2013 Archives
Give the Gift of Reading with the Whyalla Public Library and The Smith FamilyGive the Gift of Reading and donate a new book to children in the Whyalla community and help share the love of reading this Christmas
To participate simply collect a tag from one of the Christmas trees on display at the Whyalla Public Library, The Book Boys or the Westland’s Post Office, purchase a children’s book and drop it off, unwrapped at the Library, The Book Boys or the Westland’s Post Office by December 17th. All books will then be presented to The Smith Family at the Whyalla Public Library on Wednesday December 18th at 2pm! 03/12/2013 |
Grants and Funding Opportunities
BankSA Jump Start Your Start Up Grant
New businesses need all the help they can get, so BankSA is giving you the opportunity to receive a $10,000 cash grant to help jump start your business. Whether your business is new, or yet to get off the ground, you will also benefit by having access to business experts, who can guide and advise you on how to grow your business to help it succeed. For more information visit BankSA's website. Anzac Day Commemoration FundThe Anzac Commemoration Fund ensures that the contribution of all men and women who have served Australia in time of war, armed conflict or international peacekeeping operations is recognised and commemorated in South Australia. Grants of up to $100,000 are available for a range of initiatives that focus on educating the community about the significance of ANZAC Day and commemorating our nation’s military heritage. For more information visit the website. Applications close 1 November 2013. Sport and Recreation Development and Inclusion ProgramsThis fund provides assistance to eligible organisations to develop and implement projects that will grow the sport or activity, improve services and/or address barriers to inclusion. For details visit the website. Applications closeMonday 9 December 2013. Gateway Business Program - ExportThe Gateway Business Program assists small to medium-sized firms prepare for export. The fund can meet eligible expenses incurred in developing international markets. Successful applicants may receive up to 50 percent reimbursement of eligible export-related expenditure up to $25,000 over two years. Applicants must have been in business for at least two years with a turnover more than $150,000 a year. Eligible projects include researching feasible overseas markets, developing marketing material for distribution overseas, participating in international trade shows and trade missions, adapting websites for international markets, undergoing export specific mentoring and supporting incoming buyers. For information on the grant, eligibility and the guidelines visit the DMITRE website. Multicultural Grants SchemeThe Multicultural Grants Scheme helps organisations celebrate, share and grow their unique cultures within our community. The initiative aims to improve equality and acceptance in our society and increase the understanding of the culturally diverse community we all live in. Organisations can submit an application at any time. To find out more, visit the Multicultural SA website or call 1300 239 468. 01/11/2013 |
Multicultural Awards 2013
The Multicultural Awards celebrate South Australian organisation and individuals who promote multiculturalism and increase understanding of the benefits of cultural diversity and community. For more information visit thewebsite. Nominations close 31 October 2013.
01/11/2013 |
Work Health and Safety for Temporary Working Visa Holders
SafeWork SA has developed a Fact Sheet to help temporary working visa holders understand their rights and responsibilities under the new Work Health and Safety legislation. The Fact Sheet aims to provide visa holders and employers with an overview of their rights, safety responsibilities and obligations. The Fact Sheet can be accessed from the SafeWork SA website.
01/11/2013 |
Congratulations to Award Recipients
Regional Development Australia would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all winners, finalists, entrants and nominees of the recent award opportunities. Awards such as these recognise the success and outstanding achievements of local businesses and individuals while encouraging great outcomes and good spirit within the community. We’d like to encourage more people to nominate worthy businesses and individuals in Whyalla for future award opportunities. If we can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to contact our office.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Whyalla Chamber of Commerce & Industry Annual Business AwardsOn Friday 11 October, over 170 individuals gathered to celebrate the 2013 Whyalla Annual Business Awards hosted by the city’s Chamber of Commerce & Industry. RDAWEP wishes to congratulate all winners and finalists of the 2013 awards. Winners of the awards categories were:
30/10/2013 |
Meeting and Training Rooms
Looking for somewhere to hold your next meeting or training session?
Recently refurbished, the Whyalla Business Centre offers fully equipped, modern and comfortable meeting rooms and office space for hire. Prices start from just $10 per hour. Room hire includes tea and coffee facilities, wireless internet, room configured to meet your requirements, and a range of equipment to support your event including teleconference and skype facilities. Enquire today, phone 8645 7811 or email whyallareception@rdawep.org.au. 30/10/2013 |
Business Online Workshops
RDAWEP with funding from the Department of Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) will be delivering a workshop across the region to address the critical shortfall as identified by both State and Federal Governments of the use of technological business solutions by business owners in our regional areas. The workshops will be held in November 2013 and will include modules on improving management and business processes, financial management practices, communications, competitive positioning and reducing costs. Final dates and session locations will be posted as soon as they are finalised. For more information, or to register your interest, please contact: Mike Shore, Business Development Advisor – Eyre on (08) 8682 6588 or email mike.shore@rdawep.org.au
30/10/2013 |
Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf Conference
Representatives of Regional Development Australia attended the two day annual Global Maintenance Upper Spencer Gulf Mining and Resources Conference held in Port Pirie in August 2013. The conference was well attended and included quality presentations from a range of mining and associated service businesses operating throughout South Australia. Despite some businesses reporting a down turn in the mining industry and reduction in orders, local miners reported strong mining activity with significant Capex planned for the year. Several Oil and Gas producers reported 'massive' unconventional gas potential and planned growth of operations in the Cooper basin.
30/10/2013 |
Employment Access Fund
- Are you an employer who would like to employ someone who is currently unemployed? Does this person require training at a cost?
- Do you know someone who would be given a go by an employer if they held a specific ticket? RDAWEP has funding available to assist job seekers in the Whyalla and surrounding region to overcome final stage hurdles to employment. The Employment Access Fund assists job seekers that have been offered employment but require further training or job specific materials prior to the commencement of employment. The fund provides the job seeker with a one off grant to assist them to access skills, training and prerequisites to employment. For more information, or to make an application contact Tamara Clark on (08) 8645 7811 or email tamara.clark@rdawep.org.au. 30/10/2013 |
New Employment Leaders Group for Whyalla
A new Industry Leaders Group has been established to provide on the ground industry support to strengthen training and employment in Whyalla. The group, chaired by Andrew Anninos from the Career Employment Group, will work alongside the existing Regional Network to lead change in the way industry and government respond to training and employment participation issues. This new structure will provide community and industry with the means to better connect, coordinate and respond to the regions training, skills development and employment needs. The group is comprised of nine senior managers from a range of Whyalla businesses. Each member has strong links to industry and the community which will enable the group to identify and respond to local workforce development priorities. The first meeting of the new Whyalla Industry Leaders Group was held on Tuesday 22 October and included robust discussion on the challenges facing industry in Whyalla.
30/10/2013 |
Backing Our Business: Small and Family Business Strategy
The Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy (DMITRE) in partnership with the Business Development Council, Business SA, and industry is developing a comprehensive strategy for small and family businesses in South Australia. Workshops were held in Whyalla and Port Lincoln on19 September to explore solutions to key issues facing our regions small and family businesses and identify actions for the State Government and industry that will assist regional businesses to be resilient, innovative, profitable and globally competitive. Areas of discussion raised by locals at the sessions included:
30/10/2013 |
Virtual view shows Port Bonython proposal at a glance
Upper Spencer Gulf locals can now see how proposed developments including the Port Bonython Bulk Commodities Export Facility will look from their own backyard using interactive 3D visualisation. The tool has been developed so local residents can tour the proposed Port Bonython developments and imagine how the future could look.
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Port Bonython Bulk Commodities Export Facility in the Spencer Gulf has been released for public comment as part of the development assessment process. The Port Bonython Visualisation is available to the public in the lead up to Flinders Ports’ community meeting on the EIS and is on display at:
Members of the public are encouraged to take up this opportunity to use the visualisation to see how they the proposed developments will appear on the landscape and in relation to existing structures. A public meeting on the EIS will be held in Whyalla tonight, 29 October from 7.30pm in the Oasis Board Room of the Westlands Hotel Motel (100 McDouall Stuart Avenue, Whyalla Norrie). 30/10/2013 |
Eyre Peninsula Small Business Training & Mentoring Program
The 2013 Eyre Peninsula Small Business Training Program workshop sessions have now been completed with over 90 people attending. Funding for this program has come from the Australian Government Small Business Advisory Services program which has enabled RDAWEP to engage highly skilled presenters to deliver targeted training to our regional businesses. Presentations were delivered on the following subjects: Strategic Business Planning, Business Finance, Business Systems, Marketing Communications, Selling and Servicing Local Markets.
The full day workshop sessions were filled with high quality information. All participants received workbooks on each subject, allowing individuals to add relevant notes of their own to improve information retention. Many participants have already shared stories of success, returning to their workplaces to implement new business practices. The mentoring element of the program will now enable attendees to focus on developing and implementing a project from one of the subject areas within their individual business, achieving further solid outcomes. RDAWEP will be offering this program again in 2014. The program includes a total of 5 workshops held at 4 major Eyre Peninsula locations. Workshop topics are as mentioned above. A mentoring option is available to compliment the training to assist businesses to implement learning outcomes. For more information on the program or to register your interest for 2014 contact Heidi Freeman, Business Development Adviser on 0488 457 111 or email heidi.freeman@rdawep.org.au. 30/10/2013 |
Whyalla Public Library October School Holiday Program is filling fastOur October school holiday program is filling fast.
Please ring the library on 86457891, if you are interested in booking your children in for one of these exciting sessions. Thanks Coral Dyason ALIATec Library Assistant Whyalla Public Library Reading, Learning, Knowledge, Community 7-9 Ekblom Street, Whyalla Norrie SA 5608 T (08) 8645 7891 F (08) 8644 1498 E coral.dyason@whyalla.sa.gov.au E library@whyalla.sa.gov.au W www.whyalla.sa.gov.au 01/08/2013 |
Whyalla Visitor Guide embraces new technologyThe Whyalla Visitor Centre have embraced new innovative technologies which has resulted in Whyalla being the first city in South Australia to have its own visitor guide in the form of an Apple application for iPhones and iPads. The new interactive Whyalla Visitor Guide allows you to find out everything to see and do in Whyalla quickly and easily online at www.yourvisitorguide.com.au. A free downloadable app is available to apple users and an android version is currently being developed and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
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Managing your Time and Priorities TrainingSubject to interest, RDAWEP are looking to bring this half day training course on time and prioritisation management to Whyalla. On completion participants will have:
01/08/2013 |
Local shipping expertise underpins planned bulk export facility at Port BonythonSouth Australian ports group, Flinders Port Holdings (FPH), is spearheading Spencer Gulf Port Link’s planning for the new bulk export facility at Port Bonython. The proposed new iron-ore port willaccommodate the large Capesize ships required to minimise transport costs and ensure South Australia’s iron-ore miners can compete in the global marketplace.
FPM has expert knowledge of marine conditions in the Spencer Gulf and provides a range of shipping and logistics services to its customers. The company operates seven ports across South Australia at Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Thevenard, Port Giles, Wallaroo and Klein Point. Dredging will not be required at the natural deep water harbour of Port Bonython which is proposed as the location for the new common-user bulk shipping terminal. Capesize ships will be able to berth there and receive export consignments of South Australian iron-ore without the need for transhipment. This will allow junior mining companies to unlock their projects and move into production, bringing jobs and economic benefits to the local area. Community and stakeholder engagement is continuing, with a further round of meetings planned by Spencer Gulf Port Link representatives during August. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) team on 1800 657 248 or email: eis@spencergulfportlink.com.au. The draft EIS is expected to be released for public comment in late 2013. 01/08/2013 |
Building Major Project Capabilities Training & Mentoring ProgramLocal government, resource and mining sector service providers, construction and heavy industry businesses were present for the first workshop in this series. The Bid and Tendering workshop presented much more than the comprehensive list of 55 things to consider when preparing a bid. It also included working through tender identification, how to find appropriate research, choosing the best team and partners for the project, tips for negotiation and what to do after you have won. Information provided was very beneficial for the wide variety of business sectors in attendance with a few businesses already planning to take up their professional mentoring session to work on an identified project in this area. Participants are looking forward to attending the Project Management in Practice session being delivered on 14 August.
For more information on the program contact Heidi Freeman on (08) 8645 7811 or email heidi.freeman@rdawep.org.au or to register contact Tamara Clark on (08) 8645 7811 or email tamara.clark@rdawep.org.au. 01/08/2013 |
Commencement of the Small Business Training ProgramFunded by the Australian Government Small Business Advisory Services this regional business skills development program began with a dynamic delivery on Strategic and Business Planning in the last week of June. The day focussed on development and strategic implementation and was full of information and tools for small and medium business use. Attendees were impressed with the quality of information delivered on the day and the helpfulness of the supporting documentation.
The second workshop topic ‘Business Finance’ will be presented in Whyalla on 1 August. Content to be covered in the full day workshop includes business structures, understanding financial statements, cash flow projections, finance options, technology and its impact on reporting and general business tax aspects and issues. If you are interested in attending the 2013 program, please contact us as there are a few positions still available in Ceduna, Wudinna and Whyalla clusters, with the opportunity for new registrations to catch up in the 2014 round. For more information on the program contact Heidi Freeman on 0488 457 111 or to register contact Tamara Clark on (08) 8645 7811 or email tamara.clark@rdawep.org.au. 01/08/2013 |
Youth Exploring PotentialRegional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula in partnership with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology (DFEEST) through the Skills for All in Regions program have funded an expanded youth project known as ‘Youth Exploring Potential’ (previously called Jobs West). The initiative will target 60 Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people who are currently in secondary education or disengaged from learning or work, and those who are transitioning from school to further training and employment.
Components of accredited training will be delivered depending on individual aspiration. This process will be designed through the development of personal development plans which include a defined training pathway. Other elements will include life skills, with a focus on building of confidence and self esteem. Providers will ensure work experience placements are coordinated and part time work opportunities are achieved as a pathway to full time employment. The goal is also to ensure country young people have the opportunity to explore tertiary pathways. The project model aims to develop participants who can be employed for attitude and trained for skill. All participants will have the opportunity to participate in career development and planning, supported work experience and a range of entry level training. Outcomes will include:
01/08/2013 |
Regional Plan 2013-14Regional Development Australia Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula (RDAWEP) is required to review and update the Regional Plan on an annual basis as a part of the contract with the Commonwealth. This review has taken place with the RDAWEP Board endorsing the revised edition on Friday 26 July 2013.
Click here to download the revised Regional Plan for the Whyalla and Eyre Peninsula region. 01/08/2013 |
Heavy Industry Training Participants GraduateA graduation ceremony was held on 4 July 2013 at the Roopena Football Club to celebrate the successful completion of the 2013 Heavy Industry Training Program. All participants are currently receiving assistance in applying for work or further study options and there have already been some positive employment outcomes as a result of the program.
01/08/2013 |
SA Infrastructure SummitRepresentatives from RDAWEP recently attended and presented to the 2013 South Australia Infrastructure Summit held on 23 & 24 July in the Barossa to discuss infrastructure development across the state. The Summit was organised as a joint initiative of all the RDA’s in South Australia to attempt to shine a light on the economic potential of our country regions. The first day of the Summit focused on major economic development such as gas pipelines, railways, deep sea ports and electricity supply. Day-two examined community and social infrastructure such as educational, health and recreational facilities. The issue of funding and partnerships were hot topics at the Summit and attendees heard about the principles of developing sound business cases to attract investors and funding from the Government.
01/08/2013 |
Gate to ChinaTHERE'S only one place in Australia where you could make a railway line using steel rails manufactured on site.
That place is Whyalla, where they have not only created their own railway but also built it on land they made themselves, reclaimed from Spencer Gulf. Today that railway will be formally opened, along with Whyalla's extended inner harbour, the culmination of a $200 million project which secures the economic future of South Australia's third biggest city. Click here to read the entire article 31/07/2013 |
Port Bonython environmental assessments updateI am writing to update you on the progress of the environmental approvals for the bulk export facility proposed at Port Bonython.
Two separate environmental assessments are being undertaken for this project: a preliminary documentation report, requested by the Australian Government, and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), required by South Australian Government. Work is continuing on the project’s South Australian environmental assessment, an EIS. This EIS is a comprehensive study of the social, economic and environmental aspects of the proposed bulk export facility. I anticipate that it will be available for public comment towards the end of 2013. A series of fact sheets about the project are being compiled and are available on the project website. I have attached the first three to this email for your convenience: · Fact sheet 1 - Port Bonython Bulk Export Facility · Fact sheet 2 - Assessing potential environmental impacts · Fact sheet 3 - EPBC Act preliminary documentation report Spencer Gulf Port Link has now completed a draft preliminary documentation report and submitted it to the Australian Government’s Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, (SEWPaC). This report was requested under the Environmental Protection, Biodiversity and Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), because of the project’s potential to have a significant impact on two species - the Slender-billed Thornbill and the Southern Right Whale - which are listed as threatened under the EPBC Act. A copy of this report is available to download from the Spencer Gulf Port Link website: www.spencergulfportlink.com.au If you have any questions about the project, please contact the EIS team on our free phone number 1800 657 248 or email eis@spencergulfportlink.com.au Spencer Gulf Port Link is committed to keeping you informed and I will contact you again with further updates over the coming months. Yours sincerely, Sean Reardon General Manager Infrastructure Unsubscribe: If you no longer wish to receive updates about the Port Bonython Bulk Export Facility environmental assessment process, please respond to this email with unsubscribe in the subject line. Download PDF 12/07/2013 |
Here to helpThe appointment of three new salaried medical officers has been welcome help this year as the Whyalla hospital continues to make improvements and developments.
The appointments help fulfill a commitment from Country Health SA and the Minister for health and ageing to provide additional support at the hospital. Doctor Aftab Ahmad Cheema and Doctor Jalal Qamar started at the hospital in February while Doctor Sheraz Jamil started at the hospital just this week. Country Health SA director of medical services Doctor Susan Merrett said the doctors will help to improve services to patients in the Whyalla community. Click here to read the entire article 04/05/2013 |