| | | | | | Dear Guest,On a personal level this week has been a challenging and emotional one, but I have been using many of those work/life balance tips that many of you have shared with me such as blocking out a time for work, scheduling social media and most importantly prioritising enjoyable time with my family and friends. As we approach World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, I want to reiterate to all of you to make your mental health a priority. The statistic that astonishes me is that 1 in 5 people are affected by mental illness annually and don't speak up for fear of the stigma. Particularly during COVID-19 and the uncertainty which we are experiencing, the message is simple - look after your mental and physical health. Health and wellbeing are a huge personal focus and it gives me motivation to ensure our physical and virtual events continue to flourish and keep you all connected and happy right through until Christmas 2020. With COVID safe plans in place we want to make this year's WNA Christmas Charity Luncheon one of the best for everyone that attends. Your support of the event means the world to me and I am always grateful for extra sponsorship that allows us to host a brilliant event! Read on for all the details and to book your place! There is less than two months to go! I have also previewed our next Hobart event for you to join in on Friday 16 October where Business Advisor and Growth Facilitator Polly Venning will empower and encourage you as business owners and entrepreneurs. And if you feel like networking twice in one day, you can join in Socialise at Sunset later that day at 4.30pm (AEST). Our monthly Friday afternoon sessions are full of laughter and the odd drink or two, so please reserve your free ticket now and join in for an hour of joy.
In membership this week, we profile Jody Sainsbury who is passionate about encouraging other women to consider non-traditional careers and business industries and we introduce our second member of the WNA Leadership Team, Binh Rey. Read on as both of these leaders want you to get your glow on! I also highlight the powerful benefits of blogging as a way of highlighting your business expertise.
And for a little something else, I have noted two Federal Government funding initiatives to support small business and regional business recovery. No doubt, business is tough in the current environment and any funding opportunities we can find that could assist you with your recovery plans are vital.
As we embrace World Mental Health Day, I have also taken the opportunity to include some great information from a wonderful organisation Headspace, whose purpose is to promote and advocate for good mental health and wellbeing. With school holidays on us, remote working and disruptions to normal routines, finding enjoyable and engaging activities to stay happy and healthy is paramount.
Lastly, I am always keen to keep things lighthearted and living up to the theme this week of looking after your mental health - there is a enlightening documentary on the relationship between a man and an octopus (sounds interesting I know!) and an inspiring read about a truly courageous lady Sam Bloom.
As always, I am here to help, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
| | | | YES THE GRAPEVINE IS CORRECT - THE WNA CHRISTMAS CHARITY LUNCHEON IS ON!
If you haven't seen someone in a while, the Christmas Luncheon is the perfect place for you to catch up in person! Join your friends and fellow members at Victoria Park Golf Complex for a day of networking, entertainment and prizes! With a COVID safe plan in place, our Queensland Christmas Charity Luncheon is definitely on!
Date: 26 November 2020
Time: 11.30am - 2.30pm
Tickets: Single $175.00, Table of 10 $1650.00
HOBART IS WELCOMING YOU TO ANOTHER FABULOUS EVENT!
Our next event live in Hobart is coming up on Friday 16 October at the Old Woolstore Hobart from 12.00pm to 2:30pm.Hear from Polly Venning, Business Growth Facilitator from AI Group about the Entrepreneur's Program. Polly will outline the program's unique services that give eligible businesses access to expert advice that money can't buy and financial support through grants and incentives. Due to COVID-19 protocols, it is essential that you book your seat as early as possible. Tickets are available here.
SOCIALISING AT SUNSET IS GOOD FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH!
Join me and your fellow WNA members on Friday 16 October for a great hour hearing each others' stories and small wins that have helped you through the week. Hearing how you overcome your business battles or find new successful ways to move forward in your business and even daily personal challenges emboldens my smile and inspires me to keep supporting all of you.
We are prioritising these sessions as a monthly catch up from now to ensure you all stay connected, grounded, happy and thriving. Book your FREE member ticket here and pop it in your calendar. | | | | | | OUR MEMBER OF THE WEEK LOVES CONQUERING MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES!
After working for 30 years in the corporate sector, Jody Sainsbury kicked off her heels and became a coal train driver working in the rail and mining industry! The transition into a male dominated industry was no easy task.
Jody believes more women should consider non-traditional careers. She made it her mission to empower and support women who are considering a career change into an industry role and making the transition as smooth as possible!
Jody provides career guidance about how you can kick off your heels and tap into your steelcaps.
Jody says "Everyone is capable of doing the job..... Go On Get Your Glo On!"
INTRODUCING OUR SECOND MEMBER OF THE WNA LEADERSHIP TEAM!
Following the wonderful Cheryl Gray, I am delighted to introduce Trade Mark Attorney and Associate at Baxter IP, Binh Rey. Binh is not your ordinary Trade Mark Attorney. Having worked in senior marketing roles previously and using her knowledge of trade mark law, Binh ensures that she is able to assist in all matters to do with brand protection for businesses regardless of size. She is able to strategise and assist with determining what type of trade mark protection is required and help navigate her clients through the process of protecting their brand.
USE BLOGGING TO OPTIMISE YOUR WEBSITE!
Are you getting enough traffic to your website?! So many new companies set up a website and then just expect traffic to flow in and the sales to follow, and then get surprised when they aren't getting as many calls as they hoped. One of the key reasons is that their websites are not showing up high enough on search engines. How can you change this?
By optimising your website - so Google sees you as an expert or authority in your niche. You can create blogs on your site (and you should) but more importantly you can piggyback off the work that we have done at WNA to develop our authority on Google. Simply create a guest blog on our site and include a link back to your website (creating a backlink), as our authority helps to raise your website's authority.
| | | | THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT WANTS BUSINESSES TO BE "BORN DIGITAL"
The Australian Government wants new businesses in Australia to be "born digital" and have pledged $800 million worth of investments to make that happen. Following investments in cyber security and the National Broadband roll-out, the new wide-reaching plans aim to accelerate the uptake of 5G technology while fostering skills and capabilities for the digital age.
The JobMaker Digital Business Plan will create new opportunities and promote employment growth and economic recovery by removing out-dated regulatory barriers, boosting the capability of small businesses and backs the uptake of technology across the economy.
You can read key elements of the Digital Business Plan here.
REGIONAL TOURISM OPERATORS WILL ALSO GET A NEW FUNDING BOOST!
The Federal Government has also announced a new funding package to help regional tourism operators pivot to domestic travellers in the short-term but also putting them in a strong position to welcome international visitors when they can arrive back in these regions. This targeted new fund will support internationally dependent tourism regions to adapt their offerings, experiences, and marketing to appeal to these tourist groups in future.
The Building Better Regions Fund - Round 5 will be delivered like its previous four rounds with Infrastructure Project and Community Investment Streams. Grant guidelines will be delivered shortly to assist potential applicants. Read more here.
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY OVER THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS!
In many households it's holidays again, when school children are home, parents are working from home and routine can be turned upside down. Holidays are great but sometimes moving away from routine and structure can present both parents and children with boredom, frustration, and even anxiety or other issues.
Headspace are always keen to support parents and children to stay happy and healthy over the holidays. They have fantastic tips on: - Eating well
- Sleeping well
- Being socially active and involved
- Having fun through play.
Headspace also have a proactive and free service called eheadspace which provides online and telephone counselling and support for young people from 12-25 years, and their family and friends, which is a great source of help if you know of a young person having a challenging time. You can join in a Group Chat, create your own space and toolkit, and connect one on one.
You may also be interested to know there is a new Australian podcast App that has just launched called 5 Minutes for Me covering topics of Wellness, Mindset, Resilience and Productivity tips. It features celebrities and knowledge specialists, and has 5 FREE podcasts available. Take 5 Minutes, download in the App store and have a listen to some great short podcasts.
A BEAUTIFUL BOOK TO READ AND DOCUMENTARY TO VIEW!
If you are looking for something to watch on Netflix that will soothe your soul, check out My Octopus Teacher which is a true story about a burnt out film maker who forms an unexpected friendship with an octopus. The relationship that forms between naturalist Craig Foster and the octopus is captivating and raw.
Another captivating and moving story is that of Sam Bloom, wife and young mother of three boys whose life changes instantly when in a single horrific moment, her life shifts from one of freedom, independence, and active living, to a life where she will live permanently in a wheelchair. Heartache and Birdsong is Sam's story of overcoming adversity in a humbling, heartbreaking and heartwarming account of her experiences as she learns to manage her new circumstances with raw emotion and beauty. | | | | | | Do you know someone who would benefit from being part of WNA? Feel free to forward our Member Benefits link so they can join too! | | | |
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Our mailing address is: Women's Network Australia PO Box 5620 | MANLY QLD 4179 Australia
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