General News
7 May, 2022
$6.75m mental health and wellness package
THE Palaszczuk Government has set the stage for Queensland Small Business Month, which started on Saturday, April 30, with the unveiling of a $6.75 million package to support the mental health and wellness of small business owners.
Announcing the new funding package on Saturday, Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said Queensland Small Business Month would deliver a comprehensive program designed to promote and support the State’s 448,000 small businesses.
“Fittingly, there will be a particular focus on helping those small businesses hardest hit by the pandemic and the recent floods,” Minister Farmer said.
“As part of our $14.5 billion Queensland Economic Recovery Plan, we are rolling out the Small Business Support and Wellness package.
“The package will directly address the pandemic’s toll on business owners — with coordinated promotion of support services and triage points for small businesses doing it tough.”
The Small Business Support and Wellness Package comprises the following elements:
• The appointment of six specialist Small Business Wellness Coaches across Queensland where they are needed most. These coaches will join an existing statewide network of 43 rural, tourism and small business financial counsellors.
• Access to a $3 million Small Business Support Services Fund to assist small business owners in alleviating stresses of their current situation, such as cash flow, financial planning and minor works.
• The extension of a successful proactive education program, ‘Small Business Smile4Biz’, to deliver local mental health support through activation of the program by more chambers of commerce.
• A promotional campaign to raise awareness of the mental health, financial counselling and other support services available to small businesses.
“Through this new package, we are responding to industry bodies and small businesses who have consistently raised the need for a wellness package with us as a priority,” Minister Farmer said.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland (CCIQ) CEO Heidi Cooper welcomed the support.
“Queensland businesses have experienced significant challenges over the past two years, and the recent flooding events have further compounded this,” Ms Cooper said.
“CCIQ’s recent Pulse Survey, which provides real-time data and insights from the business community across the state, told us more than 60% of businesses said they or their staff had experienced mental health challenges due to COVID-19 in the December 2021 quarter.”
During Small Business Month, the Government would be progressing several grants programs, including the opening on Tuesday, May 3, of the third round of the Business Basics grants program for which the guidelines had been previously issued.
Minister Farmer said in addition to the State Government’s programs to assist small businesses, ordinary Queenslanders had a significant role to play during Queensland Small Business Month.
“The objective of Small Business Month is to give small businesses not just a big shout out, but our active and tangible support.
“We can do it as individuals, and we can do it as a community. Small Business Month is a call to action for all Queenslanders.
“Let’s give our small businesses a hand by shopping with them, buying from them, staying with them, using their services and supplies — there are many different ways we can provide our backing and support.
“We are asking people to show their appreciation for their favourite local small business by posting videos, photos and heartshaped hands on social media with the hashtag ‘#loveyoursmallbusiness’” Minister Farmer said.
To find out more about the Wellness and Support Package, visit www.business.qld.gov.au or contact the Small Business Hotline 1300 654 687.
