July 2009

In this edition

Opening Address
Tourism Transition Advisory Board
CCIQ
Noosa Boardroom
Executive Committee

Events

Maleny Commerce
Aitken Legal
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
CCIQ
Caloundra Regional Art Gallery
Australian Government
Epic Employment

T: 07 5443 5661

F: 07 5443 5208

P: PO Box 181, Maroochydore QLD 4558

E: enquiries@maroochy.org

W: www.maroochy.org

Welcome

Photo Courtesy Starshots Glamour Photography Sunshine Plaza

I know it’s only August but it certainly feels like Spring has Sprung! To celebrate I’ve changed my outfit to reflect the colours of spring and thank you to Starshot’s Glamour Photography Sunshine Plaza for supplying the great photos.
Our AGM is coming up next month on 2 September and if you are interested in nominating for a position on the committee and would like to know what’s involved, please give me a call and I would be happy to let you know all about it. Nomination forms are on the website and must be returned to the Chamber office no later than 18 August.
The AGM will be a dinner meeting and we are well known for not having boring AGM’s. This year will be no different as we have a Mike O’Hagan from Mini Movers as our very special guest speaker. With $200 and a Ute, Mike grew a short distance furniture moving business into a professionally managed enterprise that today turns over $30 million a year with over 500 employees. Mike is a sensational presenter and will be speaking about: “Doing business in this New World.” For more information about Mike and his speaking topics please visit www.ohagan.com.au.

See you there!

Sunshine Coast Tourism Reform Update

Tourism industry reform took another step forward with the appointment of the Tourism Transition Advisory Board (TTAB) that will be charged with bringing tourism into a new and exciting era on the Sunshine Coast. Should you require any further information please visit Councils website.

CCIQ Pulse Survey of Business Conditions - June Quarter 2009

Business confidence on the Sunshine Coast gained momentum over the June quarter, according to the latest CCIQ Pulse Survey of Business Conditions.
Regional Chair, Stephen Dittmann, said confidence levels have lifted off their historical lows, with over 42 per cent of Sunshine Coast businesses now expecting national economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months.
“On the national front, it would appear the recent run of better than expected economic news has convinced many businesses that the current downturn will not be as severe or prolonged as originally expected,” Mr Dittmann said.
Consistent with the recovery in business confidence, all of the major indicators – sales & revenue, profitability, employment and capital expenditure – have improved over the three months to June 2009. This shift is a welcome development, although the trend will need to continue over the rest of 2009 if the indicators are to return to satisfactory levels. At this stage, the region’s businesses are confident that the key indicators will improve further over the coming months.
For more information www.cciq.com.au

Sunshine Coast Business Confidence Survey

The results of the Sunshine Coast Business Confidence Survey are in and thanks to your participation the results help paint a relatively rosy picture about future business conditions.

For more information www.noosaboardroom.com.au

Executive Committee

PRESIDENT	Myles McNamara, Camelon IT Email: myles@camelon.com.au
VICE PRESIDENT	Helen Perry Email: helencperry@bigpond.com.au
TREASURER	Toni McCulloch, Accounting North Email: toni@accountingnorth.com.au
SECRETARY	Ken Wright Email: wrightk_j@bigpond.com
COMMITTEE MEMBERS	Peta Yujnovich, Schultz Toomey O'Brien Lawyers
	Gillian Taylor, Office of Alex Somlyay MP
	Lynden Courtney, Sunshine Plaza Centre Management
	Darlene Juleff, Comiskey Management Services
	Mark Planck, Swan Boat Hire
	Andrew Strange, The Ginger Factory
	Steven Cox, Six Degrees The Agency
EXECUTIVE OFFICER Awards Co-Ordinator	Melinda Shelton, PO Box 181, MAROOCHYDORE. QLD. 4558. Tel: 5443 5661 Fax: 5443 5208 Mobile: 0414 643 566 Email: melinda@maroochy.org
Sunshine Coast Business Expo EVENT MANAGER	Sally Harris, PO Box 181, MAROOCHYDORE. Q. 4558. Tel: 0418 658 453 Email: businessexpo@maroochy.org
ADMINISTRATIVE ASST	Susi Priest, PO Box 181, MAROOCHYDORE. QLD. 4558. Tel: 5443 5661 Fax: 5443 5208 Email: susi@maroochy.org
BUSINESS LIAISON OFFICER	Cynthia Howland, Spinnaker Quays, MOOLOOLABA. Q. 4557. Mobile: 0408 828 066 Email: c.howland@bigpond.com

Hinterland Connects

Don’t miss the second Hinterland Connects for 2009!
This is an occasion not to be missed for all Hinterland businesses to meet, network and open up new business opportunities. For more information www.malenycommerce.org.au

Workplace Forum - Keeping Employers Informed

If you’re an Employer and you’re not familiar with the new workplace relations laws that commenced on 1 July 2009 under the Fair Work Act, or you would like to become more familiar with these new laws, we strongly recommend that you take the time to attend the Workplace Forum where you will learn about the new laws in one full day.
The Workplace Forum will benefit Employers, as well as Managers and Human Resources professionals.
Hear about the new laws directly from:
Nicholas Wilson, the Fair Work Ombudsman
Commissioner Whelan of Fair Work Australia
Stephen Smith and David Miller of the Australian Industry Group
Cath Bowtell of the ACTU
Deborah Ralston of the QCU
John Merrell, Barrister
For more information http://www.aitkenlegal.com.au/ for a Registration Form

Workshops

Considering a business
Tuesday 11 August 2009 — FREE — 9.30am - 11.30am
This seminar will cover the key issues you should consider before commencing a business. You will have the opportunity to hear from a variety of experts such as accountants, solicitors and bankers. The workshop will cover the ‘must do’s’ and where to get the right information to successfully start a business.

Defining your Business
Wednesday 19 August 2009 — $44.00 — 6.00pm – 9.00pm
This seminar will assist you to discover what your business really provides to your customers and how you can more successfully market your business to increase sales.
Topics covered include:
* Defining your Current Business * Identifying customers reasons for buying from you * Identifying better business processes * Planning and documenting strategies for business improvement

Export Master Class – Pitching the Deal
Tuesday 25 August 2009 — 9.00am – 11.30am
At this workshop you will learn; how t o make your words powerful, the key elements of creating the BEST first impression, how to convey credibility, energy and confidence and how to close your pitch and achieve your aims. You’ll leave this workshop with a formula for successful pitching, whatever the context, and with a template to follow to develop your own pitch.

Planning for Success
Wednesday 26 August 2009 — $44.00 - 6.00pm – 9.00pm
Do you have a plan for your business? Do you know how to measure your business' success?
A successful enterprise starts with a detailed plan of how it will conduct its business. This 3 hour workshop is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you will need to plan for and improve your business. The workshop will give you an opportunity to work through the Business Process Planning Model and to determine what you will need to include in your business plan.

For more information www.dtrdi.qld.gov.au

What’s needed to grow & sustain employment?

Where:	Maroochy Baptist Centre, 186 Wises Road, North Buderim
When:	6.30 pm Wednesday 12th August 2009
Cost:	$10 donation at the door with all proceeds to Bloomhill Cancer Centre
Hosted & Sponsored by:	Steve Dickson MP, Member for Buderim (Supported by the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Qld Sunshine Coast)
Guest Speaker:	Mayor Paul Pisasale, City of Ipswich
Other Guest Speakers:	Mayor Bob Abbot, Sunshine Coast Regional Council Maurie Hill, Chairman, Sunshine Coast Business Council John Atkin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Sunshine Coast Stephen Dittmann, Regional Chair Sunshine Coast, Chamber of Commerce & Industry Qld
RSVP welcome but not essential to Steve Dickson. Email – buderim@parliament.qld.gov.au

"Art in the Park"

Art Markets – Felicity Park
As part of the Sunshine Coast Art Prize celebrations market stalls of unique and original art will link the Gallery with the popular Bulcock Street Markets, Caloundra.
8.00 am to 1.00 pm, Sunday 23 August and Sunday 4 October 2009

To book your place or for more detail contact the Caloundra Regional Art Gallery on 5420 8299.

Free Fair Work Act Awareness Seminars

The Fair Work Act Awareness Seminars are being run by Ai Group on behalf of the Australian Government as part of their Fair Work Education Program. These free 3-hour seminars will fill you in on the facts about the Fair Work Act and its implications for your business and employees. Topics covered will include: unfair dismissal, union right of entry, modern awards, the National Employment Standards, transfer of business, Small Business Fair Dismissal Code, agreement making, industrial action and general protections.
9am-1:30pm on Tuesday 11th August The Sebel Maroochydore
Attendance at these events is sure to prove valuable for your business, so register online now, download further information on this event or call 1800 105 788.

Annual Corporate Golf Day

You are cordially invited to participate in the Epic Employment Service Inc annual Golf Day.

The event take takes place on Friday 4th September 2009 at the magnificent Noosa Springs Country Club as a precursor to Disability Week (13-19 September 2009).

For more information Phone: Robert Bailey 5455 5166/0438 188 089

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If you would like more information on what your council is doing,
please visit the Maroochy Chamber of Commerce web site.