In April, the Ahead for Business team attended the Council of Small Business Owners Australia (COSBOA) National Small Business Summit where key political and industry leaders, small business owners, regulators and business influencers gathered to discuss how small business owners can continue to thrive into the future.
The two-day Summit encouraged attendees to ‘get involved, get active and advocate for your small business community to effect substantial and meaningful change'. The discussions were centred around key issues such as energy, inflation, skills and policy, all of which are crucial for the future of small businesses. You can read the top ten highlights from the COSBOA National Small Business Summit 2024 here.
Everymind Director Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM attended the Summit and remarked, "Listening to the presentations across the two days, it was evident that our small business community is not just creative and passionate, but also remarkably resilient. However, they are also grappling with significant stress and distress. Economic pressures, the burden of debt post COVID, the effects of regulatory red-tape, and the challenges of recovering from bushfires and floods are all mounting on small business owners.”
Dr Skehan added “small business owners are the backbone of the Australian economy and our local communities, but to retain that, business wellbeing needs to be a continued focus for all governments. A two-pronged approach is required to (1) reduce strain by ensuring policies are good for small business and (2) increase preventative and tailored business wellbeing supports that work for small business owners."
One preventative program currently available to small business owners is Ahead for Business, providing tools and resources to help small business owners take action on their mental health and wellbeing. This includes items such as check-ups, resources, training, and more.
Small Business Guides to Mentally Healthy Workplaces, boosting employee retention with workplace mental health and the National Mental Health Commission's new online platform, Mentally Healthy Workplaces, and more.
It is important small business owners support their workers to build happier, more satisfied work lives especially through the rise of flexible workplaces and embracing new technology.
Free Business Wellbeing Online Training expanded, Safe Work Victoria Work Well Toolkit, managing financial stress as inflation grows, and more.
Everymind is at the AgQuip Field Days in Gunnedah this week to launch a new wellbeing project for small business owners in rural agriculture, forestry and fishing industries.