The Palaszczuk Government has set the stage for Queensland Small Business Month which starts tomorrow with the unveiling of a $6.75 million package to support the mental health and wellness of small business owners.
Announcing the new funding package today, Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said Queensland Small Business Month would deliver a comprehensive program designed to promote and support the State’s 448,000 small businesses.
“Fittingly, there will be a particular focus on helping those small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic and the recent floods,” Minister Farmer said.
“As part of our $14.5 billion Queensland Economic Recovery Plan, we are rolling out the Small Business Support and Wellness package.
“The package will directly address the pandemic’s toll on business owners — with coordinated promotion of support services, as well as triage points for small businesses doing it tough.”
The Small Business Support and Wellness Package comprises the following elements:
- the appointment of six specialist Small Business Wellness Coaches across Queensland where they are needed most. These coaches will join an existing statewide network of 43 rural, tourism and small business financial counsellors to provide a complete package of support for small businesses.
- access to a $3 million Small Business Support Services Fund to assist small business owners in alleviating stresses of their current situation, such as cash flow, financial planning and minor works. Through the Small Business Support Services Fund the locally based coach or counsellor in the network will be able to connect a small business owner with a service provider up to the value of $5000 where further specialist support is assessed as needed.
- the extension of a successful proactive education program ‘Small Business Smile4Biz’ developed by the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce to deliver local mental health supports through activation of the program by more chambers of commerce
- a promotional campaign to raise awareness of the mental health, financial counselling and other support services available to small businesses.
“In implementing the Support and Wellness Package we are partnering with the Queensland Mental Health Commission, the Queensland Small Business Commissioner and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries,” Minister Farmer said.
“It has been an incredibly challenging time over the last two years and some Queensland small businesses are still rebuilding while contending with worker and supply shortages, which places added mental pressure and stress on business owners.
“It’s important we support business owners with access to psychological support and financial counselling.
“Through this new package, we are responding to industry bodies and small businesses who have consistently raised the need for a wellness package with us as a priority.”
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) CEO Heidi Cooper welcomed the support and said it was in line with the business continuity package CCIQ had been advocating for on behalf of the state’s business community.
“Queensland businesses have experienced significant challenges over the past two years, and this has been further compounded by the recent flooding events,” Ms Cooper said.
“CCIQ’s recent Pulse Survey, which provides real time data and insights from the business community across the state, told us more than 60 per cent of businesses said they or their staff had experienced mental health challenges due to COVID-19 in the December 2021 quarter.
“This is a significant increase from more than 40 per cent six months earlier in June and was before the full impacts of Omicron and the recent flooding events.”
Minister Farmer said the Small Business Month activities in the coming week would involve the first meeting of the new Small Business Advisory Council, on Thursday, and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner role officially becoming permanent, on Tuesday.
“We are strengthening the voice of our small business sector and also providing it with strong advocacy through the Advisory Council and the Small Business Commissioner,” Minister Farmer said.
Also during Small Business Month the Government would be progressing several grants programs, including the opening on Tuesday 3 May of the third round of the Business Basics grants program for which the guidelines had been previously issued.
Minister Farmer said in addition to the State Government’s programs to assist small businesses, ordinary Queenslanders had a big and important role to play during Queensland Small Business Month.
“The objective of Small Business Month is to give small businesses not just a big shout out, but our active and tangible support.
“We can do it as individuals, and we can do it as a community. Small Business Month is a call to action to all Queenslanders.
“Let’s give our small businesses a hand by shopping with them, buying from them, staying with them, using their services and supplies — there’s many different ways we can provide our backing and support
“We can start this long weekend, and keep it going throughout Small Business Month. It will be a great habit to develop, and it will deliver real benefits for small businesses and the Queensland economy.
“One particular way we are encouraging Queenslanders to promote their local small businesses is go a step further in supporting them by posting their support on social media,” Minister Farmer said.
“Queenslanders can wear their hearts on their sleeves when it comes to the small businesses they support.
“We are asking people to show their appreciation for their favourite local small business by posting videos, photos and heart-shaped hands, on social media with the hashtag ‘#loveyoursmallbusiness'” Minister Farmer said.
