To keep up to date on all current guidelines and restrictions in place throughout Victoria please visit - www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/how-we-live
For details about ongoing measures to help contain COVID-19 please visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.
SBS provides news and information about COVID-19 (coronavirus) in 63 languages.
More information about businesses support is available at www.business.vic.gov.au
The State Government has released new details regarding the financial support Victorian Businesses can expect. The additional support includes further top up payments for businesses as well as support for Micro-businesses (less than 4 employees) who are not registered for GST in the form of COVID-19 Disaster Payments.
Businesses that had chosen not to apply for support programs in relation to the May/June lockdown, or had been ineligible to apply but are now eligible, will be able to apply for July lockdown support payments and will be considered outside of the automatic top-up process.
- Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund Recipients will receive a $4200 automatic top up
- Business Cost Assistance Program Recipients will receive a $2800 automatic top up
- Micro Businesses NOT registered for GST will now be eligible for payments of $600 if they have lost 20 hours or more of work or $375 if you lose between 8-20 hours of work (per 7 day period). A support service through Business Victoria will be set up to help Micro-Businesses access this support.
- Eligible public events and public events suppliers affected by the lockdown will receive support of up to $25,000 and $10,000 respectively through an extension of the Impacted Public Events Support Program
- A new round of the Live Performance Support programs, with funding of up to $7,000 for presenters and up to $2,000 for suppliers will become available
- $2000 will be in Grants will be available for community sport clubs under the Sporting Clubs Grants Program
Electronic record keeping - key changes (announced June 3, 2021)
Hospitality - takeaway food or coffee must use the Victorian Government QR code (two week amnesty; includes food court and coffee carts; delivery pick-up drivers).
All retail settings - now mandatory to use the Victorian Government QR code (two week amnesty; display throughout as required; staff must also check in).
Removal of the 15-minute check-in rule for electronic record-keeping. Visitors must check in immediately.
Reinstatement of COVID marshals and PPE requirements for meat and seafood processing, warehousing and distribution centres, COVID marshals for supermarket chilled facilities.
Circuit Breaker Business Support Package
The Victorian Government has launched the $250 million Circuit Breaker Business Support Package to assist small to medium businesses and sole traders, under the circuit breaker restrictions announced on 27 May 2021.
The package will support businesses unable to operate due to these necessary public health measures, including targeted support for the events industry.
With safety nets such as JobKeeper no longer available, this package provides vital support to businesses doing their part to help keep Victorians safe throughout the circuit breaker action.
The package includes:
- a $190.01 million second round of the Business Costs Assistance Program
- a $40.7 million new round of the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
- $20 million in targeted support for the events industry.
Click here for more information on the Circuit Breaker Business Support Package.
Warrnambool City Council's COVID-19 Business Support Plan
Warrnambool City Councils COVID-19 Business Support Program (COVID-19 BSP) is designed to engage with local businesses and lessen the financial burden impacting them where possible, whilst planning for a rebuild of the important business community as restrictions are lifted.
Click Here to download the Warrnambool City Council Business Support Plan
COVIDSafe plan
Do you have your COVID Safe plan?
In regional Victoria, a COVIDSafe Plan is mandatory for high-risk industries and advised for all other permitted work. Creating your COVIDSafe Plan is not complicated, but it will protect your staff, customers, and visitors. It also supports you in preparing for a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in your workplace.
For more information please visit the below link, which is updated regularly to provide you with the most up to date information.
https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-plann…
Get in touch
The Economic Development and Business Support Unit are currently reaching out and making contact with as many of Warrnambool's 2,700 businesses as they can.
If we haven't reached you yet and you would like to get in touch, please fill in your details below
