Western Sydney Business Access - July 2020

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS

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JULY 2020 ISSUE 111

Western Sydney's most sought-after business publication e ICEBERGS id s AT PARRAMATTA in New at Parramatta Square in September: 2

FUTURE OF RETAIL

Founder describes her ideal job candidate: 5

AMAZON BACKS THE WEST High-tech expansion at Aerotropolis: 15

BUSINESS AWARDS FEATURE

Judging of this year’s Blacktown City Local Business Awards finalists is underway: 24

Powerhouse United THE $1.1B relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta would be the day-visitor attraction so much needed in Sydney’s second CBD, according to Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer and Chamber of Commerce president Schon Condon.

SEE PAGE 10

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Bondi Icebergs at Parramatta Square  ELIZABETH FRIAS ESTAURATEUR Maurice Terzini of famed Icebergs Dining Room and Bar on Bondi Beach is unveiling his version of a modern trattoria – relaxed, casual, yet inexpensive dishes featuring Italian culinary delights - at the new Parramatta Square set to open in September.

Lang Walker, the developer of the $3.2B retail and business precinct offered a space at Building 2 of the towers under construction for Terzini’s signature CicciaBella in Parramatta.

It is the latest venue for Western Sydney diners that Terzini vows to treat to an array of “easy everyday food, nothing too complex, but quite a modern menu” of delicious recipes inspired by his Italian heritage served up from lunchtime to after-six dinners and socials.

“We are excited to be opening in Parramatta,” Terzini said. “I love the multicultural mix and it seems to be a very good business opportunity to be in.”

Contemplating business expansion after experiencing uncertainty due to COVID-19 Terzini said the move wasn’t a hard decision.

“It is an opportunity for me to experience the outer suburbs other than the

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Maurice Terzini and his modern take on Italian cooking is one of the secrets to his success in the restaurant scene in Sydney.

A sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean from Icebergs dining room at Bondi Beach owned by Maurice Terzini.

eastern suburbs because I see Parramatta going through exciting developments as the next Sydney CBD,” Terzini said.

Describing the ambience of his new venture, Terzini said CicciaBella will be a “different product and exciting” place to taste and experience an evolving Italian cuisine he has been experimenting with Chef, Nic Wong.

“It’s going to be a modern-day trattoria which will feature under $35 lunchtime menu which we are still developing,” he said.

“We are not changing our product range because these days, it doesn’t matter where you are,” Terzini said, hinting CicciaBella in Parramatta would see him and Wong running the restaurants at the same pace as Icebergs.

“There is obviously a difference with the beachside restaurant at Bondi but

generally the commonality and essence of our products will be the same.

“We are gearing up for an exciting lunch trade; it will be fast, and divided into the main course, with classic starters.

“We’re still experimenting with the menu Lang Walker. while gearing for the opening in September, but I can promise you it will be a great selection and very good food.”

Terzini said he was aware of fellow chef and restaurateur Jamie Oliver closing his Parramatta outlet two years ago.

“We want to distinguish ourselves from Jamie’s experience. We are not Jamie Oliver and I have great respect for Jamie, he is a great man, a beautiful man, who

CONTENTS

COVER: artist impression of the Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta.

The $1.1B relocation of the museum to Parramatta would be the day-visitor attraction so much needed in western Sydney.

News Cover Story COVID-19 Update Regional Development Events Recovery ACCESS Travel Technology Success Local Business Awards Family Business Recruitment Management Childscene

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has done a lot of great things in the food and restaurant industry,” Terzini said. “Fingers crossed, we hope to do better in Parramatta.”

The temporary shutdown of Terzini’s restaurants due to COVID-19 has made him learn from the experience but remained calm as plans for CicciaBella in Parramatta took shape.

“I have never stopped giving up on the role of a restaurant so I have been positive. I believe that restaurants provide an important social role, they just adjusted to the situation.”

He also expressed gratitude for his landlords that showed understanding, support, and patience as he survived the pandemic.

WSBA enables readers to appreciate and engage with the physical, community, cultural and business environments of one of Australia's fastest growing regions, Greater Western Sydney.

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University’s space station connection for testing in March [2019],” Professor Gregory Cohen said in the article.

“It was an enormous amount of work but we literally went from a sketch to a capability in a matter of months.”

The Astrosite project includes two cameras and a payload which will be attached to the side of the International Space Station.

 RED DWYER ESTERN Sydney University and two national air forces are participants in a WSU research project destined to be a “world first” on the International Space Station.

A successful deployment has potential implications for defence, aviation and other specific areas, and commercial applications.

Funding from the Royal Australian Air Force with the design and development of the project – as part of its Plan Jericho delivering future technology systems to the air force – and collaboration with the United States Airforce have driven the project.

A rough sketch depicting the WSU mobile camera technology has led to stateof-the-art technology expected to be operational on the space vehicle in early 2021 The technology is an Australian-based innovation. WSU is leading the world and delivering a game-changing capability to Australia, according to its website.

The hardware is being assembled and tested in parallel at the university’s Werrington campus and at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, with data beamed down to the International Centre for Neuromorphic Systems (ICNS) at WSU. The ICNS in partnership with the United States Air Force Academy will deploy the ground-breaking technology to investigate recently discovered atmospheric phenomena which impact communications systems and high-altitude aircraft.

By chance WSU Associate Professor Gregory Cohen, lead ICNS researcher, met with US Air Force Academy staff and was asked to explain his research, in September 2018.

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From a sketch “They asked him to impress them and he literally sketched a design on his [aircraft] boarding pass and (they) asked ‘can you have it ready in February?’,” Lincoln Parker wrote in Australia Defence Magazine.

“We took it from a sketch on my boarding pass in September to an actual physical container with a telescope with an operational device in February that year and then it was deployed to Woomera

“The project is just one of many applications of neuromorphic systems: the university is working with government, big-tech partners and local businesses to use this platform to solve real-world challenges and create new industry,” said Professor Sweeney. Professor Deborah Sweeney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research, Enterprise & International, in Manufacturers’ Monthly.

Stuart Ayres, Minister for Western Sydney, said WSU’s partnership with the

US Air Force Academy was a “huge” vote of confidence for the region and put Western Sydney on the global map.

In discussing the evolution WSU’s initial research to the Astrosite program and now to the International Space Station, Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer had high praise.

“Developing, deploying and operating world-first sensors on the International Space Station in a collaborative project with the US Air Force Academy is an outstanding accomplishment,” he said.

The ICNS has strong and ongoing partnerships with the Royal Australian Airforce and the Australian Defence Innovation Hub. The technology raises the profile of the potential of the aerospace and defence precinct adjacent to Western Sydney Airport, which will focus on building and accessing global supply chains within the aviation, space and defence industries.

10-year plan for Liverpool

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IVERPOOL City Councillors have unanimously endorsed a 10-year plan to enhance the growing Liverpool city centre and provide benefits for decades to come.

“The Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan is Council’s 10-year vision to guide the development of public space and pave the way to a greener, more vibrant and active city centre while fostering an 18-hour economy,” Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said.

“Wider footpaths, dedicated cycle-

ways, more street trees and vegetation, public art, better furniture, pedestrian lighting and new paving materials are among the improvements suggested in the plan that will improve accessibility and amenity for people from all walks of life.”

The plan provides a cohesive approach to development in the city centre and a useful set of standards for Council, private developers and local businesses, with 76 Council projects in the pipeline to provide meaningful work during construction.

“The 76 Council projects highlighted in this plan will super-charge our fast-growing city centre, ensuring it remains a great place to live, work, invest, study and visit,” Mayor Waller said.

“Over the next 12 months, we’ll be planting 245 mature trees and upgrading pavements along many well-used city centre streets.”

Visit www.liverpool.nsw.gov.au/pdmp for more information and to view the Liverpool City Centre Public Domain Master Plan.

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Big Girls founder describes her ideal job candidate

Retail workers must be tech savvy  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM ETAIL job skills have changed forever during the Covid-19 pandemic with workers now required to have considerable tech skills on top of the ability to sell according to a business leader.

Karen Edbrooke, founder of lingerie outlet ‘Big Girls’, said the future of retail had changed dramatically and inevitably because of the lockdown’s forced switch to online sales.

“We have discovered that retail jobs now require significant tech skills above most other abilities,” Ms Edbrooke said.

“With social distancing restrictions in place, Covid-19 has pushed many Australian businesses into the world of e-commerce. And, people are shopping online more than ever.

Ms Edbrooke said her new ideal retail worker must have: • Strong online communication skills.

• Excellent typing skills.

• Sound written English.

• Excellent tech skills.

• In depth knowledge of how to use social media.

• The ability to use online chat.

Ms Edbrooke’s ideal employee must be IT literate, tech savvy, know how to engage with customers via Skype and other online platforms, have an outstanding understanding of social media, have an excellent typing speed, great written skills and understand how to produce video content that stands out in the competitive retail market.

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Above: founder Karen Edbrooke and models showing off her products.

In addition, she believes staff members with great online communications skills are essential for helping customers navigate this new world of e-commerce these skills will be desirable for most retailers moving forward.

“Our online sales have grown by over 50% during isolation – these numbers really surprised us! We have worked incredibly hard to increase our online services, support and marketing so that we can provide lingerie to women all over the country,” she said.

“We’ve ramped up our virtual bra fittings which are now delivered over extended hours via Skype and Facetime. Fitting sessions are taking longer as staff now also showcase styles and different products as part of the process.

“Our staff need to be able to assist customers with their technology needs to ensure they are able to undertake the virtual sessions with ease. Some of

our customers are not that technology savvy and need help to work things out.

“We have increased our campaigns and communications via social media.

We have also introduced live streamed fashion parades and product forums to enable our customers to immerse themselves in our virtual showroom from the comfort of their homes. Our live chat service has increased by over 100%.

Big Girls is the country’s leading independent online retailer of lingerie and swimwear for women of all sizes.

Founded by Ms Edbrooke 28 years ago after she sustained serious injuries in a car accident and decided to take her career in a new direction, the company has evolved from a small shop to a huge operation that sees products shipped to every corner of the country as well as overseas.

“Due to the recent growth of online sales, we have employed 15 new staff members,” Ms Edbrooke said.

“Our expansion plans had been in place

for a while, however COVID-19 really accelerated this process. As a team, we realised that our online services and offerings were more important than ever in this heightened time of worry and isolation. We are so thrilled that we went ahead with the expansion and will not be looking back.”

The company is also one of the country’s biggest retail innovators, offering virtual fittings and its latest innovation, Big Girls TV. Big Girls TV is an online lingerie show for plus size and curvy women delivered via the internet. Shows include the live streaming of lingerie fashion parades and other informational segments using real life everyday Australian women as models and the inclusion of a presenter who comperes the segments and responds to questions real time sent in from viewers during the course of the show. www.biggirls.com.au www.facebook.com/BigGirlsDontCryAnymore/

EVENT CENTRE @PANTHERS

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Huge new jobs precinct unlocked LANS for a major industrial precinct on the doorstep of the new Western Sydney Airport have been approved today by the NSW Government, paving the way for a significant boost to jobs and investment in the region.

Approval of the $2.6B Mamre Road Precinct, one of 12 key precincts in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, will unlock 850 hectares of new industrial land and see the creation of new public spaces and conservation areas.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the green light for the Precinct is a significant step forward in securing Western Sydney’s future as a global hub for logistics and advanced manufacturing.

“We’re getting on with the job of building a new city around the airport well before the first plane takes off,” Ms Berejikilian said.

“This land release will provide opportunities for international and domestic businesses to invest in Western Sydney,

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Artist impression of the project.

enabling major warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and circular economy operations to be established.

“It will also bring a huge jobs boost to the region, creating opportunities for more than 5,200 jobs during the construction phase alone.”

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Mamre Road Precinct will also include 50 hectares of open space, including new cycling and walking paths

that will open up previously inaccessible land to the public.

A further 70 hectares of conservation land, including the Cumberland Plain Woodland, will also be protected within the Precinct.

“Not only does this rezoning secure much-needed productive industrial land, it also safeguards critical environmental areas and provides some fantastic new public spaces for the future residents of

the Western Parkland City,” Mr Stokes said.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the rezoning is another milestone in the transformation of the Western Parkland City into a thriving hub, with new jobs, homes, infrastructure and open spaces.

The first industrial estates for the Mamre Road Precinct are expected to be occupied from mid-2021.

The Mamre Road Precinct was one of 24 projects included in Tranche 2 of the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program that is fast-tracking planning assessments to keep people in jobs and the economy moving during the COVID-19 crisis. To date, the program has created opportunities for more than 16,400 direct jobs and almost $11B worth of economic investment across NSW. For more information visit: www.planning.nsw. gov.au/mamreroad

Major roadworks at Parramatta

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AVIGATING Parramatta will become easier following road upgrades completed as part of the Parramatta Light Rail program of works.

Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the widening and resurfacing of Hawkesbury Road, in association with the Westmead Redevelopment, marks the completion of Parramatta Light Rail preparation works in the Westmead Health Precinct.

“In response to the recent lock-

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down measures, the Parramatta Light Rail team has worked extended hours to complete these works as quickly as possible,” Mr Constance said.

“We have used this time to get ahead and deliver new footpaths for the community, as well as ensuring the provision of vital access for the Westmead Redevelopment’s new Central Acute Services Building.”

Major works can now begin for the light rail at Westmead, which will transport thousands of workers and students

around one of Australia’s largest health, education, research and training hubs.

‘Enabling’ roadworks as part of the Parramatta Light Rail have also been completed under extended working hours during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

O’Connell Street between Barney and Albert Streets in North Parramatta has been widened to four lanes. This follows the recent transformation of George Street in the heart of Parramatta CBD to a two-way road.

Westmead road works.

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Culture of harming older workers  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM Y 8-year-old grandson knows more about computers and the internet that I do and that underlines the biggest problem facing older workers in today’s tech orientated workforce.

Tech rules the world in offices and factories throughout the region with the former “number one” dominant attribute – management skills and people relations – taking a back seat.

This has resulted in many older job applicants being told they are not a “cultural fit” for the position.

What this really means is they are too old to fit into the office culture and much of that is to do with their lack of tech skills. Young people are being actively preferred for tech-heavy roles For example, Job Applicants are being asked to answer this question: How easy is it for you to strike up a good conversation with your younger colleagues in the office kitchen?

It may seem like a strange question, but that is the benchmark some companies are using to decide who to hire and the assumption is that older Australians will not know what to say to their younger colleagues.

One 44-year-old jobseeker told PM media outlet his confidence had begun to take a hit because after more than 100 job applications, and 30 final round interviews, the feedback was always the same.

“You interviewed well, they really liked you, but they didn’t feel you were a cultural fit for the role,” he said. “I mean what does that even mean?”

He feared it was a bit of a catch-all comment to imply he would not get along with his younger co-workers.

So, were his fears were well founded?

“The candidate you were talking about saying it’s used as a bit of a catch-all is true,” Mark Smith, the group managing director of recruitment firm people2people, said.

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“

There’s definitely a preference to take on younger people in those roles because of those perceptions.”

- Kathryn Macmillan.

He shared his own example of a middle-aged candidate being passed over for not being the right cultural fit in a call centre.

“We had a more mature guy that went in for the job,” he said.

“In the interview he came out thinking,

‘I can do this job’, but in the end he missed out because he was the wrong cultural fit.

“That’s the way the client described it to us and that’s how we had to pass it on to him.”

In this example, the company went with a younger candidate.

“The reality is that they asked him how are you going to deal with this particularly stressful job with the inbound calls,” Mr Smith said.

Navigating Office Banter “He said, ‘well I would engage in some banter in the kitchen with my colleagues’.

“That’s when the company turned to us and said, ‘you know what, he is probably not going to be able to engage in the banter in the kitchen with his colleagues because he really won’t have too much in common with them to talk about.

“So they went with another candidate who happened to be younger.”

But it is not just navigating office banter that’s tripping up older Australian job candidates, Kathryn Macmillan, the managing director of 923 Recruitment, said.

Her team places white-collar workers in finance, administration, sales, marketing and technical roles, from entry level to senior management.

She said for many admin and techheavy roles, companies were actively preferencing younger candidates.

“Perfect example of that is Single Touch Payroll,” she said.

“People in accounts need to be able to navigate a huge amount of software: MyGov ID, Single Touch Payroll, and it’s really quite complex.

“So it’s that ability to be proficient in that technological use.”

Ms Macmillan said she was seeing a preference from companies for younger people to take on those roles as opposed to older people who perhaps are not “digital natives”.

“There’s definitely a preference to take on younger people in those roles because of those perceptions,” she responded.

“So for people who are older it’s very important that they address that perception.”

Figures from the partly government-funded Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research show 18% of workers aged 55-64 believe their organisation discriminated on the basis of age in recruitment and selection.

This preference for younger candidates is starting to show up in the number of older Australians being forced on to government assistance programs.

Australians aged between 45 and 65 now make up about half of all unemployment support recipients, with more than 330,000 on the welfare payment as of September last year.

Recruiter Mark Smith said there was a need for older Australians to work on their job skills, A report from Oxford Economics predicts millions of lower-skill workers will lose their jobs to machines over the next decade.

SOURCE: PM media

Medical technology develops special bed  RED DWYER HREE Australian-owned and operated manufacturers with facilities in Western Sydney have teamed up with an international medical technology company to manufacture emergency hospital beds in response to COVID-19.

US-based Stryker, one of the world’s leading medical technology companies, through its Australian-based Stryker South Pacific, mapped a local supply chain including the three companies in Western Sydney, and one on the Central Coast, to create prototypes and begin production of the Emergency Relief Bed in Australia.

The beds were based on a design from the American company and adapted to suit local supply chains and standards.

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This was done in six days in partnership with the Australian government’s Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, said the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews – “an incredible feat”.

Demonstrating the power of Aussie innovation and collaboration, the minister said the AMGC helped to facilitate the partnership between Stryker South Pacific and A.H Beard, Padstow, AmTek Australia, Revesby, Fallshaw Wheels & Castors, Silverwater. And the fourth firm, Varley Group. Tomago.

Registered for use with the Australian Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) standards, the Emergency Relief Bed has been designed to accommodate patients in respiratory distress and provides critical surge capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The ability of Australia’s manufacturing sector to respond in times of crisis demonstrates just how strong and adaptable our manufacturing industry is,” said Dr Jens Goennemann, AMCG managing director.

“Via the Stryker project, AMGC has linked a 130-year-old fabrication business, to a 120-year-old Australian mattress manufacturer and a 100-yearold Australian caster company, all of whom are working side-by-side to deliver an advanced manufacturing solution to address the current COVID-19 crisis – it’s innovation and collaboration at its finest.”

“This rapid response [six days] is an incredible feat and shows how Aussie companies are quickly working together in the face of this unprecedented pandemic,” Minister Andrews said.

The fact that these beds can be manufactured from readily available components, shipped and stored as flat-packs and then assembled on-site with hand tools demonstrated the kind of ingenuity that is helping Australia respond effectively to the COVID-19 crisis, she said.

COVID-19 UPDATE: PAGE 12.

Stroke patients now have access to 24-hour care ATIENTS now have access to 24hour critical care under a $21.7M Telestroke service being rolled out across NSW. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the revolutionary service will expand to up to 23 sites over the next three years.

“The NSW Telestroke Service will remove geographical barriers and improve outcomes for thousands of regional and

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rural stroke patients every year, giving them a much greater chance of surviving and leading a normal life,” Mr Hazzard said.

“People in regional and rural areas have a far greater risk of hospitalisation from stroke and this vital service will provide them with immediate, life-saving diagnosis and treatment from the state’s leading clinicians.”

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

In 2018-19, 13,651 people were hospitalised for a stroke in NSW. Of those, 32 per cent were from regional, rural or remote areas.

A successful pilot project in the Hunter New England, Central Coast and Mid North Coast local health districts since 2017 has already helped 1200 patients.

The Stroke Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Sharon McGowan welcomed

the launch of the statewide service, jointly funded by the State and Federal governments.

“When a stroke strikes, it kills up to 1.9 million brain cells per minute.

This service will have an enormous impact by providing time-critical, best-practice treatment that saves lives and reduces lifelong disability,” Ms McGowan said.

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Just a little weekly exercise can help

How sport, fitness beats depression  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM ETTING out of your armchair and into the gym or on to the sports field is a great way to conquer depression according to an Australian expert.

Depression has been directly linked to low sports activity and can be a real handicap to struggling workers.

From a friendly game of touch footy to sweating it solo in the gym, most of us know that exercise is good for our health.

But beyond the obvious physical benefits, research led by University of South Australia expert in sports sociology Dr Katja Siefken shows that sport can also protect us from developing serious mental health disorders.

The study, conducted in conjunction with colleagues at the MSH Medical School Hamburg, assessed levels of anxiety and depression among 682 German recreational athletes under different sport conditions (amount and intensity), settings (indoor vs outdoors) and contexts (individual or team sports).

It found that people who exercise less than 2.5 hours a week are at risk of increased anxiety and depression.

The research indicates that athletes who meet World Health Organization’s (WHO) exercise guidelines (150 minutes moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week for healthy adults aged 18-64 years) have a better mental health status than those who are less active.

Dr Siefken said the findings had valuable insights for mental health, particularly as mental health was often disregarded in public health recommendations around exercise.

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“Mental health disorders are one of the most significant health challenges of our time, contributing substantially to the burden of global disease,” Dr Siefken said.

Retaining Strength “Exercise is a key part of building and retaining both physical and positive mental health, but it’s important to recognise that different exercise conditions can affect mental health in different ways.

“Understanding the factors that can influence or alleviate depression and anxiety are essential, but until now, there’s been insufficient proof about the optimal types – or amounts – of activity needed for positive mental health.

“In this study, we found that people who did not meet physical activity recommenda-

Don’t be a couch potato.

tions, reported higher depression scores, independent of whether they practiced indoors or outdoors, individually, or in a team.

“We also found that the lowest depression and anxiety scores mostly occurred among indoor team athletes, but that athletes

undertaking vigorous-intensity physical exercise often recorded higher levels of depression.

“There is also good evidence that outdoor exercise contributes to improved mental health and that doing sports together, or as part of a team, may positively impact our mental health substantially.

“So, it’s really a case of monitoring physical and mental capabilities on an individual basis. And, while we often hear the phrase ‘the more exercise, the better’, evidence shows that this is far more complex.

“A healthy mind and body rely upon modest, achievable levels of physical exercise. For most of us, two and a half hours a week – or, say 30 minutes a day over five days – is a reasonable ask to encourage positive mental health.”

These things don’t actually exist  RED DWYER acquarie University is the focus of a $35M centre of excellence which fabricates products which do not exist in the natural world.

A consortium centred on the university, has received the funds from the Australian Research Council (ARC) to create an ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, from 2020.

The Minister for Education, Dan Tehan, said the university, regarded as Australia’s leader in synthetic biology, was

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ideally placed to lead large-scale collaborative projects in this field.

The centre is an international collaboration between seven Australian universities and 25 partners and is one of the largest combined efforts in synthetic biology in the world.

“Macquarie University brought the field of synthetic genomics to Australia and is a recognised global leader in synthetic biology research,” said deputy vice chancellor, research, Professor Isak Pretorius.

Synthetic biology is a new interdisciplinary area that involves the application

of engineering principles to biology, which aims at the re-design and fabrication of biological components and systems that do not already exist in the natural world, according to the university.

The centre, led by Professor Ian Paulsen, an ARC Laureate Fellow, aims to provide the technical innovation which would enable Australia to develop a vibrant bio-economy built on the country’s strong agricultural sector.

Another aim is to train the next generation of synthetic biologists capable of establishing the Australian bio-economy start-up companies of the future.

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CONNECTING A UNITED PASSION TO GROW THE LOCAL BLACKTOWN ECONOMY

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BECOME A MEMBER from $299 p. 0439 812 709 8

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9

Cover Story

www.wsba.com.au

Business and Council united on Powerhouse PROGRESS Opportunity too good to miss HE $1.1B relocation of the Powerhouse Museum to Parramatta would be the day-visitor attraction so much needed in Sydney’s second CBD, according to Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer and Chamber of Commerce president Schon Condon.

Cr Dwyer said the Powerhouse, to be built on the foreshore on the old David Jones site, was the first major Government investment in Parramatta since the Riverside Theatre back in 1988.

And, yes, he understands the controversy and laments the loss of historic properties Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace, but emphasises that the relocation of the iconic Powerhouse from Ultimo to Parramatta was an opportunity “too good to miss”.

“The Powerhouse in Parramatta will bring two million people a year to Parramatta. That will have untold financial benefit to the whole of Parramatta,” he told Access.

“I appealed to the Premier to keep this project as the government was considering cutting back on infrastructure (post-Covid).”

Despite reservations about some aspects of the development, particularly the demolition of the heritage properties, Cr Dwyer said Parramatta would be “a laughing stock” if council rejected it now.

He emphasised that the Powerhouse decision and the siting of it was made during council’s administration period and indicated that perhaps another site would have been found if councillors had been involved.

After all, the council had invested heavily in a grand plan for the foreshore while John Chedid was lord mayor, but that had to be scuppered for the Powerhouse.

“But you can’t look a gift horse in the mouth,” Cr Dwyer said.

“I believe that the majority of residents in our Local Government area

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Bob Dwyer.

Schon Condon.

“

The Powerhouse Museum will be a destination venue and that is important.”

- Bob Dwyer.

(LGA) and Greater Western Sydney want Powerhouse to come to Parramatta.

“It is important to recognise the full extent of this once-in a lifetime opportunity. We are developing our city’s and our region’s capacity to attract visitors from international and domestic sources.

Regional Capacity “The Powerhouse Museum will be a destination venue; and this is important in the context of our region’s continued development and the opening of Australia’s newest 24-hour airport at Badgerys Creek.

“And, while I don’t want to see heritage go, and council in its submission wanted a design that would keep Willow Grove, realistically, more people would visit the Powerhouse than Willow Grove.”

Artist impressions of the Powerhouse Museum at Parramatta.

Cr Dwyer agreed with heritage protectors, particularly the North Parramatta Resident Action Group that vehemently opposes the Powerhouse’s relocation, that there should be a better co-ordinated heritage tourism plan for Parramatta but said that would need Destination NSW working with council.

Mr Condon echoed the Lord Mayor’s enthusiasm, saying the Powerhouse would join Bankwest Stadium in

bringing “growth and development” to Parramatta.

“I’m bitterly disappointed about lost heritage and I hope this will be the end of it, but this investment is critical to our city,” he said.

Mr Condon looks forward to the flow-on benefits from the two million a year Powerhouse visitor to Parramatta retail and hospitality businesses.It was an opportunity too good to miss, he said.

- DI BARTOK

Some of the hurdles along the way

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ESPITE the enthusiasm of civic and business leaders for the planned Powerhouse in Parramatta, there remain hurdles along the

way.

Apart from a huge cost blowout from the original $400M to today’s $1.17b, there are concerns over the logistics of moving some of the larger, iconic Museum of Applied Arts and

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Sciences exhibits from Ultimo to Parramatta.

Already the original planned opening of 2019 has passed and now the expected opening date is mooted as 2024, long after the Ultimo site has closed.

The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that government documents show that the design team has been searching for ways to install Locomo-

tive No 1 and other large steam engines and aircraft from its collection to the new site.

The State Government released the papers under pressure from Labor and Greens, both strongly opposed to the Powerhouse’s relocation. Some government ministers have also expressed doubt over the expensive move to Parramatta.

At least 15 of the museum’s largest objects would not fit into the new building’s goods lift, the government papers revealed.

The government is working towards ministerial approval for the site by December with a builder appointed next year.

The project is set to provide 1,100 construction jobs.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Milnsbridge IT was established in 2001 by Principal Consultant Adrian Weir after returning from contracting for Unilever throughout UK and Europe. Originally named Crusty Bread Technology (renamed to Milnsbridge in 2006), the company has developed a foundation built on exceptional customer service, quality products, and innovative solutions.

Customer satisfaction survey results placed Milnsbridge in the top 5 Microsoft Partners surveyed in Australia Fox&Co are a project consultancy business from the first strokes to the finish sprint. Balancing sport and life considerations, they connect stakeholders to the community through a shared vision and easy communication. They are currently working with key stakeholders to drive the revitalisation of Penrith Whitewater and the surrounding parklands.

The Local Business Network helps businesses in 3 ways. Promoting businesses through online marketing, connecting people through business groups for business owners and helping businesses increase their profitability.

Ecoprofit helps clients to adapt to and mitigate against climate change. The word ecoprofit was created to describe their approach. A profit-profit scenario.

Their focus is to make organisations (and households) carbon neutral. Identifying energy efficiency and renewable upgrade options, calculate the ROIs and project manage selected options. Defraying capital costs, by procuring Energy Savings Certificates where appropriate. For each carbon offset sale, Ecoprofit donates $1 to its not-for-profit arm, Sunshine Project for Community Inc.

Dunne is a boutique business consultancy, providing professional services in corporate and strategic management streams to some of the top 500 companies within Australia. They manage, enterprise-wide IT projects, national logistics and operations networks, manufacturing production lines, support facilities and business continuity programs, technical Writing and other business documentation projects The Log Cabin Hotel site was recently purchased by the Laundy Group who are set to re-develop Penrith’s beloved hotel, before the end of 2021.

Argus Business Brokers specialise in selling and valuing businesses. They guide you through each step of the business sale process. They have extensive experience in successfully selling a wide range of business types, including wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, printing, services, trades and retail businesses.

Upcoming Events

Social restrictions? Pffft!!

Stay Visible and Well-connected One of our most popular event series has always been our Chamber Connect networking nights, which have typically run the 2nd Tuesday of every month. These events give members an opportunity to connect on a face-to-face, more human level, to explore collaborative opportunities for mutual benefit. Now why let a little COVID prevent us from making these important connections? Chamber Connect gets digital (at least for

the time being). In fact, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees loving the facilitated breakout rooms and their ability to make more connections with more people. Join us for another round virtual networking, in the comfort of your own space with your own delicious beverage. Simply visit our website to book your space… www.penrithchamber.org.au Open to both members and non-members. No cost.

Please send any enquiries through to admin@penrithchamber.org.au

ABOUT The Penrith Valley Chamber of Conmmerce exists to promote and support Penrith's growing and dynamic business community. It is only through our collective efforts that we are able to drive positive outcomes for the benefit of all.

Considering membership? Contact our Member Services Manager, Stacey Randell on (02) 4722 6969

WWW.PENRITHCHAMBER.ORG.AU WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

11

REPORT | JULY 2020

STAGGERING 86% WANT TO MAKE IT PERMANENT

We love working from home  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM HE Covid -19 pandemic lockdown has had an unexpected benefit for Western Sydney workers – they got to work from home and a staggering 86% now want to make it permanent.

It was like a dream come true for thousands of nine to fivers when the Federal and State Governments suddenly called for instant action on Covid - 19 and told us to bunker down for several months.

No more commuting, office politics, nosey bosses or dressing up every day. True, many of us had to arrange for the kids to do their schoolwork on the computer at 9am every day, but we had the chance to spend precious time as a family all week long – and we loved it.

This means the Aussie workplace might now change permanently, new research suggests. A survey of people who have been working from home during the pandemic has found that 86% want to continue doing so, at least part-time – even once their workplaces resume ‘normal’ operations.

What is more, 73% believe their employers would be open to it and 22% have already been offered a work-from-home option.

The findings come from an independent survey of a nationally representative panel of 1000 Australian employees who have been working from home – full-time or part-time – during the pandemic. It was commissioned by digital event specialist Redback Connect (redbackconnect.com. au).

Redback Connect found that, after social restrictions are lifted, 28% of respondents want to work from home full-time and permanently, 39% want to work from home one-to-two days a week and 20% want to work from home three-to-four days a week.

Almost three-quarters of respondents believe their employer would be open to them working from home – backed by the findings that 22% say their manager has already offered such an option, while 56% say they will ask their managers to arrange the option.

We are a brave workforce, with just 14% saying they are too afraid to ask their managers to allow them to work from home and 8% have had their work-fromhome request rejected by their employer.

The younger the employee, the less courage they must ask their employer to make permanent working from home arrangements. Almost a quarter of respondents aged 18 to 30 admit they are too afraid to ask their manager to make such arrangements, compared with 14% of 3150s and just 6% of over-51s.

Interestingly, it also seems younger employees are less likely to have been offered a permanent working-from-home arrangement, or, if they have asked for one, it has been declined.

In fact, just 15% of respondents aged 18 to 30 have already been offered a

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work-from-home option, compared with 21% of employees aged 31-50, and 30% of employees older than 51.

However, it is not all one-way traffic when it comes to benefits. Business owners also have major benefits including the chance to reduce costs such as power, computers, stationary, illness and even decrease their office footprint which means less rent.

Workers are more content and achieve more at home according to surveys.

So, how can we work from home productively?

The last couple of months of homebased working have also shed light on what digital and virtual meeting tools are needed to increase productivity. In fact, 50% of respondents say working from home would not result in a fall in productivity if they had the right digital tools. A third say with the right technology, their organisation would increase its productivity.

One Way Traffic When asked about what digital capabilities can help maximise at-home productivity, 55% of respondents say tools that enable them to have virtual meetings or webinars with multiple attendees. The same proportion say tools that allow them to share and edit documents, projects or work schedules with team members in real-time.

Nearly half of respondents believe they need to able to see the ‘availability’ of other team members remotely, while 45% say they want the ability to share work-inprogress schedules and status reports with other team members. Almost half say they need to present work to stakeholders in the same way as in an in-person meeting.

CEO and Founder at Redback Connect Jeff Down said the survey results showed that, after the pandemic, Aussie workers want workplaces to change permanently “Many people have discovered just how much work they can achieve while working at home – especially if they have

the right digital resources. If employers listen to their employees, we may see a decentralisation of the workforce from the cities to the suburbs.

“While simple video and teleconference communications have been used being widely by many organisations during the shutdown, if working from home becomes permanent, organisations will need to onboard a suite of remote-working digital tools to replicate, as far as possible, the ‘in-office’ experience.

“Our research reveals that more purpose-specific virtual technologies that offer a broader range of secure, interactive platform features – such as online polling and live Q&As – would help maximise the productivity of at-home offices.

“Redback Connect offers fully-managed webinars, for example, which enable

Many people have discovered just how much work they can achieve while working at home – especially if they have the right digital resources. If employers listen to their employees, we may see a decentralisation of the workforce from the cities to the suburbs.”

- Jeff Down organisations to engage large, dispersed audiences in real-time with interactive polls, live chats, or Q&As. “Town Halls and studio broadcasts are also ideal for those who need to present to company executives and stakeholders in the same way they would an in-person meeting – another digital capability our data reveals employees feel they need.”

Q. Do you believe the company you work for can make a permanent change to having employees working from home, at least part-time, without a fall in productivity?

Yes, with the right digital tools, our company would not have a fall in 50% productivity Yes, with the right digital tools, our company would actually increase its 33% productivity No, I think there would be lower productivity if people worked from home, even part-time

17%

Q. What digital capabilities can help you maximise your productivity while working from home?

Ability to share and edit documents, projects, or work schedules with 55% other stakeholders or team members in real-time Being able to have ‘remote meetings’ or webinars with multiple attend- 55% ees Being able to see the ‘availability’ of other team members remotely if I 46% want to have a call or meeting, or need them to check my work 45% Ability to share work-in-progress schedules and status reports with other team members Being able to present work to stakeholders in the same way as an in-per- 41% son meeting None of the above 12% WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Coronavirus Report

Now is the time to get vaccinated HE easing of COVID-19 restrictions has reinforced the need for Australians to be vaccinated against the flu.

And it is easier than ever with community pharmacies across the country now having trained pharmacists ready to deliver these vaccinations.

Adding to the ease of access to the flu vax is the fact that additional supplies ordered by the Government have now been delivered so community pharmacies generally have stocks on hand ready to vaccinate patients.

National President of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia George Tambassis said it was especially important for all Australians to be vaccinated against the flu this year.

“The ongoing COVID-19 crisis highlights how critical it is to remain as healthy as possible to have a stronger resistance to catching it, or to recover quickly if you do catch it,” he said.

“Australia is in the unenviable situation of having to deal with the crisis at a time of the year when we usually face the onset of the flu season.”

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With community pharmacies being easily accessible for the flu vax, gone are the days when you had to go to the doctor, get a prescription for a flu vaccine, go to the pharmacy to have the prescription dispensed and then return to the doctor to have the injection.

Community Pharmacy Now to minimise the risk of getting the flu this season all you have to do is visit a community pharmacy which provides a vaccination service.

The need to be immunised against the flu is not something to be taken lightly.

The flu is a virus which affects the respiratory tract and is usually worse in the winter months. The main symptoms are tiredness, fever, chills, headache, cough, sneezing and runny nose, and muscle aches.

For some people, catching the flu can be life threatening. By being vaccinated, you not only protect yourself, but also those around you who are unable to be vaccinated or who are at a higher risk of complications if they caught the flu - such as the elderly, babies and young children.

People with poor immune systems or a chronic illness and those with respiratory and/or heart conditions, or diabetes are especially at risk.

Mr Tambassis said it was recommended that everyone over the age of six months should be vaccinated against the flu although at present pharmacies in most States and Territories can only vaccinate those 10 years and older.

“It is now easier than ever, and the accessibility of your community pharmacy means more and more people can be vaccinated quickly and easily,” he said.

Crime rates plummet during COVID-19 OST crime categories like non-domestic violence related assaults and sexual offences dramatically decreased during the COVID-19 period between the months of March and April according to the latest report by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR).

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the report, which compared changes in a number of crime categories against expected levels from previous years, and in light of strict social isolation strategies.

“It‘s pleasing to see that crime rates for many offences including assaults, sexual offences and robberies were all down by close to 40 percent during what was, and still is, a challenging time for us all,” Mr Elliott said.

“Our police officers have gone above and beyond the call of duty not only to carry out their normal day-to-day responsibilities, but also to ensure the community are following public health orders to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

“The NSW Government is committed to delivering 1,500 additional police over four years to ensure we’re able to tackle future crime challenges head on.”

Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of

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Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said it was encouraging to see a significant decline in many categories of crime, particularly for violent crimes.

“Thanks to the resilience of the NSW community, we have done an outstanding job of stopping the spread of COVID-19, but also stopping the spread of violence,” Mr Speakman said.

“While BOCSAR’s findings are very encouraging, we know that for many victims of crime this is not the whole story. We know that many victim-survivors of domestic and family violence are suffering behind closed doors.

“Our message is very clear: there is no excuse for violence. Where it’s safe to do so, I urge victim-survivors to contact our frontline services or contact Police.”

The BOCSAR report found large decreases in many crime categories including: • Robbery – down 42%.

• Non-domestic assault – down 39%.

• Sexual offences – down 32%.

• Break and enter-dwelling (down 29%).

• Break and enter – non-dwelling (down 25%).

• Steal from motor vehicle (down 34%) and car theft (down 24%).

• Shop lifting – down 55%.

Some crimes remained stable including, domestic violence assault and certain drug offences.

Available domestic and family violence services include: • 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) is a confidential information, counselling and support service; • NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 656 463) is a statewide telephone crisis counselling and referral service for women; • Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491) provide telephone counselling, information and referrals for men; • Link2Home (1800 152 152) can help refer women experiencing domestic violence to crisis accommodation; and • Lifeline (13 11 14) is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

For more information go to www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au

Expanded juries for shorter trials HE Supreme and District Courts can now order up to three additional jurors in criminal trials estimated to run four weeks or longer, under an amended regulation to the Jury Act 1977 to allow trials to continue if a juror falls ill.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said the amendment to the Jury Regulation 2015 is necessary to address potential increases in juror absences during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Preventing any further delays to Supreme and District Court trials is a priority. Allowing the flexibility of an

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expanded jury for shorter trials is a practical measure to ensure there are fewer disruptions to the delivery of justice,” Mr Speakman said.

If jurors get sick or display common symptoms of COVID-19, this amendment will increase the likelihood there will be sufficient jurors at the conclusion of the trial to considers its verdict.

The amendment reduces the estimated trial duration where a court could empanel additional jurors from longer than three months to more than four weeks.

“Additional jurors will not be ordered

for every trial with an estimate of four weeks or more. The amendment gives the Supreme and District Courts the ability to consider the necessity for additional jurors on a case-by-case basis,” Mr Speakman said.

If more than 12 jurors remain at the end of the hearing, a ballot is drawn to determine which 12 will participate in the deliberations.

The courts have worked with NSW Health and the Sheriff of NSW Tracey Hall to ensure jurors are kept safe and health measures including social distanc-

ing are implemented.

“Juror seating arrangements in courtrooms have been modified to accommodate the additional jurors. Potential jurors are advised before the hearing that they should not attend court if they are unwell.

They’re also told that Sheriff Officers conduct health checks at court premises,” Mr Speakman said.

Jury trials were suspended from 16 March until 15 June due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new regulation will commence on the day it is published on the NSW Legislation website.

Keeping seniors connected during COVID-19 NNOVATIVE programs will support seniors to stay connected with their communities during COVID-19.

Acting Minister for Seniors Geoff Lee said more than $700,000 in grants have been awarded to 24 organisations across NSW to deliver programs which help reduce social isolation among seniors.

“It is important for seniors to stay at

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home to protect their health but we want to avoid an epidemic of loneliness as an unintended consequence,” Mr Lee said.

“That is why we welcome these innovative programs which will keep seniors active and connected to their communities from the safety of their own homes.”

Initiatives include a social network focused on sustainable gardening, dance classes delivered online or over the

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

phone, and a call centre to co-ordinate the supply of support such as pre-cooked meals and warm clothing for the elderly.

The successful applicants in the Combatting Social Isolation for Seniors During COVID-19 grants program were chosen to roll out programs across NSW immediately.

“Loneliness and social isolation are growing concerns for our ageing popula-

tion and can have a devastating impact on mental health,” Mr Lee added.

“With so many seniors now missing their regular social activities due to COVID-19, we are re-thinking the way we foster positive social outcomes for older people.”

For more information on successful grant recipients go to: https://bit.ly/30cpvon

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WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Regional Development

www.wsba.com.au

Artist impressions of the new Amazon development.

AMAZON BACKS WESTERN SYDNEY

High-tech expansion at Aerotropolis MAZON is developing a new advanced storage and distribution centre near the Western Sydney Aerotropolis, creating 1,500 jobs in addition to 700 jobs during its construction, while contributing to economic recovery after COVID-19.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Amazon’s commitment reflected the NSW Government’s focus on innovation and technology to create jobs.

“This important commitment by one of the world’s leading multinationals highlights Western Sydney’s growing stature as a strong investment destination,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“The construction and operation of this centre will deliver far-reaching benefits for the people and businesses of NSW, including more than 2,000 jobs at time when we need them most.”

With the ability to operate 24/7, the almost 200,000 square metre facility is expected to be the largest ‘fulfilment centre’ built in Australia. It will also be its most advanced, incorporating the company’s latest robotics systems, the first time these will have been deployed in the Southern Hemisphere.

Located at Kemps Creek, the site gives access to the new, Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird-Walton) Airport which is due to begin operating in 2026, connecting more Australian exporters with global e-commerce opportunities.

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Amazon facilities.

“

This important commitment by one of the world’s leading multinationals highlights Western Sydney’s growing stature as a strong investment destination.”

Craig Fuller, Amazon Australia Director of Operations.

The Centre will complement the various advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence industries developing around the nearby Aerotropolis.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Amazon’s decision was a vote of confidence in the NSW economy.

“It supports our strategy to foster new sources of growth through Innovation Precincts including the Western Sydney Aerotropolis,” Mr Ayres said.

“The project will contribute to local workforce development and provide skilled employment in areas like robotics, logistics and supply chain.

“It will also help build our local e-commerce sector, giving small and medium-sized businesses access to Amazon’s packing, shipping, customer service and returns capabilities, along with easier access to millions of customers across Australia and the world.

– Gladys Berejiklian.

“NSW consumers will benefit too from a more efficient delivery and supply chain,” Mr Ayres said.

NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the construction of the Fulfilment Centre came at a time when it was vital to boost jobs as the NSW economy recovers from the COVID-19 shutdown.

“Creating jobs and boosting business is the most important thing we can do right now, and this project means work for hundreds of people both during construction and when it opens,” Mr Perrottet said.

“It’s been a very tough year so far but that won’t stop NSW from growing stronger, and the Fulfilment Centre is another snapshot of just how important the Western Sydney Aerotropolis will become for our state.”

The Fulfilment Centre located in the Oakdale West Industrial Estate will aim to be delivering packages to NSW residents and beyond by Christmas 20

Artist impression of the completed facility.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

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Events Recovery

www.wsba.com.au

Scenes from last year’s event.

TIME TO REBUILD THE INDUSTRY POST COVID-19

Annual event summit FOR FREE

HE annual Event Summit returns to Sydney this October and will be free for event stakeholders for the first time in its three-year history, in a show of support for the event industry.

Originally scheduled for June 2020 as part of the Vivid Ideas program, the annual Event Summit was postponed because of measures introduced to control the spread of COVID-19.

Since the postponement, the team behind the Event Summit, Premium Media Events and Risk Facilitator, has kept in close contact with industry stakeholders to understand the full impact of the global pandemic.

Recognising that the Summit is an important opportunity for the industry to come together, organisers have worked with their amazing partners to reschedule the 2020 Event Summit in October, to support the events community to bounce back from the crisis.

The full line up of speakers and partners will be announced on Tuesday, August 18.

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said: “There is no doubt that this year has been incredibly challenging, particularly for those working in the events industry.

The Event Summit presents an exciting opportunity for event professionals to learn from the best, as we all work together to rebuild the industry and come back stronger than ever.”

To be held across two iconic Sydney venues on one day – The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and Yallamundi Rooms – Sydney Opera House, supported with catering from Trippas White Group, the Event Summit will bring together the events industry and help it get back on its feet.

Scheduled for October 14, 2020, the Event Summit will now be free to attend.

Registrations to the event normally start at $990.00, however in 2020, regis-

and hearing about best practice. The Event Summit is a fantastic platform for building a growth mindset in events”.

As in previous years, the sold-out Summit will showcase both international and Australia events, with event professionals discussing and dissecting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Event industry.

Now more than ever, the event industry needs a helping hand and the Event Summit, together with the generous support of its amazing partners, are there to lend a hand during this unprecedented time.

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About Event Summit With the aim of advancing Australia’s event economy by enabling event professionals to exceed best practice in the planning, management and execution of events, the Event Summit is presented by iAuditor, in partnership with OzTix, Sydney Showground, Yallamundi Rooms – Sydney Opera House , The Royal Botanic Garden & Domain Trust, Trippas White Group, GeoSnapShot, Inkwell Signage, Red Dawn Security, Premium Media Events, Riskfacilitator, Chisel Production, Jason McCormack Photography and Congress Rentals.

The Event Summit will comply with social distancing requirements as per the time of the event. trations are free to any professional that has a touchpoint in their business with Events.

On registration, attendees will have the option to make a non-compulsory donation of $50 – $150 to Support Act. Whilst the full 2020 line up of speakers is yet to be announced, tech heavyweights NEC Australia have been confirmed to host a session about their innovative facial recognition technology, Hardware and Onelove, the producers of Festival X, will join the Summit to talk about the complexities of launching a new event brand to market.

Johnny Little, VP of Tough Mudder will join live from New York. Past speakers include The Australian Open, The Glastonbury Festival, The Amazing Race, Splendour In The Grass, The NFL, Sail GP, The Melbourne Cup, Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, Destination NSW, Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW and Victorian Police.

Craig Tiley, 2018 Event Summit Speaker, CEO of Tennis Australia and Director of the Australian Open, said: “The Event Summit is a great opportunity to connect with the event community.

There is nothing like learning from others

WHEN: The Event Summit will run from 7.30am to 7:00pm on Wednesday, October 14 2020.

VENUE: The Yallamundi Rooms – Sydney Opera House & The Calyx, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney REGISTRATION: Head to www. eventsummit.com.au to register your interest COST: Free to attend, limited places available. Non-compulsory donations from $50 + GST with all proceeds to Support Act.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Travel ACCESS

JULY 2020

Edited by DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

We’re in the Business of Travel

FABULOUS SNOW SEASON AHEAD WITH NEW GONDOLA STARRING AT THREDBO  DALLAS SHERRINGHAM HE snow is falling, the lifts are buzzing and the slopes are alive with the swish of the skis and the flash of trendy outfits on the slopes of Thredbo as a 10-year-old whizzes past me.

He is followed by half a dozen other “smarties”, all graduates of the junior ski academy.

Now I will tell you straight up, I am one of the world’s worst “snowploughers” and I once was banned from the T bar because I somehow fell off three times, but I still love going to Thredbo and being part of it all.

The skiing is the number one reason we are here, but the social life and the crispness of the alpine air, the colorful clothing and the sound of people having fun all come together in one amazing statement about life “at the snow”.

But enough about me. Thredbo Resort is really going places with the completion of several exciting new developments.

These include the launch of the Merritts Gondola, the only alpine gondola in Australia. In addition, is a new car park, improvements to Dream Run including snowmaking, an expanded grooming fleet and the introduction of new sustainability measures all of which contribute to delivering an enhanced experience for visitors to Thredbo.

Thredbo is Australia’s premier alpine resort and has been voted Australia’s Best Ski Resort in the World Ski Awards for three consecutive years. The Gondola investment will further enhance this position, replacing the Merritts double chairlift and quadrupling capacity.

The cabin-style lift is like those found in Europe and North America and represents the culmination of two years of planning and development, delivering a new crucial inter-mountain link.

General Manager of Thredbo Resort Stuart Diver said the investment being made in Thredbo was really exciting to see.

“I have no doubt Thredbo customers will agree. The launch of the Gondola is a huge event for Thredbo and the entire community who have worked so hard to make this happen.”

“It is a remarkable engineering achievement and the completion of this phase of our development plan will enhance the customer experience and continue to ensure we remain Australia’s premier resort.

Away from the slopes Some Places to enjoy on your snow visit -

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• BURGER BIZ JINDABYNE – American style burgers, hotdogs, loaded fries, smoked meats, super thick shakes and matched with the best USA beers.

• JAI YOGA JINDABYNE Great for enhancing body and spirit and relaxation.

• ALPINE ABODE COOMA – Simple, Livable Interiors.

Homewares, Occasional Furniture AND Unique Gifts.

“Snow lovers will be thrilled with easier access to the Cruiser area and the Friday Flat beginners’ area, and with the improvements we have made to the popular Dream Run, including a new automated snowmaking system.

“We care deeply about our responsibility of operating in a unique natural environment, which is why being Australia’s first ski resort to be powered exclusively by clean, renewable energy was also an important milestone.”

The investment in the Merritts Gondola provides: • Easier access for Village guests of all abilities to the Friday Flat and Cruiser area.

• Fast turnaround access from the Gondola Mid-Station to the Top-Station for intermediate and advanced ski and snowboarders accessing the popular Dream Run and its surrounding tree runs.

• Easier access for foot and scenic passengers to the Merritts Mountain House.

• Reduced pressure on the Kosciuszko Express and Gunbarrel Express chairlifts.

So, this year I will be ditching the skis and heading up the mountain as a “foot” passenger with the Tourists. Even I can’t fall off that!

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

• ALPINE RESORT HOTEL JINDABYNE – Affordable, fun place to stay.

• BOLOGO WEST JINDABYNE – Modern, airy, friendly accommodation.

• WILDBRUMBY – Set in the heart of the Australian high country between Jindabyne and Thredbo, Wildbrumby is the highest distillery in Australia.

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Travel ACCESS

River Sled.

Aqua Quest.

Take a break at Port Douglas the coral and rock hollows. A large cod glides inches above the ocean floor and not far behind it is a wrasse, distinguishable by its trademark thick lips.

Schools of zebra-striped surgeon fish flit by and disappear further down along the reef. The marine life of the Great Barrier Reef is on full display.

Once back in the boat we remove the heavy diving gear and Kai starts to tell the story of how this dive site got the nickname ‘Gone Again’. It pays homage to the American couple who went missing in 1998 in the very same waters we’d just emerged from. We turned to each, mouths agape, glad he had not mentioned this before.

 SONIA LAI HE inflatable yellow raft bobs excitedly in the water beside me while my hand firmly grips the rope handle on the front, ensuring it won’t slip away and escape down the rapids.

Just an hour ago I was stepping out of an airliner on to the hot Cairns tarmac. Now I am in a full body wetsuit knee-deep in the Mossman River of Port Douglas.

Our group of six are embarking on a river-drift snorkelling adventure in the Mossman River, situated beneath the Mossman Gorge. The freshwater river is so pure, our guides Glen and Will inform us, that it can be drunk. In fact, they encourage it.

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Mossman River drift snorkel Zig-zagging down rapids and snorkelling when the water is calmer is how we spend the next three hours. Translucent fish the size of my thumb swim in large schools beneath the surface and large rocks cover the riverbed.

When the water is tranquil our rafts transform into makeshift lounges and we sit atop them, our legs dangling over the edge as we let the current lead us down the river.

During these serene moments, Glen and Will relate the history of the vegetation surrounding the river. The trees, ferns, and other plant species, we’re told, date back to Gondwanaland and are believed to be around 300 million years old. With the pride in their voices and the knowledge they possess about the ecosystem, it’s clear no two other people could love the Mossman River as much as they do.

It’s as if we are floating through prehistoric times.

To the Outer Reef The AquaQuest lurches in the swell as it makes its way towards the outer perimeter of the Great Barrier Reef. Many

Alfresco Dining Port Douglas.

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To market, to market- Port Douglas Markets Divers Den.

of us are sitting outside on the upper deck in the hope of warding off seasickness and the fresh air proves helpful for some..

The rocky two and a half hour journey across the Coral Sea comes to an end at the first dive site - St. Crispin’s - and any thoughts of seasickness are quickly forgotten as excitement fills us.

“All divers to the bottom deck please!”

That’s our call and all introductory divers, including me, make our way down to the bottom deck. The much-anticipated descent to the Great Barrier Reef is about to begin.

Our instructor, Kai, gives us an in-depth safety briefing and talks us through the use of our scuba equipment.

Sundresses and board shorts are quickly swapped out for wetsuits, weight belts and tanks. I find my tank a bit heavier than expected, but what did I expect?

This is my first scuba dive and we all wobble comically, laughing nervously as we attempt to get to our feet.

Diving underwater for the first time can be frightening and some in our group

get a bit panicky the second our heads go beneath the surface.

After several practice goes, we’ve overcome the instinct to rush back to the surface and breathing underwater becomes slightly less terrifying. Kai assesses us individually and gives us the thumbs up (down actually, which means, ‘let’s dive’).

Diving on the outer reef with Divers Den Initially, the water is murky, thanks to recent storms, and not much can be seen. However, at three metres and below visibility improves and we begin to see coral in pastel hues of green, yellow and purple.

The coral isn’t as bright as you see in the brochures, but Kai says that this is actually a good sign because when coral is stressed it releases algae, which causes it to become brighter in color. So, the slightly subdued colors we see indicate a healthy reef.

Tiny bright blue damselfish skirt past us while clownfish weave in and out of

On our third day in Port Douglas the sun had come out to play and the temperature nudged 30 degrees. After a magnificent tropical breakfast at the Sheraton Mirage Hotel, it was time to visit the Port Douglas Markets.

These markets are renowned for their wide variety of fresh produce and that is exactly what immediately greets us.

Colorful stalls are filled with bargain-priced fresh fruits and vegetables like avocados at just $4 a bag as well as more exotic foods like flavored coconut chips, vanilla bean and cacao ice-cream, and pomegranate teas - all there for anyone with slightly more adventurous taste buds.

Food, however, isn’t the only feature of the markets. Stalls displaying all sorts of peculiar trinkets and salves like ‘magic’ crystals, crocodile facial oil, handmade ukuleles, pom-pom earrings, conical rainbow candles and silver turtle rings are there to tempt eclectic tastes.

When the adventure is done, spending some relaxing time at the markets is the perfect way to wind down a wondrous and thrill-packed weekend in Port Douglas. Easy does it.

Port Douglas Markets.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Travel ACCESS

The Nepean Belle.

Kiss 2020 goodbye on the Belle ELEBRATE the end of 2020 and treat your staff to a Christmas function experience as they cruise the Nepean River amongst a 50-Millionyear-old Gorge.

While cruising on the Belle, you will feast on a selection of 5-star food and beverages, with access to all areas of the vessel (drinks on one of our many viewing decks are always a crowd favourite).

Five reasons to choose The Belle for your Christmas party: • Close to home.

• Spectacular, ever-changing views.

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• Substantial meals freshly prepared onboard.

• Exceptional service.

• Free Parking.

No more buffets! Meals are served to each table on a large shared platter, with no need to leave your table. The Nepean Belle is a registered COVID Safe venue.

Book on one of the scheduled public Christmas Party Cruises or have the beautiful Belle all to yourself and your company by booking a private charter.

The Belle’s Christmas cruise experiences are perfect for businesses of all siz-

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

es, with capacity for up to 105 guests for a seated meal or 150 guests for a cocktail function.

Forget the stress of a commute and transportation arrangements and enjoy your Christmas party closer to home, with plenty of free parking available.

To make your guests feel even more at home, the chefs can accommodate your dietary requirements with gluten free and vegetarian meals available on request.

When you choose the Nepean Belle for your Christmas function, your staff will create Christmas memories like never before.

From exploring the vessel in all its glory, taking in the spectacular and ever-changing scenery as they glide smoothly over the Nepean River, to drinking in style on one of the many viewing decks.

With a fun atmosphere and the ability to apply a cost-effective bar tab, your guests will have easy access to beverages as they enjoy their cruise and soak up the Christmas spirit.

For all bookings and enquiries, call (02) 4733 1274 or email info@nepeanbelle.com.au.

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Travel Canberra captures young and free spirit of our great nation ACCESS

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM USTRALIANS know Canberra as the hotbed of political jousting flashed on our TV screens on the 6 o’clock news, but behind its bluster and rumors, is one of the world’s greatest and most beautiful cities.

The National Capital captures the Spirit of Australia and is full of things to do and see. I would strongly advise you spend at least a week there if you really want to see it all.

Planning is the number travel tip I have for visitors to Canberra and the ACT. And that plan varies, depending on whether you go with children or grandchildren.

You will do a lot of driving to get around the various attractions and you will spend a lot of time trying to find a carp ark at some of them, but it is all worthwhile.

The city and its great national icons are all set around a triangle, intersected by Lake Burley Griffin, named after the man who designed arguably the world’s most aesthetically beautiful national capital.

The national capital grew steadily around the site of the Old Parliament House which is now a museum devoted to Australia’s role as a beacon of great democracy.

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Now, if you visit the ACT with children, you simply have to spend a day at Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre.

Kids go wild about the place because it is a hands on facility with fascinating challenges and displays. I had heard of it, but I had no idea a how good it would be when I took three of my grandkids to visit.

In fact, I reckon my grandkids would have spent every day at Questacon had I let them. I also loved it and enjoyed trying my hand at the many challenges available. And the grandkids enjoyed laughing at my efforts!

We also spent half a day at Cockington Green exploring the splendid model village which has grown in leaps and bounds while drawing hundreds of thousands of families since 1980.

Don’t put the FREEZE on your business meetings.

Plan for success this winter.

Day Delegate Package

Model villages are all the go in England and continental Europe, but have never taken off in Australia and the USA. Cockington Green has plenty to offer visitors of all ages.

War Memorial Of course, we had to go the Australian War Memorial with its amazing museum, probably the best of its kind in the world. It is easily Australia’s best museum and I think it curators should have been employed to design the struggling National Museum, which, to put it mildly, is dreadful and not worth a visit.

You could spend many days wandering the War Memorial’s vast collections and still not see it all. However my favourite, and indeed the favourite of most kids big and small, is the Aircraft Hall. Here

you come face to face with the massive Lancaster Bomber G for George, a rare ME 109 German fighter and a selection of beautifully restored aircraft.

There is even a stunning Me 262 twin jet fighter, surely one of the most impressive looking aircraft of all time.

However my favourite of them all is the beautifully proportioned DH Mosquito fighter bomber with its twin Rolls Royce Merlin engines. Built of plywood to save money and make it light, the Mosquito was highly successful in WWII. The curators have made a tremendous effort to tell the story of the Australians who fought in the many wars from the Sudan in the 19th century right through to Afghanistan.

Continued on page 21

$60 per person

Winter bonus includes: • FREE WiFi • FREE 30 minute post event drinks in rebellion bar • FREE delicious delight on arrival To book your next event, email: functions_rydgesnorwest@evt.com or call 02 9634 9634 Rydges Norwest Sydney 1 Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 T: 02 9634 9634 F: 02 9634 9660 rydges.com/norwest Terms and Conditions Apply

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WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Travel ACCESS

Continued from page 20

They don’t push any particular point of view upon you. They simply tell the story how it was for the men and women who fought to save our nation.

The National Gallery is well worth a visit. There is lots to see on many levels, but the Australian traditional landscapes section steals the show along with some of the eye-catching indigenous artworks.

Of course, Blue Poles by Jackson Pollock is still the most famous work of art in Australia.

Bought by Gough Whitlam for a then record $1.3M in 1973, Blue Poles is now worth an astounding $350m!

The gallery has special shows on all the time, including overseas artists, photographs and classic visiting collections from Europe and America.

The National Sound and Film Archive is a great place for seniors. Nostalgia bounds. Once again, you could spend days here enjoying all the exhibitions and watching legendary films and TV shows.

The people who run the archive know Australians and they know what they want to see.

The National Zoo and Aquarium has been open just 20 years and has rapidly developed into one of the national capital’s most popular attractions. It costs $37 for Seniors Card holders and Pensioners.

Who can resist coming face to face with a lion, a bear or a cheetah? You can hand feed animals and even stay overnight.

Whatever you decide to do, allow plenty of time to see Canberra properly.

It captures the Spirit of our Great Nation and it will capture you if you let it.

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

21

Travel We should answer the cry for HELP from our bush cousins ACCESS

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM COME from the land and my beloved country that made Australia is crying out for help from its city cousin.

You see, Australia’s farming communities are reeling from one of the most devastating droughts in our history and now severe bushfires, Chinese boycotts and the Covid-19 impact.

Truth be known, a lot of farmers would simply walk off their land if they were realistic, practical men and women, but they are dreamers and dreamers go the whole journey, there is no turning back for them.

You can help out just by swapping your normal overseas holiday for a Bush Adventure. From the coast to the outback, you will be surprised by the choice – from camping to luxury and all in between.

Even a simple weekend away in the country will make a huge difference to the hundreds of thousands of struggling families in the wide, brown land.

Our nation is full of fascinating towns, regions and friendly people. There are hidden gems to be had out there - all you have to do is find them.

As a travel writer I get to see some amazing places worldwide, but for me there is nothing better than heading out on a road heading west with not a care in the world. Australia frees the soul of the weary traveller.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro hit the nail on the head when he said city dwellers spending a weekend in a regional area was one of the simplest and most meaningful ways people in the city could support regional towns and cities.

“Even though we are in drought, our cafes are still brewing coffee, our shops are still open and we are still in business.

“Some of the most beautiful iconic experiences are there ready for you to enjoy today.

“Support our businesses by getting out and spending some money in our regions.

“When you spend that money in a café, that money goes around that community. It means employment remains; jobs remain.

“Our servos would love you driving by. Our cafes would love you to have brekkie with some locals. Our accommodation houses, our hotels would love to have you stay and I tell you this, you’ll get that country hospitality each and every time,” he said.

“So, if you get the chance, please, get out for the drought and spend some time and some money in our regional areas.”

Now, if you have decided to take John’s advice and head bush, I have a few simple tips for you: Plan ahead. All regions and main cities and towns have visitors’ centres online. They also have clued up people on the phone or answering emails, so don’t be afraid to ask.

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Numbugga, Bega Valley NSW.

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“

So, if you get the chance, please, get out for the drought and spend some time and some money in our regional areas.”

– Dallas Sherringham.

South Coast NSW.

Contact Them You might see a place you really want to visit such as a winery, a museum, an historic building or a homestead. It is best to contact them before you leave so that you know the visiting hours and which days it is open.

The worst thing you can do is turn up in a town at 4pm, check in to your accommodation, have a drive around and leave next morning.

As I said at the start, every town has hidden gems and it takes more than a day to see it all.

Accommodation houses always have a plethora of pamphlets (try saying that in a hurry) featuring local attractions, clubs and restaurants, but once again ask your host about them and, if he recommends it, phone ahead.

Take some picnic and barbecue gear and a fold up table and chairs on your trip. And always take a billy! Oh, and some Aeroguard and plenty of water.

You can find amazing views, quiet river spots, and hidden places far from the madding crowd.

Often there will be a barbie or two in such places, so you can brew up a coffee or throw on a steak and sit back and breathe in the fresh air.

Stay on a farm at a farmstay property; a form of tourism that is really taking off.

As Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) famously said in The Castle: “Ah, the Serenity!”

Here are some links for your own choice, or just go to Google and put in your own search! https://www.visitnsw.com/accommodation/accommodation-farm-stays https://www.farmstayplanet.com/farm-stay-rural-travelguides/australia/ https://farmstaycampingaustralia.com.au/ Words: Dallas Sherringham Images: Michael Osborne Feature supplied by: www.wtfmedia.com.au

Hill End NSW.

Royal Hotel Hill End NSW.

Candelo, Bega Valley NSW. WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

Technology Success

www.wsba.com.au

Demystifying new named Office 365 What Else Has Changed?

 DARRYL MCALLISTAR N old favorite from Microsoft just received a new name change that impacts its SMB and home subscriptions. After debuting in 2011 and leading the cloud office transition, Office 365 has been renamed to Microsoft 365.

This had some Sydney business owners wondering if something was happening to the Office productivity suite itself, as well as trying to understand what’s changing and if the new name impacts pricing.

We’re here to bring some clarity to the transition as well as go over some of the reasons Microsoft 365 is an excellent platform for technology success and overall cybersecurity.

Microsoft brought out a new free Teams version for consumers. It also has added thousands of new free premium Office templates, fonts, stock images, and videos for Microsoft 365 users to take advantage of.

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Why Did the Name Change?

First, let’s address the worry about why “Office” was dropped. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook haven’t gone anywhere, they remain at the core of the Microsoft 365 platform.

The popularity of cloud programs like Microsoft Teams and OneDrive, which were part of Office 365 but not the original Office suite, is one reason. The new name expands the understanding of the 365 platform to be more inclusive of other Microsoft programs beyond Office.

Between March and April, 2020, Microsoft Teams number of daily active users jumped from 44 million to 75 million.

Microsoft began this transition from Office to Microsoft a while back when they renamed Office 365 Secure Score to Microsoft Secure Score.

Improving Your Security with Microsoft 365

They also previously brought out the package bundle of Office 365, Intune, Windows 10, and additional security features, called Microsoft 365. It’s still available, just with a slight name change.

What’s Changing with Microsoft 365?

Currently, all pricing and subscription features are staying the same. Only the names are changing. The old to new name transition is as follows: • Office 365 Business Essentials is now Microsoft 365 Business Basic.

• Office 365 Business Premium is now Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

• Microsoft 365 Business is now Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

• Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus are now Microsoft 365 Apps (Where necessary, “for business” and “for enterprise” labels distinguish between the two.)

With four Microsoft 365 choices, which one gives you the best value for added cybersecurity?

77% of global organisations are actively improving their cyber resilience, and 60% believe a phishing incident will be likely in the coming year.

Security & Device Management in Microsoft Business Premium The reason that we recommend Microsoft 365 Business Premium, is because it has additional safeguards beyond the other subscriptions. These include security features, like anti-phishing tools and the ability to manage endpoint devices with Intune.

With remote workers becoming the norm since the pandemic, it’s vital to maintain visibility into the devices being used to access your business applications and data. Intune offers the ability to control device access, keep remote devices properly updated, and secure endpoints no matter where they are.

Added Security Enhancements in Microsoft 365 There are several features within Microsoft 365 that companies can use

to improve security and do it in a way that saves them time. One of these is sensitivity labels. They allow automatic application of document security policies to protect sensitive data (watermarks, “do not copy,” encryption, etc.).

Using one integrated platform makes it easy to apply security and compliance policies across all your apps and data.

Just a few of the security features that Microsoft continues to rollout for users are: • Safe links to combat phishing, Phishing campaign views in Microsoft 365 ATP and Safe documents Information barriers for compliance.

Use MFA the Way You Want Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the best ways to prevent compromised accounts due to credential theft or hacks. According to Microsoft, using MFA stops 99.9% of account hacks.

Using MFA with Azure and Microsoft 365 allows you to simply the MFA login process for users, while giving you the capability to apply the safeguards you want.

For example, you can choose to add security questions based upon the level of access to sensitive data. You can also choose between MFA notification types like voice calls and authenticator apps.

You can really call Microsoft 365 Business Premium a security suite in addition to a productivity suite. Let our Netcare team show you why it’s one of the best tools for both office productivity and cybersecurity.

DARRYL MCALLISTAR is CEO at Netcare. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Call (02) 9114 9920 or reach out online.

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netcare.net.au 23

2020 Blacktown Local Business awards

Judging underway for the 2020 local business awards udging of this year’s Blacktown City Local Business Awards finalists is underway.

It’s a disconcerting time for the hundreds of nominees, according to Precedent Productions Managing Director and Awards founder Steve Loe. “Our anonymous judges are now visiting the businesses that have made it through as finalists,” he said.

“That means any unfamiliar face that walks through the door could be there to assess their performance.”

Mr Loe said tallying the thousands of nominations and determining the finalists was always a huge task.

“Now the hard work of our judges is underway,” he said.

“Each year, they face the difficult task of visiting each finalist, where they look at their customer service, including greeting and customer acknowledgement, detailed product knowledge and value for money.

“They also consider other aspects of each business, including websites.”

Finalists can also play a part in promoting their worthiness as an award recipient by submitting information for the judges to consider including their business’ history, staff training and motivation, work in the local community, environmental sustainability efforts and customer testimonials.

The full list of finalists is available at www.thebusinessawards.com.au Mr Loe said planning for the awards ceremony was also in full swing.

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Scenes form last year’s event.

“This year’s night of nights will be held at Blacktown Workers Club.

“This fabulous venue is the perfect place to hold such a large and prestigious event, with great food and fantastic service.”

The awards presentation will be held later this year.

“Tickets to the event are available and are expected to sell quickly,” Mr Loe said.

To book tickets call Precedent

SUMMARY OF SERVICES: • Tax returns • Business Services • Tax advice • Home Loans • Self Managed Super Funds

1300 829 334

info@ceaccountants.com.au www.ceaccountants.com.au Head Office Westpoint Shopping Centre Suite 603A/17 Patrick St, Blacktown NSW 2148

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Productions on 8363 3333 or visit www. thebusinessawards.com.au “Of course, the Blacktown City Local Business Awards is only possible with the unwavering support of Major sponsors: Blacktown City Council, Blacktown Workers Club, NOVA Employment and Westpoint Shopping Centre and Support sponsors: Seven Hills Plaza, Stanhope Village, Blacktown MegaCentre, White Key Marketing, Greater Blacktown Business

Chamber, BREED Business Centre and Rotary Club of Blacktown City,” Mr Loe said.

“Their support of the Local Business Awards program reflects their ongoing commitment to local business in the area and is essential in the running of the program.

For more information about Blacktown City Local Business Awards, visit www.thebusinessawards.com.au

BLACKTOWN would like to thank our loyal customers for nominating our store for the

BLACKTOWN CITY SMALL BUSINESS AWARDS BLACKTOWN

Blacktown Mega Centre St Martins Crescent Blacktown

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2020 Blacktown Local Business awards

AR DECOR Security doors Sydney, Grilles & Flyscreens Blacktown kt At AR Decor, we pride ourselves with our focus on quality products, honest advice, friendly and reliable service. One of our most important goals is to deliver first class products and services each time we manufacture and install our security screens.

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AR DECOR. 6/73 Eastern Road Quakers Hill NSW 2763. Mobile 0431 487 847.

Email: info@ardecor.com.au • www.ardecor.com.au

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2020 Blacktown Local Business awards

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WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

2020 Blacktown Local Business awards

Hawkesbury H k b Pools P l are your local l and trusted family owned and operated fibreglass swimming pool company based in the Hawkesbury district, servicing all areas of Sydney.

Clippers Barber Shop Arndell Park @clippersarardellpark

Let us work with you to bring your dreams to reality. We are very competitively priced. Ask us for a special offer. Being a SPASA member, you can rest assured we will provide a professional service from start to finish. We don't cut any corners and use all the best products.

With a large selection of pools to choose from and no hidden costs, we will work with you to ensure you are satisfied.

We do everything in house, from our sales team to our excavation and installation team, with our own earth moving equipment.

We are able to keep our prices down by not contracting the work out.

We aim to make your new swimming pool experience an enjoyable one.

We have a 5 star rating and highly recommended by our customers.

13/69 Holbeche road • 2155 Blacktown

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WWW.HAWKESBURYPOOLS.COM.AU HAWKESBURYPOOLS@BIGPOND.COM

MARGARET - 0425 241 469 GREG - 0425 374 870 27

2020 Blacktown Local Business awards Supplier of leading brands of fireplaces and BBQ's located at Marsden Park Home.

Come in and check out our BBQ and fireplace showroom and warm yourself up today!

Proud to be the first WEBER STORE in Sydney.

As a Weber Store and specialist dealer we stock a complete range of Weber BBQ’s and accessories. Our specially trained staff will help you with all your home heating and BBQ needs.

Store Location: Shop 27a, 9 Hollinsworth Road (located in Marsden Park Home on level one *above Repco), Marsden Park NSW 2765 Trading Hours: Mon - Wed & Fri Thur Sat Sun

9am-5pm 9 am-7pm 9am-5pm 10am-4pm

For any enquiries please contact us on:

sales@homeheatandbbq.com.au or call

02 9838 1300 homeheatbbq.com.au

ROMPUS "Rompus Swimwear is a family owned premium swimwear brand based in Sydney.The Cheeky Brazilian Bikini label designs a gorgeous range of high quality swimwear for beach loving women. The eco-conscious brand is focused on delivering sustainable designs and figure flattering fit to women around the globe.

The Cheeky label is made up of eco-friendly fabrics that are made from recycled materials such as used plastic bottles, discarded fishing nets and plastic straws to create high quality swimsuits. These swimsuits are twice as resistant to chlorine and tanning creams and oils than competitors’ fabrics, they are soft and breathable yet provide the right amount of compression and comfort taking into account the needs of modern women who love fashion and love to be carefree. .

Since 2017, this trendy Australian owned swimwear brand has been run by two creative individuals who have lived in the Sydney West for the past 13 years. They wanted to makes swimwear that gives the feeling of summer and long, lazy days at the beach Browse their newest collection of swimwear designed for Summer.

Whether you are a beach girl who likes bralettes, or a fitness babe who wants to show off that bikini body in a cheeky cut swimwear, you'll find their trendy swimwear collection will have everything you need for the beach or pool".

Phone: +614 5118 2743 | email : sales@rompus.com.au 28

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PINQ FASHION PHONE: 8605 6914 SHOP: 27 Seven Hills Plaza Seven Hills.

PinQ offers а wide range of women's clothing for аІІ occasions.

Visit PinQ today for the hottest ladies fashion.

Lenity Care had been founded in 2018 with a vision to provide innovative quality support to improve lifestyle, wellbeing, learning and social engagement opportunities for people with disability, their families and carers. Lenity Care pioneered in providing client-centred service, strengths-based support for multicultural clients through multicultural team with diverse qualifications, skills and roles.

Lenity Care successfully build a name and trade mark of excellence, integrity, transparency, cooperation and business success with strong business growth and successfully gained the confidence of our participants and their families across Western and Southern Sydney. Our commitment is to empower people with disability to live the life they choose, to strive to deliver great client solutions that will enable opportunities of choice, inclusion and achievement in the home, in the community, through education and training, and in employment.

106/30 Campbell St. Blacktown NSW 2148 (02) 9622 2291 WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

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PANNU LAWYERS

OUR SERVICES

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Family Business Welcome

With David Pring

Welcome to KPMG Family Business feature articles.

If you would like to discuss these articles or how KPMG can help with your business please feel free to contact me on 9455 9996 or davidpring@kpmg.com.au

Backbone of economy, mid-market businesses, set to BOUNCE BACK  KRISTINA KIPPER T last there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel. As the lockdown restrictions ease, there is a palpable, though still cautious, mood of optimism starting to stir.

In a KPMG survey of 225 mid-market businesses published today, almost 80 percent expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back from the COVID-19 crisis. Perhaps surprisingly, the majority felt they could be back up to full speed within just 3 months of the pandemic ending.

It shouldn’t be underestimated how widespread the effects of the crisis have been. The survey, carried out last month, found 86 percent of business leaders had been emotionally concerned at a personal level. Ninety four percent said the crisis had impacted their business – 52 percent of them ‘significantly’.

The shutdown has taken a toll, and the economic environment was overwhelmingly (79 percent) the biggest challenge for respondents, followed by

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other financial issues such as decreased consumer confidence (48 percent), cost base increases and reduced profitability (43 percent).

But it would have been much, much worse without the JobKeeper support package. Business leaders, especially in the smaller end of the market, made that very clear.

While nearly 60 percent of businesses categorised themselves as still in the early response or ‘managing through the crisis’ phase, almost one-third were now fully in recovery mode, resetting and identifying market opportunities. And with each week that passes, more are moving into recovery.

Businesses are now adapting to the new world. It is clear, that in important ways, the lockdown has accelerated necessary changes. The obvious one is technology, where there had been a long-term need for upgrades in much of the smaller and mid-tier sector. This has now been forced on many organisations to cope with their staff being at home and business activity moving online.

There have been increased moves to the

cloud and provision of digital models for clients.

Increased workforce engagement has also been a feature of the shutdown. A sizeable number of businesses mentioned this – and workforce capability – as being concerns, given that many now felt under-resourced in the HR function, but we have seen leaders rising to the challenge and in many smaller businesses taking a personal role in the pastoral care of employees.

The need for enhanced employee wellbeing will be an ongoing legacy of the crisis – as will customer communication which many companies have had to step up. Not before time in many cases.

Looking ahead, we will see increased financial stress-testing and risk re-assessments; and moves to transform both business models and internal culture.

Some of the changes will be permanent.

We can see early signs of a ‘refusal to return’ to the old ways of doing things.

The obvious example is workforce and travel. Working at home will become a norm for many and there will be longterm implications for industries with

decentralised workforces.

There is also a feeling of ‘power in the collective’ – franchisees told us of the benefits of being in a larger organisation during the crisis and noted a spike in queries from sole traders.

There are a variety of challenges now facing the mid-tier sector as we start to emerge from the lockdown, but the overriding feeling shown by the report is one of cautious optimism.

Most businesses feel they will either grow, or if business performance is shifting, then the negatives will be outweighed by the growth in the next three-month period. Even those industries which have been in complete shutdown say they believe they will be back to 80 percent profitability by September to January Nobody wanted this crisis, but our findings show there will be long-term, and in some cases beneficial changes to a new way of working in the engine-room segment of the Australian economy.

First published by Kristina Kipper, Partner in Charge, Mid-market, Enterprise, KPMG Australia on KPMG Newsroom on 15 June, 2020

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Family Business

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Cyber-attacks are underway every day  ROBINS PARTNER  GORDON ARCHIBALD YBER attacks are not uncommon, but their rising frequency and targeted approach is reason for concern.

KPMG’s global cyber intelligence team has also seen a global increase in cyber activity since the start of COVID-19, and targeted cyber campaigns are affecting a broad range of businesses in Australia Protection is always going to be better than remediation so it very important you look carefully at, improve and update and continually monitor your cyber security. The alert released by the government is just the tip of the iceberg – cyber-attacks are underway every day. Outside this specific advisory, organisations should have ongoing threat intelligence and threat hunting in place to ensure they are quickly alerted to and can block cyber threats.

There are four steps your organisation can take to protect and, if required, recover from a cyber-attack.

• Assess your environment for compromise.

• Protect business information.

• Increase and test your business resilience.

• Boost internal cyber security awareness.

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Step 1. Assess your environment for compromise The Australia Government released a detailed advisory on the state-based attack.

This article provides the indicators of compromise (IOCs) – the IOCs identify the common files, URLs, email senders the threat actors use to infiltrate a business environment.

To begin you should review the IOCs to determine if your environment has been compromised and implement blocking mechanisms on these (e.g. block the email senders at your email filter).

Review your system logs, especially on internet facing devices, to determine if there are any activities underway or historically in your environment.

Step 2. Protect business information Proactively patch all your systems starting with critical patches first. Your first priority should be your internet facing infrastructure, including web servers, email servers, Citrix and remote desktop, remote access and firewalls.

Implement multi factor authentication (MFA) on critical access points such as remote access, privileged accounts, VPNs and critical business applications or processes, such as cloud platforms.

Step 3. Improve and test your business resilience Cyber actors thrive on stealth and don’t always announce their presence immediately.

Once cyber threat actors enter a business environment, they can persist undetected for months, or even years. Hosting your business technology services in the cloud does not automatically protect you as the cloud is not

immune to ransomware or many other common cyber-attacks.

First, you need to ensure all your critical business data is backed up, the backup is verified to be working and the backup copy is accessible from an offsite or alternate location (not linked to your current network). In this case at least if you are compromised, you can recover more easily.

Secondly, you need to test your business resilience processes for cyber-attacks. You need to be able to answer these questions: • How would you respond to a cyber-attack? Who needs to be involved?

• Who will you engage quickly to help you respond technically, legally and from a public relations perspective?

• Who and how will you communicate to the business, end-users, customers and the Board? Who needs to be involved in that communication process and what role will each person play?

• How much data could you afford to lose? And what technical architecture would you need to put in place to minimise the risk of information loss to a level the business accepts?

• Have you tested your environment to determine the weakest entry points through a red teaming exercise?

• Have you tested a range of cyber breach scenarios such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS), phishing attack, third party breach and ransomware attack?

Step 4 – Boost internal cyber security awareness From our work assessing cyber maturity at many organisations in Australia, we often see low maturity for cyber security awareness. This is a critical aspect of cyber security resilience: ensuring ‘people’ related risks are managed and minimised.

People are often seen as the weakest link, simply because humans are fallible.

Take a risk-based approach and classify your people into threat groups such as executives, users with privileged system access and general user population, so you can target and optimise your awareness program.

Regularly reminding staff to be vigilant, such as through the use of cyber risk alerts, is an important mechanism for a constantly changing threat landscape.

A cyber breach can, in the click of a mouse, impact the fundamental workings of your business. Now is not the time to ignore its importance.

First published by Katherine Robins Partner, Cyber Security Services, KPMG Australia and Gordon Archibald Partner, National Lead, Cyber Security Services, KPMG Australia on KPMG Newsroom on June 23, 2020 NOTE: KPMG Australia has formed and alliance with global cyber security firm CyberHat to offer 24/7 monitoring solution to scan, detect and react to cyber threats, and give SMEs access to top-tier cyber security solutions at a fraction of the cost. CyberHat are currently offering a free 45 day trial – to sign up or find out more, visit KPMG.com/au/cyberdefence

The shifting foundations in retail property  JANE COHEN  JAMES STEWART  NIGEL VIRGO HE challenges facing the retail industry are not new, they have been building for years. The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has simply accelerated and amplified cracks that were already visible and none more so than the role of bricks and mortar channels.

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How might the retail landscape change post COVID-19?

Australians’ love of the bricks and mortar shopping experience, and the convenience of Australia’s large shopping centre network, has played a key role in slowing the growth of ecommerce relative to other countries. However, it has been a constant battle.

Retail precinct footfall had been in decline for years as ecommerce penetration gradually grew – recording 8.1 percent in cumulative footfall losses over the 3 years to 2020.

Retailer profit margins and retail landlord yields were being squeezed, and consumer confidence had been in decline for most of 2019 following a turbulent year of Royal Commissions, rising public concern regarding the cost of living and house prices, stagnant wage growth, prolonged drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and other severe weather events.

The role of bricks and mortar retail has been transformed overnight by COVID-19.

The onset of physical distancing measures swiftly changed consumer behaviour – from how much people buy online, how often they visit physical stores and what days and times they shop, to how far they travel on each shopping journey.

For retailers and landlords, the potential that these changes may be permanent escalates challenges regarding brick and mortar channels, given the high fixed-cost of building, operating and trading through them.

What we’ve learned Living local has triggered a rebirth of village shopping Throughout COVID-19, people have rediscovered their local stores and neighbourhood shopping precincts. They have likely established stronger connections with their local business community and saved valuable travel time. Some of this change may be permanent given the extended duration of behavioural change, and the value of smaller shopping precincts could grow and become more competitive. Given the overall expectation of reduced demand for physical retail space, this growth would come from other precincts such as CBDs or large shopping centres.

A new rhythm for the ‘weekly shop’ is emerging Sunday and Monday have become the favoured 2-day shopping window across most retail precincts, with the exception of the CBD. Almost half of all weekly visits are now occurring on these days, compared to a quarter of visits prior to COVID-19.

Consumers have also changed the time of day that they shop. People are heading to stores earlier in the day – either soon after opening or at lunchtime, instead of picking up supplies on the way home from work after 6pm. Morning and early afternoon shopping

WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

trips appear to be a luxury of remote working.

Great safety experiences equal great customer experiences Customers will seek out retail experiences that are either ‘really safe’ or ‘really snappy’(fast).

During COVID-19, when customers share stories about their shopping experiences, they are likely to focus on how safe they felt and how easy it was to get everything they needed quickly. Retailers and landlords need to consider how to adapt their strategies to shift the focus from driving increased dwell times to driving greater spend velocity and consumer advocacy of the safety experience.

Tenants and landlords face a classic ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ Resolving the retail property issue is about trust – a challenge for an industry well known for being adversarial at times.

The COVID-19 context creates a unique opportunity for retailers and landlords to find more collaborative and innovative ways to transform the industry without unnecessary duress. Both sides are under significant pressure and both have options to partially release pressure but neither has a perfect hedge. As the ‘prisoner’s dilemma’ shows, achieving a ‘win-win’ outcome will require ‘give and take’ on both sides.

Be prepared and responsive Amid these challenges, how could Australian retailers and landlords create and share value post COVID-19?

• Celebrate being local, and stay close to customers who may have reconnected with your property, store or brand through COVID-19.

Continue to invest in your authentic

relationship with that community.

There is an opportunity to become the safe, trusted destination to experience and enjoy the tactility and physicality of the shopping experience – with transactions happening quickly and seamlessly through technology.

• Adjust operations and marketing to the new weekly shopping rhythm where Monday is the new ‘Sunday shop’, and lunchtime is the new ‘after-work shop’ – including workforce planning, re-stocking cycles, security, cleaning, parking management, and marketing and promotion launches.

• Differentiate your shopping experience by making it very ‘safe’, or make it ‘snappy’ by enabling faster shopping journeys. For example, offer shopping concierge services, introduce senior citizens’ shopping hours, and offer pre-booked fitting rooms, especially during the upcoming peak trading and Christmas period.

• Retailers and landlords need to build trust and work together to consider ways to share the challenges and the opportunities exacerbated by COVID-19 to achieve a win-win outcome and succeed in transitioning their models at the lowest cost. This could involve experimenting with new store and property service models to create mutually beneficial outcomes.

To download the full report, please visit KPMG.com.au This article first published by Jane Cohen, Partner KPMG Strategy, KPMG Australia; James Stewart, National Co-Leader, Restructuring Services, KPMG Australia and Nigel Virgo, Partner, Real Estate, KPMG Australia on KPMG.com.au on 18 June, 2020.

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Success Through People

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TIME for vision and strategy  GREG MITCHELL N this series of articles, Greg Mitchell (Principal of HR Success) highlights the keys features of their exclusive 8 Elements to Success through People© Model, designed to create and sustain engaging, productive workplaces that drive business success.

After a short hiatus (gee, thanks COVID-19), we are back on track this month with our Success through People series of articles.

At the commencement of a new financial year, there is typically a lot of planning going on in SMEs. It’s time to ask ourselves and our teams, what are we striving to achieve, and how are we going to get there?

Effective planning is even more crucial

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It’s time to ask ourselves and our teams, what are we striving to achieve, and how are we going to get there” – Greg Mitchell.

this year as we begin to get back to something resembling “business as usual”.

Clear Vision and Strategy is one of the most fundamental components of the 8 Elements to Success through People(c) Model.

It concerns the degree to which Vision and Values, common purpose, strategic & business plans are present, effectively communicated and linked to the work of teams & individuals.

The simple fact is that successful businesses have clear goals and ensure that the activity of all those involved in the business is aligned towards achieving them.

So how’s your business performing in terms of clear Vision and Strategy?

Rate each of the following items on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being “not at all”, and 5 being “to a great extent”.

To what extent....

• Does your business have a clear Vision that has been effectively communicated to staff?

• Is the current Strategy of the business clear to staff?

• Can all staff members clearly state the Values of the business?

• Are the Vision, Strategy and Values of the business reinforced through (for example) recruitment, induction processes, regular staff communications, and performance reviews?

• Are staff involved in the development of action plans to support the Vision, Strategy and Values of the business?

• Work with your team to develop strategic and business plans that outline the activities required to achieve your vision for the business. If it’s your vision to double revenue within the next 3 years, what steps do you need to put into place to achieve this? What resources and support might you need?

Who’s responsible? What are the key milestones and timeframes?

• Once vision, values, strategies and business plans are developed and initially communicated, they need to be consistently reinforced through relevant communications, management behaviours and systems and processes such as recruitment and selection, performance management and remuneration. By way of example, ensure instances of non-conformance with the values are promptly and appropriately addressed. Ensure progress towards goals is regularly assessed and broadly communicated.

Ensure appropriate and visible links between the achievement of business plan goals and recognition and reward systems.

Clear Vision and Strategy – get on it!

Total your responses to calculate your score out of a potential maximum of 25. The lower your score the more opportunities there are to improve your business!

Consider these Tips: • Develop/refresh the vision for the business. Be sure to consult with key stakeholders and, once the vision is in place, ensure it is effectively communicated.

• Determine and effectively communicate clear values for the business. Values help to guide the behaviour of people within the business and make it clear that “how we do things” is as important as “what we do”.

Greg Mitchell is managing partner at HR Success. Curious as to how your business or team is performing in terms of the other seven elements of the model? Check our free, confidential diagnostic today – www.hrsuccess.com.au/ diagnostic.

NEED HR HELP FOR YOUR BUSINESS? • Are staff issues constantly distracting you from growing your business?

• Does your team seem to lack direction, motivation and drive?

• Do you find it difficult to recruit and retain quality staff?

• Are compliance and staff performance worries keeping you awake at night?

• Is running your business just not as enjoyable as it used to be?

HR Success has been providing professional, practical HR support for start-ups, SMEs and larger organisations in Western Sydney for in excess of 13 years, and we do so with NO RETAINERS OR LOCK-IN CONTRACTS! Our services include: • Recruitment Support • Leadership, Culture & Engagement • HR Risk Management • Short N Sharp Training Need help to sort out the “people stuff” in your business?

Check out our websites or give Greg or Margot a call. www.hrsuccess.com.au | www.shortnsharptraining.com.au ph. 1300 783 211 | support@hrsuccess.com.au WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

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Management

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Power of the people around you HE ability to critically reflect, refresh and renew is crucial for change leaders, but being able to engage and motivate people is just as important, according to AGSM @ UNSW Business School Being comfortable with the uncertainty of change is a powerful tool for leaders to develop. But the ability to critically reflect, refresh and renew is crucial, but being able to engage and motivate people is just as important.

Dr Rose Trevelyan, Adjunct Faculty member at AGSM @ UNSW Business School who teaches MBA and Executive Education courses, says while there has been a lot of work on contingency planning lately, it’s important to acknowledge we can’t predict the future.

“Change leaders need to build the capability to pivot and be truly agile.

Finding comfort in uncertainty can be hard for people but also relieving. It gives them the opportunity to take risks and innovate - to get closer to goals or learn a lesson that will get them there,” Dr Trevelyan said.

can influence without being the boss.

Senior executives who are not on the front line don’t necessarily have the right information – you need to listen to your troops,” Dr Trevelyan said.

“People shouldn’t be blinded by seniority. Change can spread organically instead of cascading from the top down.

Sweep them along in your own enthusiasm. Positivity is infectious.”

Role modelling is also extremely empowering – and doing is a real driver to help others with change. It can help people find purpose and meaning, which also gives confidence that change is possible.

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Managing people is the key to effective change – and it’s a skill you can learn According to Dr Trevelyan, a change leader’s most important skill is understanding people.

Change can take many different forms – large scale strategic turnaround, creating new team roles, shifts within business units or a new project.

But if the key stakeholders are not engaged or motivated to join you on the journey, the roadblocks will continue to increase.

Understanding the impact of change

Role modelling can help inspire others to deal with change, helping them find purpose and meaning, which also gives confidence that change is possible. Image: Shutterstock

“People say they don’t want to get into office politics, but leading change is all about that if the political skill is used in a positive and constructive way. We need to get people comfortable with being political at work. You need to be good at presenting a message in a way that lands with your audience,” Dr Trevelyan said.

“Anybody can learn anything. What does differ is people’s preference for taking on different roles. Being able to adapt your approach to the situation while leading from a place that isn’t your natural preference is key.

“It takes time and skill to build commitment and engagement in a dynamic context, but you need to be engaging to pull people toward your change agenda.

Once recognised, it’s a skill that can be developed and strengthened,” Dr Trevelyan said.

Change can come from anywhere You don’t have to be in a senior role to make an impact on your organisation.

Change leaders are those who are willing to lead when they may not have the authority but have influence.

“Leadership is influencing, and we

Leading and driving change takes a lot of energy and grit, and constantly pivoting and overcoming challenges can be exhausting. The course also covers the importance of self-reflection, sharing the load and building resilience skills.

“We focus on preparing people for turbulence, looking after yourself mentally, physically and emotionally. Developing muscles of agility even when things aren’t hectic,” Dr Trevelyan said.

“People may think leading change is achieved through a project management template, but there’s more to it than that.

We need to recognise you can’t build a simple roadmap to change, the approach should shift many times based on feedback and how people are responding to the direction as you progress.”

To find out more about AGSM’s Virtual Learning courses visit: https://virtual-learning.agsm.edu.au/ This article was first published at Business Think, the online journal of UNSW Bus1iness School

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Until May 31 we are offering free job postings on our website and Facebook page for all businesses. Job details will need to be posted via our website

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News

www.wsba.com.au

Yes, we’ve seen schools close…

But kids are UNLIKELY to catch or spread Coronavirus  ALLEN CHENG RUNSWICK East Primary School and Keilor Views Primary School in Melbourne have temporarily shut down after children from both schools tested positive to COVID-19, while a confirmed case in a year 2 student led to the closure of Sydney’s Lane Cove West Public School.

A childcare centre in the Melbourne suburb of Essendon has also closed for cleaning after a child tested positive.

These cases, and others in young children, follow a handful of positive cases in teenage students in Sydney and Melbourne and may be prompting some to wonder whether it’s time to rethink reopening schools after lockdown.

The short answer is: no. The research still suggests that while children can be infected with COVID-19, it is uncommon.

They also don’t seem to pass the disease on as efficiently as adults do, and cases of child-to-child infection are uncommon. And when children do get infected, they don’t seem to get very sick.

The temporary closure of schools (and at least one childcare centre) is evidence the system is working as it should — cases are being identified, contact tracing and deep cleans are underway and every effort is made to limit the spread.

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We still don’t know exactly why COVID-19 is much more common in adults than children. BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAP

What we know about children and coronavirus We still don’t know exactly why COVID-19 is much more common in adults than children. The COVID-19

virus (SARS-CoV-2) infects people by attaching itself to a receptor called the ACE2 enzyme, and differences in this receptor in children may be one reason why children are less susceptible.

A lot of the thinking around schools and COVID-19 in Australia is based on follow up of school cases by the National Continued on page 39

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News

Continued from page 38

Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS).

It was released in April but still reflects what is currently known about the virus and how it interacts with children and school settings.

The report found: In NSW, from March to mid-April 2020, 18 individuals (9 students and 9 staff ) from 15 schools were confirmed as COVID-19 cases; all of these individuals had an opportunity to transmit the COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) to others in their schools.

• 735 students and 128 staff were close contacts of these initial 18 cases.

• no teacher or staff member contracted COVID-19 from any of the initial school cases.

• one child from a primary school and one child from a high school may have contracted COVID-19 from the initial cases at their schools.

Data from the Netherlands also found “children play a minor role in the spread of the novel coronavirus”.

In younger children, a rare but severe complication called PIMS-TS has been described. However, these cases have occurred in areas where there is extremely high transmission of COVID-19 in the community.

A bigger concern around schools is how adults congregate. Schools now have some version of physical distancing in the staff room and on school grounds to limit the risk of transmission between adults.

Parents are asked not to enter school grounds or congregate in close quarters at the school gate, although the fact that this is outdoors and not a long period of contact also helps reduce the risk.

have similar risk to adults, although the risk of complications is still substantially lower than in the elderly.

Importantly, kids in this age group are more able to physically distance and adhere to personal hygiene measures than primary school-aged kids.

At least one instance of a high school outbreak in Auckland was related to an event outside the classroom at which many adults were present.

So it was less about transmission in the classroom and more related to a particular event.

The system is working

What about COVID-19 and high school students?

It’s important that schools remain open. But precautions are still required: teaching children to maintain personal hygiene, enhanced cleaning, and making sure adults (teachers and parents) are appropriately distanced from each other.

The latest school cases are not unexpected, and don’t mean that school closures across the board are required.

They show the system is working as it should — we are spotting cases early and intervening quickly to limit the spread.

When we do find COVID-19 cases in children, we don’t usually find cases of child-to-child transmission. But of course, we still need to go through the process of managing each case as it arises.

If there are ongoing cases in the community, it is likely that cases will continue to occur in students or teachers, and schools will need to have contingency plans for this.

Parents need to make sure their children are well before sending them to school, and be prepared to get them tested and to keep them at home if they show any sign of illness. And of course, hammer home the message about hand washing.

Hand washing and physical distancing remain the very best things we can do to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading.

There have been several reports of cases in high schools both in Australia and abroad.

Older children in high school start to

Allen Cheng is Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University.

T%hjis a1rtcile was first published at www. theconversation.com.au

We’ve got Western Sydney covered Western Sydney Business Access – the region’s only independent media covering business, progress, development and lifestyle.

Read all editions online www.wsba.com.au WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS JULY 2020

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