Useful links for business:
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Australian Business License and Information Service
The Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) helps business operators and people considering starting a business. ABLIS can identify relevant state, territory, local and Australian government licences, permits, approvals, regulations and codes of practice, allowing you to obtain detailed information and manage compliance obligations.
The Advertising Standards Bureau administers a national system of advertising self-regulation through the Advertising Standards Board and the Advertising Claims Board. The self-regulation system recognises that advertisers share a common interest in promoting consumer confidence in and respect for general standards of advertising.
Apprenticeships and traineeships Info
This site provides a valuable one stop contact for queries in relation to the New South Wales apprenticeship and traineeship system and provides free advice, referrals and support about apprenticeship, traineeships and training options.
AusTender provides centralised publication of Australian Government business opportunities, annual procurement plans, multi-use lists and contracts awarded.
Monitors cash transaction in and out of Australia and administers 100 point system requirements for opening accounts
The Australian Trade Commission is the federal government’s lead agency for assisting international companies to establish and build their business in Australia.
Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association
ANZOA is a professional association for industry-based Ombudsman schemes, State and Commonwealth Parliamentary Ombudsmen and professional services Ombudsmen.
Apprenticeships are available in a variety of certificate levels in more than 500 occupations across Australia.
Australian Banking Association
The Australian Banking Association provides analysis, advice and advocacy for the banking industry and contributes to the development of public policy on banking and other financial services.
The Australian Commonwealth Entry Point
The Australia.gov.au website is your connection with the Australian Government. It links to information and services on around 900 Australian Government websites as well as selected state and territory resources. Australia.gov.au also searches more than four million web pages from Australian, State and Territory Governments.
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
The ACCC assesses complaints on business practices and provides guidance to both business and consumers on their rights and obligations under the Trade Practices Act and Prices Surveillance Act.
Australian Direct Marketing Association
Provides a ‘Do Not Mail’ service which allows you to add your name to a do not mail register.
Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA)
AFSA provide improved and equitable financial outcomes for consumers, business and the community through application of bankruptcy and personal property securities laws, regulation of personal insolvency practitioners, and trustee services.
It is helping Australian industry to meet the challenge of change by focusing on building competitive industries through global integration, human capital development, productive and flexible workplace relations practices, infrastructure development and innovation.
Australian Payments Clearing Authority
APCA is the self-regulatory body set up by the payments industry to improve the safety, reliability, equity, convenience and efficiency of the Australian payments system.
Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
APRA is responsible for promoting prudent behaviour amongst financial institutions. Can provide advice/guidelines regarding the early release of superannuation benefits, but any application must be processed by the superannuation trustee.
Australian Securities & Investment Commission
ASIC regulates and enforces consumer protection laws covering investments, superannuation, insurance and financial advice.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the principle revenue collection agency of the Australian government.
Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation is an Australian Government statutory authority established to provide strategic support to the Australian wine sector.
The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
ABARE’s objective is to contribute to the competitiveness of Australia’s agricultural, fishing, forestry, energy and minerals industries and the quality of the Australian environment by providing rigorous and independent economic research analysis and forecasting.
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Business Enterprise Centres Australia (Hunter Region)
BEC Australia is a national network of Business Enterprise Centres, which offer business advice and support to small and micro businesses.
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Find information about Planning & Development, Environment, Community, and elected officials.
Handles complaints about Commonwealth Government departments and authorities, including the Australian Federal Police, Australian Taxation Office, Australia Post, Centrelink, Child Support Agency and Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Credit and Investments Ombudsman
The Credit and Investments Ombudsman (CIO) offers an impartial dispute resolution scheme to assist consumers to resolve complaints with participating financial services providers.
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E
The Department of Education and Communities
The Department offers a range of training options to employers to help build workforce skill and productivity.
The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON) provides a free, fair and independent dispute resolution service for all electricity and gas customers in New South Wales, and some water customers.
The Department of Employment is responsible for national policies and programmes that help Australians find and keep employment and work in safe, fair and productive workplaces.
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Providing information and assistance for consumer issues, motor vehicles, home building and renovation, credit, property and tenancy issues, plus co-operatives
Information and advice about Australia’s new national workplace relations system from the Fair Work Ombudsman. You’ll also find links to Fair Work Australia – the national workplace relations tribunal.
NSW Farmers has a dedicated team of Regional Services Managers based around the state. These managers live and work in these communities. They understand the unique issues and challenges as well as the opportunities and rewards. They are there to support local members; to hear and represent their voice.
Financial Counselling Australia
The peak body for financial counsellors in Australia.
Financial Planning Association
The peak professional organisation representing the financial planning sector in Australia
National not-for-profit organisation representing Australia’s retail and wholesale funds management businesses, superannuation funds, life insurers, financial advisory networks, licensed trustee companies and public trustees.
Forest and Wood Products Research & Development Corporation
Forest and Wood Products Research & Development Corporation aims to promote effective research and development, which advances an internationally competitive, sustainable and environmentally responsible forest and wood products industry in Australia.
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G
Place naming and addressing.
This website helps you find funding available under a variety of grant programs for individuals, businesses and communities.
The Grains Research and Development Corporation is responsible for planning, investing and overseeing research and development, delivering improvements in products, sustainability and profitability across the Australian grains industry.
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NSW Health services
Horticulture Innovation Australia
Horticulture Innovation Australia Limited (HIA) is a not-for-profit, grower-owned Research and Development Corporation (RDC) for Australia’s $9.5 billion horticulture industry.
A working group made up of the 10 local government councils of the Hunter Region. Hunter Councils’ services are also available to non-member councils, government agencies and private companies. It provides access to specialist and economical services as well as the opportunity for clients to contribute to the regional community through strengthening the model and reducing the costs of services to local government.
The accredited Hunter Valley Visitor Centre provides visitor information for the Hunter Valley and surrounds.
Hunter TAFE offers a wide range of further education options to boost skills or create new ones.
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ICN is an Australian & New Zealand wide network that helps businesses to maximise the opportunities that arise from purchasing requirements from both the government and private sectors. ICN aims to help Australian, New Zealand and overseas businesses to identify and maximize opportunities in the supply chain, and take advantage of new arising opportunities.
The NSW Department of Trade & Investment offers grants and industry collaborations to support technology SMEs and businesses in developing enabling technologies in identified key sectors.
National Insurance Brokers Association
Represents the interests of the insurance broking sector in Australia
Insurance Council of Australia
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is the representative body of the general insurance industry in Australia. Its members represent more than 90 per cent of total premium income written by private sector general insurers.
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J, K, L
Register of Socicitors in NSW.
The Office of the Legal Services Commissioner (OLSC) is an independent statutory body that deals with complaints about lawyers under the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014.
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Meat and Livestock Australia provides research and development, marketing and mark information to benefit the red meat industry.
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Local, not-for-profit Business Enterprise Centre supporting micro, small, and medium business across Newcastle and the Hunter region.
The NSW Business Chamber is an independent organisation undertaking evidence-based research to deliver fresh insights and practical intelligence to boost Australia’s capabilities and global competitiveness.
NSW Office of Liquor and Gaming
The Office of Liquor and Gaming serves the NSW government and community by regulating the liquor, gaming, racing and charities sectors.
The NSW Ombudsman is an independent and impartial watchdog. Our job is to make sure that agencies we watch over fulfill their functions properly and improve their delivery of services to the public.
The peak mining industry association in New South Wales, representing the interests of mineral producers, explorers, extractive material producers.
Business development agency for the State of New South Wales, assisting firms wishing to invest or do business in the region.
Newspapers
The Advertiser
The Advertiser (Cessnock) has been serving the Cessnock local government area for 52 years. It is a once-a-week free published every Wednesday with a circulation of 17,000 copies.
The Newcastle Herald – a tabloid morning newspaper published Monday to Saturday – is the only Newcastle-based newspaper serving the entire Hunter and Central Coast regions, six days a week.
Guide to Australian Newspapers
For a quick guide to the news in your State or Territory, here are the current headlines from the major Australian daily newspapers.
At The Sydney Morning Herald we are passionate about giving you independent, quality journalism, whether that is around major news investigations and crime reporting or sport, business, food, travel, parents or culture and art.
The Australian is a news and business brand that puts the success of Australia at the heart of its editorial positioning. Offering a large and desirable audience across all platforms of print, digital, mobile, tablet and NIMs.
The Hunter Valley News is a free weekly publication. Its largest townships are Muswellbrook, Singleton, Scone, Denman and Aberdeen.
The region’s main industries are coal mining, electricity generation, dairy, viticulture, beef and lucerne production. The primary tourist attractions are the historical townships, the wineries and two of the finest horse racing tracks in NSW, at Muswellbrook and Scone. The Hunter Valley News boasts a circulation of more than 18,000.
The Mercury’s team, which includes Walkley and Prodi award winning journalists, has moved into the modern publishing era and embraced online technology. To top of a long list of achievements, The Mercury won the prestigious Country Press Association EC Sommerlad Memorial Award for editorial leadership and community involvement this year.
The bi-weekly Singleton Argus publishes in excess of 50 pages a week, covering issues as diverse as the coal and wine industry, local community concerns, entertainment and sporting news.
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OCHRE – Office of Communities Aboriginal Affairs
The Office provides an online hub for information about engaging employment and economic activities that build independence and prosperity for Aboriginal communities, businesses, and people.
The Office of State Revenue (OSR) is a division within the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation which is part of the Treasury and Finance Cluster. As NSW’s principal revenue agency, OSR fairly administers State taxation and revenue for, and on behalf of, the people of NSW. OSR manages fines and administers grants and subsidies to provide valuable assistance to families and enterprises across NSW. The Office also recovers debt to provide an equitable outcome for the community.
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Department of Primary Industries NSW
Primary Industries and Fisheries promote profitable primary industries for NSW and provide expertise and support to assist the State’s food and fibre industries to increase productivity, improve sustainability, grow markets and adapt to change.
Member of Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission. Regulates the protection of privacy of personal information held by Government agencies, Tax File Numbers, credit reference agencies and consumer credit information
A peak industry body representing all sectors of the pulse industry in Australia, from growers and agronomists through to researchers, merchants, traders and exporters.
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Regional Arts NSW provides a range of information, networking and funding opportunities to support regional creative industry development.
Regional Australia Entry Point
The Regional Entry Point provides information and links to Australian Government programs and services relevant to people living in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Regional Development Australia Hunter
RDA Hunter is the leading economic development agency in the most dynamic and diverse regions in Australia. It works to strengthen the Hunter as a competitive and modern metropolitan centre of excellence by securing funds for regionally significant infrastructure projects, providing effective connectivity between industry, education and the wider region economy and by driving investment to the Hunter region.
Supervises banks at a very high level – does not supervise interest rate charges or fee charges.
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The Business.gov.au website is an online government resource for the Australian business community. The site provides a wide range of services and information about start-up, taxation, licensing and legislation, as well as significant transactions such as ABN Lookup, taxation compliance and license applications.
Free subscription to the Stay Smart Online Alert Service which provides information about e-security threats and possible solutions and provides a small business self-assessment tool designed as a guide to provide your business with appropriate measures to improve your online security.
The Office of Environment & Heritage provides energy and environment policy and program support. The Office assists companies by helping to finance energy efficiency upgrades and by providing financial incentives for energy saving projects. The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) program is delivered by The Office.
Superannuation Complaints Tribunal
Complaints and enquiries regarding decisions made by superannuation trustees, insurers, retirement savings account providers, annuity policies and other accounts related to regulated superannuation funds
The Supreme Court is the highest court in NSW
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The prime objective of TradeStart is to assist small and medium sized enterprises, particularly in regional Australia and industries that have high growth potential, to commence exporting and to convert irregular exporters to sustainable export activity. TradeStart also provides assistance to established exporters to expand their markets.
NSW Trustee & Guardian provides professional and independent trustee services writing Wills, acting as Executor in deceased estates, administering trusts and Powers of Attorney and delivering financial management services.
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U, V, W, X, Y, Z
The University of Newcastle, informally known as Newcastle University, is an Australian public university established in 1965. The university’s primary campus is located in Callaghan, a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales.
WorkCover’s purpose is to increase the competitiveness of the NSW economy through productive, healthy and safe workplaces.
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