RCCIWA August Monthly Members Online Meeting -  Wrap Up
We held our regular monthly members catch up via Zoom on Tuesday and it was great to see eleven of our members represented on the line as well as CCIWA and the SBDC. The monthly meeting is such a great opportunity to receive policy updates from the SBDC and CCIWA, as well as to hear about and learn from all the activities and issues our members our working on and dealing with. Our members do find these regular monthly catch-ups valuable, and this month it was very encouraging to hear how positive the updates were from our members. So, if you are available on the second Tuesday of the month at 10am – we’d love to see you. Some of the takeaways from the conversation are highlighted below:

• Nikki Forrest, Policy & Advocacy Officer with the SBDC joined us to give us an update on their activities and main pieces of policy work. We hear from the SBDC each month and it is a great way to keep updated and also to give direct feedback to inform their work. If you have not checked out the SBDC website lately, I would thoroughly recommend that you do here – it is a fantastic resource. Nikki updated us on:
  
  • The launch of the SBDC’s new PIVOT program – a free six month program for small businesses in WA. We encourage you to let all your small businesses know about this – see main newsletter for more information on PIVOT.
  • They are currently focussed on procurement reform, particularly with a lens on Local Government procurement
  • They are working with the Dept of Finance on various policies regarding sub-contractor payments
• Tom Lamond, Senior Policy Advisor with CCIWA joined us to give an overview of some of their policy priorities as well as sharing valuable information with all on the line. Including:
  
  • They have moved into their new premises on St Georges Terrace and have set up a dedicated working space that is free for members to access. Regional Chambers, who are members, are welcome to utilise that space. Read here to find out more about their member hub.
  • They have just released their half yearly economic outlook
  • They are focussed on their submission to Infrastructure WA’s Strategy Discussion Paper
  • They are focussed on and concerned about the proposed new industrial manslaughter legislation and what it means for WA businesses.
  • You can find out more  about CCIWA here.  

• Benita Cattalini, CEO of the Albany CCI        
  
  • Businesses going quite well, the majority seem to be doing well and coping with the recovery process
  • Biggest issue is employment in Albany and the Great Southern
  • They have restructured how they deliver the Working Together program and that is being well received
  • They have rescheduled their business awards, membership renewals have been stronger than expected and advertising support for the director is good

• Simone de Been, CEO of the KBCCI   
  
  • Recent Jobs Fair was very successful, they are heading to Bunbury next week to participate in the South West Jobs Fair as they need more skilled people.
  • Kalgoorlie-Boulder is very busy, there is a real buzz in town and lots of jobs
  • Planning their Business Awards and What’s Down the Track events
  • Directory is about to be released
  • They are working on a Capacity Register with CME
  • Sponsorship support has increased, with companies and corporations wanting to support local businesses
• Joanne Fabling, CEO of  the MWCCI              
  
  • Membership renewals have just gone out, all sponsors have renewed with one additional sponsor coming on board
  • They utilised their development commission funding to secure the base of their membership
  • 15 members contributed to their “pay it forward” campaign supporting the most impacted businesses with their membership fees
  • Working on their METS project in partnership with Rio Tinto and Westrac to bring a refitting workshop into Geraldton providing local training and local jobs
• Bec Woods, CEO  of  the Collie CCI    
  
  • Generous funding and support from SOUTH 32 allows them to offer small business grants, which aligns with 2 of their strategic pillars
  • Just advertised for an events coordinator and will be holding their inaugural business awards later this year
  • Membership fees are being supported by funding
  • Bec Woods let us know that after ten years with the Collie CCI – she has resigned. We all thanked her for her fantastic contributions and wished her all the best. We will miss you Bec!
• Elaine Jolliffe , CEO of the Broome CCI         

• Working with the Noongar CCI to review the State Government’s Aboriginal Procurement Policy
• JTSI WA Industry Link Regional Communications Forum on next week
• Currently have their Kimberley Tourism Impact Survey open
• Working on their Business Excellence Awards which are being held in late October
• Also busy with their Business After Hours, the Fitzroy Crossing Business Network and their Love Broome online platform
• Still very concerned about the COVID-19 impact on Kimberley businesses

• Mark Seaward, CEO and Rob Skipsey, President of the BGCCI         

• AGM is on next week
• Have been very busy with events – City of Bunbury business breakfast, WA Industry Link Communications Forum, Business After Hours to name a few
• Strategically involved with the Bunbury Outer Ring Road Project, are leading the local business advisory group as part of this project to develop and promote local content
• Signed an accord to work in collaboration with Maker + Co to assist start-ups, developing new economies, promoting innovative ventures

• Bronwyn McLeod, Executive Officer of the Esperance CCI  
  
  • Most businesses are going ok, and seem to be coping well with recovery
  • Focusing on their “Locals employing Locals” platform to assist local businesses fill their employment vacancies and create more local jobs.
  • Starting their customer services awards, as member promotion campaign and will hold their first in person BAH in September
  • Held a virtual Women in Leadership Forum last week which was very well received
• Amena Baghdadi, EO from the Donnybrook Balingup Chamber of Commerce      
  
  • About to launch their shop local campaign
  • $6M funding just announced for their sporting hub complex
  • Town Centre revitalisation project is underway
• Caity Craig, EO of the East Kimberley CCI     
  
  • A few visitors starting to come through, but not many – still very worried about the viability of many Kununurra businesses because of the impacts of COVID-19
  • Locals have become tourists in their own backyard
  • Held their first BAH as a tourism showcase
  • Were successful in applying for a Horizon Power Grant and are working with them to support small businesses and offer training and grants
  • Very busy planning events and other member support activities
• Sylvia Winkler CEO from the Nintirri Centre, for the Pilbara Inland CCI
  
  • Local businesses seem to be busier than ever
  • Many more local businesses are being contracted and utilised because of COVID-19 restrictions
  • Looking for tips and advice on how to attract more members to their events – they have membership growth; however, the events don’t get huge attendances (because all their businesses are so flat out!)
• Andrew McKerrell, General Manager from the Peel CCI
  
  • Focused on procurement, have a grant application in currently to provide education to assist businesses with tender writing and capability statements etc
  • Holding their business awards and have revamped their categories just for this year to reflect the impacts of COVID and truly celebrate the resilience of our local businesses

NDIS New Provider Virtual Information Session for RCCIWA Members – 17^th September 2020

• At the request of our members who missed the first one, RCCIWA will be hosting a second member’s information session to be delivered by the NDIS. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) would like to invite prospective service providers in WA to attend an information session on registering as an NDIS provider. Providers are vital for the delivery of NDIA services, providing life-changing supports to thousands of people with disability across WA and generating wide-ranging economic and community benefits. Opportunities exist across a wide range of support categories. This session will be held via videoconference using Microsoft Teams and will be great information to pass on to your members. More information and RSVP details will be sent soon!

RCCIWA Members Forum – November 12^th and 13^th  2020, Perth – Save the Date!
Planning has already commenced for the 2020 RCCIWA Members Forum, to be held in Perth at Parliament House on Thursday November 12^th and at a venue to be confirmed soon in Perth on Friday November 13^th.  For this one and only Forum of 2020, we are again looking at what technology we may be able to utilise so that members unable to make it to Perth, can still participate and contribute. We will keep you posted on this. We will be holding our legendary Business After Hours on Thursday November 12^th  in the PM – and will get back to you with our host details as soon as they are confirmed.

If you have not attended previously, we would love to see you there.

In order for us to plan the Forum so that it is relevant and informative for you, we would love your feedback on the following – just email me on ceo@regionalchamberswa.com.au or Emmi on admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au with any suggestions you may have:

• Members of Parliament you would like us to invite
• Questions for those MP’s
• Topics and issues, you would like covered on Day Two, the Operational Day
• Any guest speakers you would like to hear from on either day
• Any suggestions you have for the format and the timings of both days