communities - and the governments that represent them - are at the forefront of multiple transformations happening simultaneously. To ensure the Municipal Association of Victoria can successfully support councils navigate this ever-evolving landscape, we are reaching out to Mayors and Councillors, CEOs, Executive Team Members, Managers, Leads, and Council Officers from across councils throughout Victoria to complete a research survey. The results will help inform our work in supporting the local government sector moving forward and therefore the questions in the survey are intentionally future-focused. 🗺 Bonnie Shaw, our Chief Innovator in Residence, and I are excited to be working together to shape the future of our sector. We welcome your ideas and insights to inform our work to ensure it's designed to deliver what's most critical to have the most positive impact in our communities. Please complete the survey via the link below and share the survey with your local government friends and colleagues too! #localgovernment #shapingourfuture #localdemocracy #community #sustainable #councillors #mayors #cityleaders #electedmembers

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Presenting our latest study; "No Women’s Land: Australian Women Veterans’ Experiences of the Culture of Military Service and Transition" This study sought to understand the role and impact of gender in the context of the dominant masculinized culture on women veterans’ experiences of military service and transition to civilian life Thank you to the team and the indefatigable and courageous leadership of Prof Sharon Lawn and to the smaller co-author team of us working on the literature review when I was in the space ISU SHSSP program, thank you. Thank you to the interviewers for providing a safe space for participants. THANK YOU, to participants for your courage and voice, its been nothing but insightful, collaborative, supportive, environment-we are inspired by you. #Flindersuniversity #MESHA #OpenDoor #DefenceWelfareAssociation One of the outcomes of the study, highlighted the need for tailored services for women exiting the ADF and in the veteran community. "This can create significant gender-based barriers to services and support for women veterans during their service, and it can also impede their transition support needs" More investigation and a second paper to come. This paper contains anonymous direct quotes, that may be a trigger to survivors of abuse, please discuss with your health provider before reading. @MDPIOpenAccess   https://lnkd.in/gescsmjX Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health #womenveterans #mentalhealth #tailoredtherapeuticmodels #genderstudies #culture #genderroles

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Are you an SME looking to get into government procurement? Read this article by The Riotact to see how SMEs can be part of commonwealth procurement and how ICN helps SMEs access project work around Australia.

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Grant opportunity: Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants Opened 24/04/24; Closes 05/06/24; $100,000 up to $3M; National This grant supports short-term (up to 3 years), industry-led research collaborations. Projects must: -develop a product, service or process that will solve problems for industry and deliver real outcomes -benefit small to medium enterprises (SMEs) -include education and training activities. To be eligible as a lead applicant you must: be an SME, have an ABN, and be incorporated in Australia and a trading corporation. Your trading activities must be either: -enough to be called a trading corporation -a major, not minor, part of your overall activity. Note: review the budget workbook understand the detail you need to incorporate. #pruesgold #grants #grantwriting

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