Credit Management briefings a big success

VECCI recently conducted Credit Management briefings in Bairnsdale, Traralgon and Dandenong.

The briefings were designed to help small to medium-sized businesses learn new techniques and develop better credit management systems to achieve regular cash flows and avoid possible bankruptcy.

Mark Answerth, Managing Director of CreditCollect was the presenter of the briefings which focused on:

• Developing credit application forms
• Monitoring the credit process
• Managing the overdue collection process
• Understanding the legal ramifications of credit control
• The Privacy Act and its implications for your business relations to the credit process

Efficient collection of payments is essential for business survival, yet ten percent (10%) of small business failure has been attributed to poor credit management.

After the success of these briefings VECCI and CreditCollect have been discussing another series of Credit Management briefings focusing on the legal issues associated with the topic.

These new briefings would be scheduled for later in the year. If you have any questions about credit management and its role in your business.

For more information contact Peter Butler, VECCI Regional Manager - Gippsland, on ph: 03 5173 9200 or email: pbutler@vecci.org.au

At the lectern is the presenter of the briefings Mr Mark Answerth, Managing Director - CreditCollect

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VECCI Business Breakfast - Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace

In a culture of growing stress and increasing pressure, improving workplace culture through work/life balance is a way of maintaining employee health and productivity in the workplace.

When employees are given opportunities to grow, recuperate and repair their bodies and minds, the workplace then benefits from refreshed attitudes and stimulated minds that translate into increased workplace productivity.

These were just some of the points discussed recently by health educator, John Toomey at the recent VECCI Business Breakfast in Traralgon.

John Toomey, Health Educator speaking at the breakfast

Feedback from the attendees when asked the question - What were your overall impressions of the speaker John Toomey as a presenter and life/ balance consultant?

Comments included:

• `He was very good and made sense with what he said `
• `Fantastic`
• `Inspirational and clear in his presentation`
• `Very good presenter, interesting and lots of knowledge`
• `Excellent, great speaker`
• `Great get him again please`
• `Absolutely fabulous'
• `Excellent, inspiring, encouraging - what John spoke of is something we all know but perhaps don't put in practice`.

With the strong support of our sponsors, Latrobe City Council and WorkSolutions Gippsland we were able to deliver an event and a high quality speaker to the Gippsland region that provided solutions for business owners and managers on how to balance the challenges of work and life for themselves and employees.

VECCI Business Breakfasts are held on a quarterly basis with speakers discussing human resource issues that impact on business and employee performance.

For more information contact VECCI Events on ph: 03 8662 5144.

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Raising Awareness of Depression In The Workplace

VECCI Gippsland conducted its first Business Breakfast, Dr. Georgia Camplin, BAppSc, BA(Hons), MPsych (Clin Neuro), PhD, MAPS, (Trainer – National Workplace Program, beyondblue) presented on Depression in the Workplace.

Depression costs the Australian economy $3.3 billion in lost productivity each year and six million working days are lost, together with another 12 million days of reduced productivity. Economic studies indicate that each employee with untreated depression and related conditions will cost their organisation nearly $10,000 per year.

beyondblue`s National Workplace Program, is designed to reduce the personal, social and economic cost of depression and the potential impact on business.

Latrobe City sponsored the first event in this breakfast series, focusing on Human Resources issues for business.

VECCI Gippsland Regional Manager Peter Butler says ` due to the breakfasts success, it is our intention in the new year to conduct a further 3 breakfasts on topical Human Resource related matters.`

Dr.Georgia Camplin (Trainer – National Workplace Program, beyondblue) - Addresses atttendees on the topic of Depression in the Workplace.	Business attendees at the Business Breakfast.

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Gippsland Business Awards nominations open for 2008

• Nominations close - Monday 26 May
• Entries close - Friday 6 June
• Finalists announced - Tuesday 22 July
• AusIndustry Finalist Breakfast - Friday 8 August
• Winners announced - Friday 29 August

VECCI is a category sponsor and would recommend to all members across Gippsland to consider lodging an entry into the awards. Entry forms can be downloaded from www.gba.org.au

Left to Right: Michelle Del Busso, Chairperson - Bendigo Bank Gippsland Business Awards and Russell Garrick, Regional Manager - Bendigo Bank

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Export Gippsland's `Business At Twilight`

On 5 March, Traralgon's Premiere Function Centre was buzzing with excitement at the networking event organised by Export Gippsland's committee. Based on a concept that VECCI has previously delivered in metropolitan Melbourne and other regional areas, the event was hailed a success.

Business At Twilight was proudly sponsored by Telstra Country-Wide, Monash University Business and Economics Gippsland Campus, AusIndustry and Export Gippsland.

More than 65 people participated and the event format ensured networking, not just among the attendees, but also with sponsors and companies displaying their products and services. Each attendee was given the challenge to maximise the networking opportunity and rewarded with 'play money' when they met a new contact. The 'play money' would then allow them to bid for auction prizes at the end of the evening.

Bob Faulkner of Workforce Extensions made an excellent auctioneer and thanks to the generosity of a number of the companies displaying, the auction was a huge success.

Feedback from the attendees and those with displays indicated their enthusiasm to participate in the next event.

Watch this space for the next Business At Twilight in Gippsland.  In the meantime, if you wish to be kept informed of future events, please send your details to Zea Colgan at VECCI by email: zcolgan@vecci.org.au

Left to right: Colleen Long, Truleen Downs Alpaca Farm and Geeta Heffernan, VECCI International Business Development Manager.

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IR reforms 'Forward with Fairness' briefings visit Gippsland

VECCI was the first to bring to the Gippsland Region briefings on the Rudd Government's IR reforms for business.

The first round of the Federal Government's 'Forward with Fairness' changes commenced operation on Friday 28 March following the Government's announcement that the laws would begin to operate immediately.

David Gregory, VECCI Head of Workplace Relations, visited Gippsland to provide insight and guidance on the current changes and what can be expected in future changes, including alterations to the unfair dismissal laws.

David Gregory, VECCI Head of Workplace Relations

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