The latest information on COVID-19 for South Australian Business.

We encourage you to regularly check SA.GOV.AU for state-wide information on support available during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please continue to visit Supporting Business in SA to see information specific to South Australian businesses.

Apply now for an emergency cash grant. 

Applications for the State Government’s $10,000 Emergency Cash Grants for Small Businesses are now open.

To be eligible, businesses and not-for-profits (including eligible sporting and community organisations) will need to:

  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN) and were operating a business and employing people in South Australia as at 1 March 2020
  • Have an annual turnover of more than $75,000 (excluding GST)
  • Have total Australian payroll of less than $1.5 million, and not be entitled to a payroll tax waiver under COVID-19 support measures introduced by the South Australian Government
  • Have been subject to closure or highly adversely impacted by COVID‑19 related restrictions.

Apply before 1 June 2020 from the Department for Treasury and Finance website. You can also refer to the list of Frequently Asked Questions here.

JobKeeper enrolments open.

The Commonwealth Government is now inviting eligible employers to enrol for the JobKeeper Payments. This $130 billion national scheme aims to keep Australians employed throughout the COVID-19 business downturn by subsidising wages to the tune of $1500 per fortnight, per eligible employee.

As an employer, your first step is to:

To ensure you receive your JobKeeper payments as early possible, you are encouraged to enrol by the end of April. However, enrolments are open till the end of May if you need more time.

For more information, or to enrol, visit the Australian Tax Office website.

Alternatively, check out SmartCompany’s break down of the new information and enrolment process.

24-hour trading extended.

In response to shoppers’ continued demand for supermarket goods and the need for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the State Government has renewed the period of extended trading hours for another 30 days.

This means the condition allowing 24-hour weekday trading and extended weekend hours will remain in place until at least 19 May.

For more information, visit SafeWork SA.

Support for the international education sector unveiled. 

The State Government has today announced a new $13.8 million support package for South Australia’s international education sector; a bid to bolster the industry and save local jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

The International Student Support Package will include:

  • $10 million funds for university students significantly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions at the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and University of South Australia
  • A $500 emergency cash grant to other eligible international students significantly impacted by the restrictions, currently enrolled in a course and living in South Australia
  • A one-off $200 assistance payment per student living with South Australian families provided to homestay families.

Visit Study Adelaide for more information.

City businesses: Have your say.

The City of Adelaide wants to know the impact COVID-19 has had on your business to inform the council’s initiatives and recovery efforts going forward.

You can contribute by completing the COVID-19 Small Business Task Force: Business Support Survey.

Revisions to state border restrictions.

South Australia Police have updated border restrictions to allow some essential workers to cross the state border without usual quarantine requirements.

This now includes fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers, provided their employer is applying risk mitigation strategies at work.

Other essential workers include active military and defence personnel and some health care workers. For more information, read the full SAPOL Direction.

Working from home tips.

We’re all facing unprecedented challenges during this time and are having to work in ways we’ve never had to before.

Beyond Blue has compiled some helpful tips for working from home:

  • Set a schedule for your day and stick to it.
  • Ensure you move around and get fresh air (responsibly).
  • Choose a good chair and set up your computer and workspace properly.
  • Keep the kitchen stocked with healthy snacks and meals.

A win for SA’s film industry.

The local film industry has welcomed this week’s announcement that new crime thriller The Unknown Man will begin shooting in South Australia after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

The film will be produced by Joel Edgerton, who will also star opposite the UK’s Sean Harris. The film is written and will be directed by Thomas M Wright.

Various roles will be available on the production for professional crew and extras. For more information and to express your interest, visit the SA Film Corporation website.

Upcoming events and webinars.

Global in-market updates
Presented by the Department for Trade and Investment
Multiple dates

The Future of Work: What happens after all this?
Presented by AIIA
Wednesday 22 April, 4.00pm

Managing contractual obligations for food and beverage manufacturers
Presented by Food SA and Norman Waterhouse
Thursday 23 April, 9.00am

How to keep the power in your super
Presented by Stone and Chalk
Tuesday 28 April, 11.00am

COVID-19 and Business
Presented by City of Unley, City of Prospect & State Government
Thursday 30 April, 8.00am

New ways to engage customers and make sales
Presented by the Polaris Centre
Thursday 30 April, 4.30pm

Fail or Scale: Responding to the current crisis and future challenges
Presented by Stone and Chalk
Friday 1 May, 12.30pm

Survival of the Finance Fittest – $130 billion of support, what’s your cut?
Presented by Stone and Chalk
Friday, 1 May 2.00pm

Other useful resources.

Advice from the Australian Centre for Business Growth Chair, Jana Matthews: Five ways scale-ups can use the pandemic to rebound and grow again.

 

Category: News & Events