Go Circular invites you to join the Winding Down Winery Waste Program—a collaborative effort to reduce food waste in the Hunter Valley’s hospitality and winery sectors. This program focuses on implementing innovative food waste solutions, using the experiences and practices of local businesses.

By joining the program, you will have the opportunity to:

Click here to complete a short EOI for the program

Please complete EOI by the 18th October as places are limited

 

About the Program
Supported by the NSW Environment Protection Authority, this project aims to create a food waste reduction model that can be replicated across Australia’s wine regions. The program highlights innovative strategies already used by Hunter Valley businesses and encourages greater collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

This initiative supports a local network where businesses work together to reach shared sustainability goals.

 

Support
The program is backed by industry associations, local councils, and sustainability leaders, including the Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association, Cessnock Council, and Loop Organics. Together, we’ll co-design solutions to drive long-lasting change.

For enquiries, contact info@gocircular.org.au.

Mobile Black Spot Program community survey

The Mobile Black Spot Program is an Australian Government initiative that invests in telecommunications infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and competition across Australia.

To date, around 1400 mobile phone towers (base stations) have been funded for delivery under the program, including a base station in the Cessnock LGA.

They want to hear your thoughts on the mobile service in your area:

Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the survey here

The survey will remain open until 31 October 2024.

More information about the Program can be found here

Responses to the National Retail Sentiment Survey will close in just two weeks.

As the peak trading season approaches, many retailers are navigating a challenging environment. With interest rates holding steady but the economic outlook remaining uncertain, it is vital to hear directly from businesses about the issues affecting them.

The National Retail Association represents over 6,500 members, including retailers and quick service restaurants, advocating for their interests at all levels of government, in the Fair Work Commission, and in the media. The association is preparing to oppose any further interest rate hikes and harmful government policies—but to do this effectively, input from members is needed.

By taking 5 minutes to complete the National Retail Sentiment Survey, respondents will provide the association with the insights needed to shape its advocacy on behalf of the industry. Feedback is key to ensuring that the association’s efforts remain relevant and impactful.

All responses are confidential, and participants will receive a copy of the survey report, offering valuable insights to guide business decisions during this critical period.

The National Retail Association values this input—please take a moment to share thoughts before the survey closes on Friday, 1 November 2024.

Click here to take the survey now 

Austrade has created a playlist of Sustainability Training Webinars for tourism businesses.

The videos include:

View the playlist here

The national 3G network is closing to boost the speed and reliability of the 4G and 5G networks.

Devices that depend on the 3G network won’t work when it’s gone.

Impacted devices may include phones, smartwatches, tablets, in-home personal emergency alarms, EFTPOS terminals and fire and security alarms.

Some 4G devices will be affected

Some early 4G handsets don’t support 4G voice calling, which means they use the 3G network, and after the closure these devices will not be able to make a call.

There are also a number of devices that support normal 4G voice calls, but force emergency calls (000) to 3G, so these phone calls won’t be able to make an emergency call (000) after the closure.

Older 3G phones, as well as some newer 4G/5G phones (that have been purchased overseas or from a retailer selling imported phones), do not meet these standards, once 3G closes.

If you have one of these phones, it means you won’t be able to call Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency after the 3G networks close. 

Find more information on the 3G closure here

Austrade’s new ‘Tourism workforce diversity in action’ videos are now available to view online.

These five short films offer real-life examples of how employing people with disability and older Australians can benefit tourism businesses and staff.

View the videos here

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is working to reduce good quality food suitable for human consumption from being disposed to landfill.

The Food Rescue Rebates are available to expand food rescue and relief capacity to safely manage increasing amounts of rescued food in NSW.

The rebates are part of a suite of organics programs available to support NSW to halve organics waste to landfill by 2030.

The objectives of this rebate program are to:

Program snapshot

Category: Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy

Amounts: Up to $2,000 per rebate with a total funding pool of up to $800,000.

Eligibility: Food rescue organisations and/or food relief organisations

Find more information here

The NSW Government is boosting NSW’s visitor economy workforce, delivering subsidised training programs for a sector that is expected to need up to 150,000 more workers over the next decade.

TAFE NSW is partnering with Destination NSW to develop and deliver training programs jointly funded by the Australian Government’s NSW Choose Tourism Program.

The subsidised courses are designed to address industry workforce shortages by encouraging Australians to pursue a career in the visitor economy, helping operators to attract, retain and upskill staff.

The new training programs include:

• An ‘Introduction to the Visitor Economy’ microskill: a short self-directed online course, designed to provide foundational knowledge and explore careers in the visitor economy industry. The microskill will be offered free to the public for the first six weeks of release, with fully subsidised access available for NSW high school students.

• Five one-hour video masterclasses: fully subsidised pre-recorded masterclasses will be available on the TAFE NSW website, featuring industry experts such as Scenic World, Cupitt’s Estate, Merlin Entertainments, Sydney Opera House, and W Hotels.

• Modernised Certificate III in Tourism: set for delivery in 2025, this updated qualification will include new visitor economy skills. Updates will also incorporate contemporary case studies and assessments based on industry feedback to ensure the qualification meets the current needs of the sector.

The ‘Introduction to Visitor Economy’ microskill has already launched, with the masterclasses being available from late October 2024.

Find more information here

The Live Performance Venue Accelerator Program is a series of skill building workshops for existing small to medium hospitality venues in NSW to provide participants with a fundamental understanding of the major elements required to stage a long-term program of live performances.

The intended benefits for successful applicants from the Accelerator Program include:

Applications close Monday 4 November.

Find more information and apply here

To encourage more people to visit local clubs, the 5km membership rule, which required residents living within a 5km radius to become members, has been lifted.

Previously under the 5km rule, residents were required to either sign up for a membership, pay a fee, provide proof of membership at another club, or visit as a guest of an existing member.

In contrast, those living beyond 5kms could simply sign in as visitors, making it less likely for nearby residents to regularly attend or even explore their local clubs.

Clubs will still have opportunities to attract new members through exclusive incentives and access to facilities such as gyms and swimming pools.

Find more information on the change here