46 minute read
COLUMNIST ARTICLES
Federal Budget 2021–22: Impacts To Businesses And Their Owners
ACCOUNTANT
By Warren Strybosch
On 11 May 2021, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg handed down the 2021–22 Federal Budget.
Here is a list of some of the major tax announcements that may impact private businesses and their owners:
Extension of Temporary Full Expensing and Loss Carry Back
The Government will extend the temporary full expensing and the loss carry-back measures into 2023.
This measure entitles businesses with an aggregated turnover of under $5 billion to an immediate deduction for ‘eligible capital assets’ acquired from 7.30pm AEDT on 6 October 2020 and needs to be installed or used before 30 June 2022. If legislated, the 30 June deadline will be extended to 30 June 2023.
The loss carry-back measure amended the tax losses regime to temporarily allow eligible corporate entities (with a turnover capped at $5 billion) to use losses that are incurred in the income years 2019–20, 2020–21 or 2020–22 to be retrospectively applied against profits made in the 2018–19 year or later years. If the proposed changes are legislated, the measure will also apply to losses incurred in the 2022–23 income years.
Minor changes to Individuals Claiming Self-Education Expenses
For those paying self-education expenses, the first $250 paid is not deductible. This has caused confusion for many people who have submitted their own returns. The government will remove the $250 non-deductible amount so that the full amount of self-education expenses can be claimable.
Unfortunately, this Budget measure still does not allow individuals to deduct education and training expenses they incur, where the expense is not related to their current employment. The self-education expenses must be in connection with the individual’s current employment and production of their assessable income.
Not-for-profits — Greater transparency of income tax exemptions
enhance transparency and the reporting obligations for not-for-profits entities (NFP) claiming income tax exemptions.
Currently, non-charitable NFPs are able to self-assess their eligibility for income tax exemptions and do not need to submit tax returns each year. From 1 July 2023, the ATO will require income tax exempt NFPs to submit online annual self-review forms to ensure that only eligible NFPs are accessing income tax exemptions. At Find Accountant, we provide SMSF tax advice. Our senior accountant is also an award-winning financial advisor. If you require SMSF advice or are considering whether or not to wind up your SMSF, then speak to Warren Strybosch at Find Accountant Pty Ltd.
Warren Strybosch
You can call them on 1300 88 38 30 or email info@findaccountant.com.au www.findaccountant.com.au
How to Prepare for End of Financial Year
BOOKKEEPER
By Neha Nayyar
It’s that time of year again, and what a year it’s been! Business owner’s across the globe were forced to adapt and reshape their businesses in order to thrive during the ever changing lockdowns and covid restrictions. Now, before we can breathe a sigh of relief that this financial year is over, let’s go over how you as a business owner can prepare for June 30th.
Here are our top tips on preparing for end of financial year:
1. Review your Accounts - Probably the most important aspect of preparing for the end of financial year is making sure all of your accounts are up to date. This means reviewing your payroll and STP lodgments, ensuring your accounts are all reconciled correctly, confirming you have all of the receipts you wish to claim, etc. If you’ve been doing the books yourself, perhaps you might consider having a bookkeeper or accountant review your files to ensure everything is up to date and meets the requirements.
2. Review your finances - Once your accountant or bookkeeper has ensured your file is all correct and up to date it’s a good idea to sit down and review your finances. How did you track this year? How do your finances track against your monthly/ quarterly/yearly budget? Did you meet your targets? Perhaps your finances fell shorter than estimated this year. It’s important to understand the current and true financial position of your business to help determine what you as a business owner can do differently next year to put more dollars in your pocket. 3. Review your business plan - This is a great time to sit down and review your business plan. Maybe you want to be better prepared for unforeseen circumstances and determine what different avenues you can take to adapt to the changing environment.
It’s an important time to reflect on and remember what your goals and priorities are and develop a road map for getting there.
4. Reviewing your IT systems - We’ve come a long way since the days of spending hours on end hole punching, organising and filing all your documents and receipts.
It’s amazing that technology now allows us to manage all of these time consuming tasks with a click of a finger but it’s no lie that sometimes this can leave your online files looking quite unorganised especially if you have multiple users working on the same system. Making sure you’re working with a secure system is extremely important when working with confidential information. Are your systems up to standards? It’s important to take some time to review these systems to help save you time and prevent the stress of dealing with it later on. Need help preparing your books for the end of financial year? We at Sum and Substance work closely with businesses reviewing their accounts and cleaning up files to help ease the many end of year tasks! Please contact us if you’re interested in some more information. We can be reached at (03) 9424 9447 or info@sumsubstance.com.au. You can directly book in a time to chat by clicking here.
Neha Nayyar
Bookkeeper Sum and Subtance Bookkeeping and Training Services 0401 409 573
Caveats on Land
SOLICITOR
By David Heasley
Most people have heard of a caveat, usually when they were dealing with property such as a block of land.
In the above case the caveat would be removed just prior to settlement, but in some cases there are caveats that have been attached to land for decades.
A caveat is in its simplest form an injunction against dealing with property (such as land) and a warning that there is an interest in the property in question.
If you have an estate or interest in land which registration of another dealing cannot protect, you may consider lodging a caveat to protect your legal position. This is known as a caveatable interest. However, you must ensure that you have a genuine interest at the time you are lodging the caveat.
A person who has an Australian court order restraining the registered proprietor from dealing with a property can also lodge a caveat.
In Victoria the Property Law Act 1958 governs caveats. When a caveat is lodged at the Land Titles Office, it effectively prevents the registration of further dealings on the property’s title until the caveat:
• is formally withdrawn by the caveator; • lapses; • removed by a court order; or • the caveator consents to another’s registration that deals with the property’s title.
Caveatable interests include a registered or equitable mortgage, land transfer, a purchaser under an agreement for sale, a tenant (in certain circumstances), a registered proprietor and contractual rights. dwelling house which may be erected
shall be built of brick with roofs of slate
or tiles.
These caveats can become a real issue in some of Melbourne’s older suburbs where a developer may wish to demolish a house that has existed since the turn of the century and build (for example) a block of modern townhouses.
In this case the developer needs to identify all titles affected by the caveat. If they cannot identify all titles, it is likely a court would refuse to remove the caveat meaning the council in turn would refuse the development. In some cases, where a large block was subdivided to form houses, there may be many titles to locate.
In these cases it is critical to seek legal advice before you enter into the transaction, or potentially risk losing your money.
It is important to note that a caveat ‘attaches to the land’ meaning that if a block is subdivided, the caveat applies to and is enforceable against all the titles created.
In past times caveats were used as a form of town planning, stopping people dealing with land (or building things on land) that the person lodging the caveat (the caveator) did not agree with.
A caveat from the turn of the century may very well specify that all houses built upon the affected land be built with certain building materials. In one case the caveat read: will not erect on the said land hereby transferred any shop or terrace of dwelling houses and any
David Heasley
Principal Solicitor HEASLEY LAWYERS www.heasleylawyers.com.au 0408 611 834
Wrong Way Go Back! - Label? Or Roadmap?
PARENTING
By Lesley-Anne Banton
Can you imagine, you are driving in Victoria, but you have been given a roadmap of NSW and no one has told you? The road does not match, the signs do not match, and the landmarks do not match, try as you may, you cannot get to your destination. This sparks uncertainty, fear, anxiousness, selfdoubt, and hopelessness hitting wrong turns every way you go!
Just like going down the wrong side on to a freeway our bodies and brains can be the same. If we did not have the road signage, filter lanes and traffic lights on the road how would we know where we are? Where were we going? And if it were safe to go? - it would be dangerous and chaotic!
Have you ever put in an address into the GPS in your car and then put the same address into your phone and they come up with completely different route options? Or found that your GPS in your car needs updating because the roads have changed, or the technology has changed?
Like maps we have roadblocks, deadend streets, roadworks, no U turns, and unpredictable accidents on the roads ahead.
Now imagine that your brain (neurology), emotions, and thinking have been given one map (internally) and you have been given another map (externally); they do not match and are full of expectations and confusion. You seem to never reach your ideal or potential, there is a part of you shouting to be seen and understood, you struggle to meet others expectation of you and your world is filled with uncertainty, fear, trauma, anxiousness, self-doubt, hopelessness and many other emotions, negative self-talk and limiting beliefs.
Having worked with many adults and children that have road maps that are wrong for them, I often see that misunderstood children become misunderstood adults. They live their lives thinking something its wrong with them, they do not fit in, they are unintelligent, they have shamed themselves their entire life. They struggle to reach their potential or understand why they cannot be like other people. They are unable to tackle tasks or goals the same way others do. They spent most of their lives in fight and flight mode and they do not even know it.
By not fully understanding ourselves, how we are made up and not having the right roadmap we can be in just as much internal chaos and in danger of never reaching out truest potential.
I’ve had many conversations and gone on many adventures to help see individual’s truest self, I often come across resistance, defence, self-shaming, fear and blaming when a person thinks they or their child are going to be ‘labelled’. What if's it is not a label? What if it the key to unlocking the potential inside? What if it is a way to help you or your child to experience the world with more joy? Less fear? More understanding? Less selfshaming?
By challenging our thinking and see the things that makes us uniquely us is part of our individual road map rather than a label that is limiting and restrictive opens up to being understood or understanding others.
It opens up our thinking to being curious about ourselves or our child’s behaviour, feeling and expressions of emotions. It opens up to finding a different way to be communicated with and understood. It opens up to relief of finding the way to feel at peace with yourself or helping your child to feel more at peace with themselves, self-acceptance. It opens up to giving yourself or your child the best way to self-regulate before having a meltdown. It opens a new world of possibilities and adventures to find the right road map for your unique self and being able to share that with others so that you no longer have to meet other’s expectations and be accepted for your true self, no more hiding, no more shaming and no more being misunderstood.
So, what might a road map look like versus a label?
A label might be, for example “He’s autistic”, instantly your brain may jump to conclusions around what you know about the meaning of the word/ the label. You may have already made some presumptions about the boy, limited the boy, or even dismissed his potential by limiting him to the label. to, “I wonder what this means for him?”. “I wonder what he needs?”. “I wonder if he gets sensory over stimulation”. “I wonder does he need some quiet time during the day to help his brain calm”.
Curiosity is key to noticing an individual’s way of seeing and navigating the world. If a young child is pacing around a room or ‘fidgeting’, are they disrespecting the rules, being ‘naughty’ or are they doing their best to self-regulate in a situation they are finding over stimulating? Most times you find this is self- regulation, so what do you need to do with you thinking to see it? What might the child need in his road map prior to pacing around/ self-regulating? What might they need when they get to this point?” – told off for not sitting? Shaming because they are not doing what other kids are doing? Understanding? Compassion? A quiet space for a short time? The freedom to be able to pace/ regulate?
Discovering the best way to communicate, a child might seem like they are not listening, do they need telling off or shaming? Understanding? They may also have an auditory processing roadblock. This child may need you to get in proximity, be facing you and looking at your face to know that you are talking to them giving short concise communication. It can be hard for a child with auditory processing challenges to decipher noise and direct communication, often they will close down within themselves to be able to regulate being in a noisy environment.
Once you discover what makes you YOU or what makes your child their unique self, you help build the confidence, self- esteem, acceptance, being understood and so much more. This helps you or your child to start to navigate how to get to your/ their potential what tools and directions you or they need to achieve goals. You can see and understand your map and explain it to others empower your child to do the same.
It’s Party time!
GENERAL INSURANCE
By Craig Anderson
I see some fairly simple but frequent mistakes made. I think it may be because a number of Contractors are a little reluctant to ask basic questions for fear of looking silly or ignorant. That being said, it would be better to ask a basic question and be thought of as silly, rather than remaining silent and lose a boatload of money when a claim arises that could have been covered but was not; or which might have been avoided with simple measures.
Following that line of thought, you may change some business practices to avoid a loss if you understand the limitations of your policy, which again is a lot easier once you understand your policy conditions, or once you chose a policy which fits your business well.
In a PL Policy (Public and Products Liability policy) you are the First Party, and the Third Party is your client or a member of the public. If the insuring clause says it will pay losses for which you are liable to a Third Party, it means you are not able to claim first party losses like materials used or faulty labour. If for instance you paint a house the wrong colour it is up to you to fix it at your own cost, and you may not claim the cost of that from your Public and Products Liability insurer. If you accidentally drop your ladder and do $10k worth of damage to the clients home, that would be covered, as the damage is to the third party’s property and you would be liable. Many contractors show genuine surprise when this is explained to them which tells me this product is not well understood. A little good advice can easily fix this, and as insurance can be complicated a broker is the best person for the job.
Cover for injury to subcontractors as part of your PL is also often overlooked as an area that you should do your best to understand. If you hire a subcontractor, and in the process of working for your firm, you injure that contractor, this occurrence would be subject to an insurance recovery claim from Workcover. This means that Workcover will pay for treatment and rehabilitation of the subcontractor and then seek to recover all costs, and often additional anticipated ongoing costs from your insurer. This type of claim may be subject to a $25,000 excess on your PL policy depending who you are insured with. At this point, I am hoping you will stop to read your current policy wording to see if this applies to you! I also hope you will have a think about site inductions and safety procedures, and about ensuring your subcontractors actually have Workcover before letting them on your worksite. It could cost you $25,000 if you get it wrong, not to mention investigations and other repercussions.
If your PL Policy is part of a business pack cover, there’s a handful of other sections we need to discuss, like Property, Theft, Business Interruption, Transit, and more, however we would not have enough space for it this month.
Talk to your broker about your cover, and try not to be embarrassed to ask about the basics. Oh, and you can ask your broker at any time, not just when renewal comes around. As always, any advice in this article has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Because of that, before acting on the above advice, you should consider its appropriateness (having regard to your objectives, needs and financial situation).
Craig Anderson
General Insurance Small Business Insurance Brokers
www. heightsafetyinsurancebrokers.com.au 0418 300 096
How Crossflow In Your Home Could Save You Money
ARCHITECT
By Kathy Ismail
Many people don’t think about crossflow as they turn on the heating or air conditioning. However, the advantage of making your home more comfortable may not seem so pleasant when the gas and electricity bills arrive!
What if there was a better, greener and cheaper way to manage temperature conditions?
Air flow
Ventilation in buildings removes stale air, moderates inside temperatures and creates air movement which improves the comfort of everyone inside your home.
Cross ventilation is when wind enters through a window or door, allowing air to flow directly through the house and out through an opening on the other side. A good way to plan for effective cross ventilation is to know the prevailing wind direction where you intend to build your home. Likewise, the position and size of your vents, windows and doors, as well as the path between the different sides of the house, make a big difference to how effectively you can cross ventilate your home.
Is there an ideal positioning? Simply opening the doors in the house would allow air to get around, especially when the air enters the house directly from the front door. It also reduces the accumulation of moisture, odours and gases that can build up. A lack of cross ventilation can lead to rotting timbers and mould due to rising humidity.
Ideal cross ventilation
If not properly ventilated, your roof space could trap as much as 10°C in excess heat, and radiate that back into your home through the ceiling. Installing winddriven ventilation mechanisms like soffit vents, ridge vents and whirlybirds, will do a great deal to allow this heat to escape, and to lower the overall temperature inside. Installing roof-mounted vent mechanisms will work even when there isn't any wind. Wind-driven ventilation can also help to ensure you don’t get a build-up of dampness in your ceiling cavity.
Living in Melbourne means that we need to both heat our homes in the winter and cool them in summer. Up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% of its heat gained through the windows. Energy efficient windows can dramatically reduce your energy costs and help to create a brighter, cleaner and healthier environment. Cross flow ventilation is most effective when you open the window that is receiving a gentler breeze than the window on the opposite wall. This produces a vacuum effect and will enhance air flow. In some cases, especially where wind is unpredictable or blowing on an imperfect angle, wind ventilation can be improved by directing wind into the home using wing walls and casement windows.
Awnings can also help when weather conditions or poor air quality induces you to keep the windows and doors closed.
• North-facing windows, receiving the most amount of sun in all seasons, can be easily shaded from the high summer sun to help keep the house cool. Ideally, the glazing area should be between 10–25% of the floor area of the room. • East and west facing windows receive little sunlight in winter, autumn and spring, but excessive sunlight in summer. Keep these windows small and well-shaded, particularly those facing west if this does not compromise ventilation. Alternatively, consider using high performance glazing such as low-e or toned glass.
• South facing windows receive no direct sunlight in winter and only early morning and late afternoon sunlight in summer. Windows should be kept small to retain warmth; however, they can be extremely useful for passive cooling as part of cross ventilation as cooling breezes in summer usually come from the south.
Example Plan Example Section
How an architect can help
If you are building a new home or renovating, call in an architect before you start. Architects will incorporate cross ventilation as part of their plans for your new home or renovations. They will aim for direct flow paths from rear to front and from side to side in the main living space. Entry door can be fitted with openable highlight windows to allow airflow with privacy. A raised ceiling in the kitchen with openable windows will allow warm air to be drawn up and out of the home. Stairwell can also have openable windows to provide the same effect.
Contact KiR Architecture at contact@ kirarchitecture.com.au for help with planning your building projects. We are always happy to answer any inquiries.
Kathy Ismail
ARCHITECT KiR Architecture www.kirarchitecture.com 0422 026 962
Preparing for Breastfeeding Success
LACTATION CONSULTANT
By Dr. Joanna Strybosh
It is said that preparation is the key to success but how do you best prepare for breastfeeding? For something you have never experienced before? For learning a new skill that you cannot practice ahead of time? And how do set yourself up for success when there are so many potential roadblocks and variables, which you cannot predict?
Breastfeeding is a learned skill, that improves with practice and is empowered by knowledge. Many of today’s new mums do not have the benefit of having observed other women work through the learning process of early breastfeeding and seen how common issues can be resolved. In our society today, most women who give birth will have never held a newborn baby before, never changed a nappy or burped a baby. Never bathed or dressed a baby, settled a baby to sleep or seen a baby breastfeed up close and personal.
What we know from the data is that many women run into difficulties with breastfeeding in the early weeks. In Australia most women want to try breastfeeding. Approximately 92% of mothers start out breastfeeding after birth, however by 6 months of age, the number of women exclusively breastfeeding has reduced to just 14%. Many mums report that early breastfeeding is much harder than they had expected. What are the factors that seperate those that go on to long term breastfeeding success and those that don’t?
Breastfeeding takes both practice and perseverance. Research clearly tells us is that women who report higher rates of self-efficacy have better breastfeeding outcomes, both in terms of initiation and duration. In other words, women who feel confident about their ability to face challenges with determination and who have a wider plan to overcome obstacles, are more likely to breastfeed and to stick at it for longer. They are prepared to work hard and are open to testing different ideas and suggestions as needed. And if things don’t work out, they are more likely to blame external circumstances rather than blame themselves.
Learning a new skill is not always easy, but approaching the task with positive expectation, rather than fear and selfdoubt, is really important. So, in preparing to breastfeed, mums will benefit firstly by having a realistic and positive attitude towards it and a mindset to trust their body and to work at it, even if things don’t turn out as easy as she expected. In order to feel positive and empowered, women need to be informed and they need appropriate support from those around them.
Mothers want to be informed about what to expect. Attending breastfeeding education classes through the Australian Breastfeeding Association (available online) is an excellent way to gain information and knowledge. Classes both educate and empower mothers. They teach her important skills such as how to identify her baby’s feeding cues, how to latch and position her baby at the breast and how to know if her baby is getting enough milk. Learning as much as she can before the arrival of her baby will help her confidence.
Getting in touch with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is another great way to get informed. Even before the birth of her baby, it’s a good idea to make contact with her local lactation consultant so that she can build a connection and know exactly where to turn once her baby arrives. After her baby is born, she will benefit from having the sort of personalised, one-on-one, hands-on help that a lactation consultant can provide. Mothers also need appropriate support, and lots of it. This can come from many sources; her health care professionals, her partner, her own mother and friends as well as her wider family, co-workers and society at large. Reading, discussing and asking questions will allow the expectant mother time to think about what it might be like, how she may respond to the challenges of breastfeeding and what sort of emotional and practical support she would prefer. She needs to be able to ask questions and to receive reassurance. In particular, mothers want their health care professionals to have good breastfeeding knowledge, to have an “authentic presence”, to listen well, to give positive reflection to their emotions and to provide practical suggestions and advice.
Being informed, supported and connected with a skilled lactation consultant can be invaluable in getting mum and baby off to the best possible start and avoiding many of the pitfalls that are common in the early months and set them up for long term breastfeeding success.
Dr. Joanna Strybosch
Osteopath B.App.Sc(Clin.Sc)/B.Osteo.Sc/Grad Dip Paeds Lactation Consultant CHILDREN’S OSTEOPATHIC CENTRE 9876 3011 www.childrensoteopathiccentre.com
Who's Telling Your Loved One's Stories
ACCREDITED EDITOR
By Susan Pierotti
The generational demands on the Baby Boomer generation have been described well by Lauren Scott who runs Golden Girls Assist, a concierge service for the elderly:
‘The trend for having children later in adult life has been growing steadily over the last couple of decades while our parents are living longer, independent lives. It is therefore becoming more common for adults to be sandwiched between caring for their children as well as supporting their parents. In fact, about 1.5 million middle-aged Australians are included in this demographic.
Business owners who work from home are often expected to be able to provide support and help on the spot to family because they are seen as having more flexibility and time to spare than those working outside the home. It is often overlooked that home-based business owners also have to maintain business hours…Our population is getting older and living longer which requires the current sandwich generation to redefine their work life balance…This is particularly pertinent to business owners who need time to focus on their work to keep their businesses productive and profitable.’
Too busy to listen
If you work in business, you will have work expectations to fulfil. Whether you work or not, you will still have marriages and friendships to maintain and develop, and usually children to care for. With all the expectation of your older loved ones to do their banking and shopping, take them to medical appointments and even the joy of family celebrations, when do you ever have time to sit down and listen to their stories?
Old age makes one invisible and silent. Yet our elders have led remarkable lives – volunteering in their local community, flying planes in the war, running businesses, coaching winning sports teams.
The fact is that we really do lead busy lives. Even at Christmas, when we eat, drink and be merry, we tend to pass a plate across to Grandma and give her a present but not have a quiet half-hour to ask her about her life.
Hire a professional story teller The benefits of life story telling
This is where a professional life story writer can help you. Elderly people, even ones with active social lives, can feel a little lonely. When a life story teller, someone they don’t know, listens with patience, untangles incidents, provokes happy memories, and gives them their full attention, they sit up straighter, their eyes sparkle and the stories pour out. I know – I’ve seen it happen every time I record and write an elder one’s story.
A life story teller will also record things that your family members would forget to ask about, things that you already know, things that you think aren't worth mentioning or things you don't know. One ninety-year-old lady I interviewed spoke of her school uniform including suspenders and stockings. When I asked her if her granddaughter knew what a suspender belt was, she looked astonished - it hadn't occurred to her that that was something unusual in this day and age. (Naturally, we included this in her memoirs!)
Have you ever had the time to find out what the colour of your mum's school uniform was? Do you know what your dad did on weekends as a boy? What were their pets? What impressions did they have growing up of school, of parents and the world around them? What were their ambitions and were they fulfilled? Do they consider their lives to have been good and successful? Wouldn't you like to know? Memoir and life story telling has so many benefits. Here are a few:
• It validates our elders, most important in a society which, unlike many others, has no rite for honouring elders in our community • It increases their mental and emotional health • It allows them to leave your family a legacy • It records local history and culture • It inspires others • It promotes the teller’s point of view • It educates younger generations about other times and places.
It also makes a great Christmas present of the whole family! Why not ask your loved one if they’d like to tell their story.
Contact Susan at www.creativetext.com. au to discuss writing your loved one’s life story.
Susan Pierotti
Accredited Editor Creative Text Solutions 0437 127 159 www.creativetext.com.au
State and Federal Incentives for First Home Buyers
MORTGAGE BROKERING
By Reece Droscher
One of the greatest challenges for State and Federal Governments is housing affordability. Trying to help the younger generation by their first home, or help people get out of the rental cycle, has been a focus for some time. There have been several initiatives announced by both levels of government over the last few budgets to make it easier to get into the property market, with most of them centered around helping first home buyers, which are outlined below.
FIRST HOME LOAN DEPOSIT SCHEME
The First Home Loan Deposit Scheme (FHLDS) is an Australian Government initiative to support eligible first home buyers to build or purchase a first home sooner. The Scheme is administered by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC).
Usually first home buyers with less than a 20 per cent deposit need to pay lenders mortgage insurance. Under the Scheme, eligible first home buyers can purchase or build a new home with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent (lenders criteria apply). This is because NHFIC guarantees to a participating lender up to 15 percent of the value of the property purchased that is financed by an eligible first home buyer’s home loan.
In a recent Federal Budget announcement, the scheme was expanded by a further 10,000 places from July 2021 for new homes only. This includes building a new home or buying a new home off the plan. your eligibility for the scheme by going to the website www.nhfic.gov.au.
FAMILY HOME GUARANTEE (SINGLE PARENTS)
This is another Federal Government program which provides eligible single parents with dependants the opportunity to build a new home or purchase an existing home with a deposit of 2 per cent, subject to the individual’s ability to service a home loan.
From 1 July 2021, 10,000 Family Home Guarantees will be made available over four financial years.
The Family Home Guarantee is aimed at single parents with dependants, regardless of whether that single parent is a first home buyer or previous owneroccupier. Applicants must be Australian citizens, at least 18 years of age and have an annual taxable income of no more than $125,000.
Again, property price thresholds apply and are the same as those under the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme. Please check your eligibility to participate in the scheme through the website www.nhfic. gov.au.
FIRST HOME SUPER SAVER SCHEME
This initiative has been around for some time and is another way for first home buyers to boost their deposit and help them get into a property sooner. To participate you are a first home buyer wanting to either:
• live in the premises you are buying, or intend to as soon as practicable, or • you intend to live in the property for at least six months within the first 12 months you own it, after it is practical to move in. You can apply to have a maximum of $15,000 of your voluntary contributions from any one financial year included in your eligible contributions to be released under the FHSS scheme, up to a total of $30,000 contributions across all years.
It is important to note that eligible contributions do not include the employer super contributions under the Super Guarantee, only voluntary contributions made by you. Further information can be found under the Australian Taxation Office website.
STAMP DUTY CONCESSIONS
The State Government has announced further concessions on Stamp Duty for first home buyers and an expansion to the concessions available for people purchasing properties off the plan. In some instances the discount is as much as 100% , and the property threshold to qualify for these concessions has also increased up to $1million.
The new rules take effect from July 1, 2021, and the full detail of the expansion of the tax cut benefits are outlined on the Victorian State Revenue Office website.
As not every Financial Institution is participating in these schemes it is best to speak with an expert to get the best advice. If you are potentially eligible to participate in any of these government initiatives, please give the team at SHL Finance a call. We can guide you through the eligibility criteria, the application process and ensure you receive all the assistance available to you.
Reece Droscher
Mortgage Broker SHL FINANCE www.shlfinance.com.au
5 Types Of Garage Door Noises And What To Do About Them
GARAGE DOORS
By Chantal Djuric
Noises from garage doors are like pains in our bodies – they tell us when something is not quite right. Here are 5 types of noises you may hear your garage door making.
1 Bent tracks
If your garage door makes rubbing noises when you open and close it, this could be a sign that the metal rail has bent. Another sign of this is if you see loose screws.
Don’t try tightening them using a wrench or socket set. Call a garage door specialist at once.
2 Loose parts
Each piece of your garage door hardware can become loose and they each have their different sounds. Highpitched squeaking or grinding noises may mean that the rollers or hinges are worn out. A loud slapping sound is caused by the rollers smacking against the track. This is because of jerky door movements due to a loose garage door opener chain becoming loose. A vibrating or rattling noise when you open and close it indicates that nuts and bolts have become loose. Metal or sloppy rollers or hinges will become noisy and worn after an extended period of use or if they are bent.
Call in a specialist to tighten whatever is loose and to replace old and worn out parts.
3 Poor lubrication
When the door moves, it results in friction, which can cause squeaking, rattling or grinding. If you think of lubricating the worn rollers, don’t reach for your WD40 – check with a garage doors specialist what the best lubrication is. Remember the extreme tension the torsion springs are under — don’t place any part of your body in or near the springs. Don’t repair, remove or adjust the springs or any connected components of the counterbalance system.
A regular service by a garage door technician will prevent parts from wearing out.
4 Unbalanced doors
Banging, rattling, scraping or squeaking noises could be bad news – your garage door could be unbalanced. If so, the springs could be either exert too much tension or not provide enough to counterbalance the door’s weight, resulting in a snapped spring or cable, or the opener failing prematurely.
Worn-out hinges aren’t as common as worn out rollers, but they can make a lot of noise. Check to see if the hinges are broken, worn out or have metal fillings or dust around them. Don’t repair, remove or adjust the hinges yourself. This is definitely a case for a garage door specialist.
5 Improper installation
If your garage door is grinding, squealing or rattling loudly, it may have been installed incorrectly. Other indications of this closing or stopping halfway up, not closing or opening properly and being difficult to operate.
The good news is that a garage door specialist can reinstall your door so that everything is aligned as it should be.
Specialist assistance Fixing the noises of your garage door yourself is definitely not a DIY job. There are many factors to consider, such as the variety of garage doors – panel doors, roller doors etc. How they are attached to your garage, the structure of your garage and its alignment to your house, your garage’s overall condition and even the weather are factors that only a specialised garage door expert can analyse to fix the noise problem.
Here are 4 ways a professional garage door technician can make your door quieter:
• Replacing steel or metal rollers with nylon rollers • nstalling a belt-driven garage door opener instead of a chain-driven one • Installing torsion springs rather than extension springs, if there’s space • Performing a thorough inspection to confirm your garage door is appropriately operating.
The best way to keep your door operating correctly and safely is to have regular garage door maintenance. For 24/7 garage door servicing, give Cruzin Garage Doors a call on 0427 894 603 or email us at sales@cruzingaragedoors. com.au.
Chantal Djuric
Garage Doors Cruzin Garage Doors www.cruzingaragedoors.com.au
Signage is a Strategic Investment
SIGNAGES
By Glenn Martin
All growing things need attention to become strong. Your new business needs to build a presence so that it gets the attention it needs from customers to become profitable. The most cost effective and sustainable way to call attention to your business is by making sure you have shined a light on it. And the best way to do that — a well-branded, creative, hard-working signage solution. Here’s some stats, just in case you weren’t already convinced that investing in signage is a strategic marketing priority.
Consider your Branded Look.
The first step is an analysis of your site, from both an external and internal perspective, listing all your signage needs and opportunities. If you don’t have an advertising brand guideline, finding the right idea for your signage can be challenging. An effective and creative way to kick-start this process is to construct ideas boards on paper or digitally (Pinterest) to collate examples that grab your attention. Collect images from entire building looks to the very specific, for example materials used, colour palettes or illuminated effects that you love the look of. Be sure to review what your competitors are doing with their signage program so you can plan to be distinct. You might choose to engage a graphic artist to create your look or use one of our skilled designers.
Keep it Simple to be Effective
Best practice is to have 30-40% of your sign’s face area text and graphic free. Known as ‘white space’, this is important for optimal readability. From your external shop signs to your instore point of sale signs remember to use this rule. Use as few words as possible in your messages. The shorter the message, the easier it is to read at a glance. We can help you wordsmith your signage, based on deep experience of what works for similar businesses.
Choose Smart Colours
Consider colours carefully. Too many colours take away from the quick readability of the sign. Avoiding clutter is a good guideline to work with. Make sure your colours are contrasting for best readability. For example, yellow on white is hard to see, but yellow on grey or black pops. Other colour schemes are instantly recognisable as existing businesses. If you sell hamburgers, you probably want to steer away from the red and yellow of McDonald’s for example.
Be Bold & Creative
Signage is about being memorable and getting a reaction. Be courageous and creative particularly with temporary signage such as window promotions, pre-opening hoardings and even A-Frames and floor decals. Signs that spark our curiosity or make us laugh can be highly effective. We can show you some incredibly creative examples that have been traffic showstoppers.
Reach Out
If you already have a design, simply send us the files and we will be in touch to start the process, including a free consultation and site audit to help your business stand out from the crowd. If you’re unsure of exactly what you want to say, or how you’d like it to look, that’s okay too, just contact the team on 1300 633 902 and together we’ll create the perfect signs for your business. Ensure you get current promotions by following us on Instagram @Signarama_Mitcham.
Glenn Martin
Managing Director SIGNARAMA
Favourite Ways To Make Coffee
COMMERCIAL COFFEE MACHINE
By Ivana Smith
There are probably as many ways of serving coffee as there are countries that grow the beans. Here are some of the most popular varieties available.
Black and mostly black
An espresso, also known as a short black, consists of a 30 ml shot of coffee made from 7 grams of coffee, straight from the machine served in a 60 ml porcelain cup. A single origin espresso uses coffee bean from a single origin, rather than one blended from various regions.
A double shot espresso is the same as an espresso but with two shots. A double shot can be made by re-pouring hot water over the single shot or using a double basket (holding 14 grams of coffee) but extracted in the same timeframe (30 seconds) to produce 60 ml of coffee.
Ristrettos are the same as an espresso shot, but only using the first half of the espresso shot (15 ml) which is sweeter.
A long black is a typically Australian variation that is also found in New Zealand. Add 100–180 mls of water over an espresso (or double espresso) shot. Don’t add extra water to the espresso shot as you will eliminate the crema.
‘Macchiato’ is an Italian word that means ‘marked’ or ‘stained’. This refers to the teaspoon of frothy, steamed milk that ‘stains’ the espresso. About 1–2 teaspoons of steamed milk and a bit of foam are poured on top of an espresso shot. A macchiato is a good choice for coffee lovers who want something stronger than a cappuccino but not the hit of an espresso. You can relish the coffee and the sweet milk, all in one sip, while also enjoying the foam and body of the drink.
Just add milk Australia’s favourite coffee is the flat white – and it was invented in Australia in the 1980s, though New Zealand also makes a claim of origin. Aussies didn’t want the mountains of foam that came with cappuccinos of the time so they asked for their coffees to be made white but ‘flat’. A flat white traditionally features two shots of coffee to which a small layer of steamed, somewhat frothed milk is added. It is traditionally served in a 250 ml porcelain cup. A flat white is smaller than a latte and usually contains more espresso. Because it has less milk, you can fully experience the flavour of the beans.
As its name suggests, the latte is similar to a flat white, but is more milky (because there is less coffee). Invented in the US, it is usually served in a glass and topped with a small amount of foam, around 5 mm. in Italy, a caffè latte is usually a very milky breakfast drink made with a shot of coffee from a stovetop espresso maker. It can be made with one or two shots of coffee.
Cappuccinos are the oldest variation of coffee. The name ‘cappuccino’ comes from a Capuchin friar who supposedly invented it; the colour of the friars’ habits matched the colour of the beverage when milk is added in small portions. The original cappuccino was made by the Austrians when they added cream and spices to coffee in the 18th century. The Italian cappuccino seems to have come from Viennese-style cafes in Italian areas controlled by the AustroHungarian empire. Espresso machines became widespread during the 1950s, and cappuccino were now made from espresso and frothed milk. A cappuccino is made with one or two shots of espresso. This is poured into the bottom of the cup, followed by a similar amount of hot milk, which is prepared by heating and texturing the milk using an espresso machine steam wand. The top third of the drink consists of milk foam dusted with chocolate or cinnamon, giving rise to decorative coffee art. It is typically smaller in volume than a latte, with a thicker layer of microfoam.
Another popular coffee variety is the piccolo, an espresso shot with 90ml of steamed milk, sometimes ordered as a double shot macchiato.
Whatever your preference for drinking coffee, you can be sure to find your favourite version somewhere in Melbourne!
For advice on coffee and how to supply it to office spaces and clubs, contact Ivana at ivana.smith@xpressodelight. com.au.
Ivana Smith
Commercial Coffee Machine Xpresso Delight 0418 393 085 www.xdcoffee.com.au
How The 2021-22 Federal Budget Is Supporting Women
FINANCIAL PLANNING
By Warren Strybosch
The safety and economic security of women was a prominent theme for the 2021-22 Federal Budget. Some of the announcements were as follows:
Childcare Subsidy
The Childcare Subsidy percentage for families with multiple children aged 5 and under in childcare has been announced to commence from 11 July 2022. This measure, if passed, will see an increase in the subsidy percentage by 30% for the second and subsequent child/ren, but this will be capped at no more than 95%.
Women Only Scholarships
The Government will offer scholarships to encourage women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Increased Workforce Participation
The Government seeks to remove more barriers for women who wish to re-enter the workforce after career breaks. They will provide more career opportunities and career pathways for women. The Government proposes to provide assistance to lawyers to provide mediation services to those parties with assets less than $500,000 will have those assets distributed fairly after separation.
Women’s safety
The Government have announced several initiatives to reduce the instances of, and support the victims of Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV) against women and children. Various funding initiatives have been announced and more programs will set up for women and children who have been subjected to FDSV, support programs on consent and respectful relationships and support to assist vulnerable women and children to engage with the legal system.
Improving retirement outcomes
The Government has announced the removal of the $450 per month threshold related to superannuation contributions. Given 63% of people impacted by the $450 per month threshold are women, it is hoped by removing this threshold that more women will have a higher super balance in retirement. support women, it must be remembered that these announcements are just that, announcements. We will keep following this announcements and inform readers when this become legislated.
This information is current as at September 2018. This article is intended to provide general information only and has been prepared without taking into account any particular person’s objectives, financial situation or needs (‘circumstances’). Before acting on such information, you should consider its appropriateness, taking into account your circumstances and obtain your own independent financial, legal or tax advice. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before making any decision about a product. While all care has been taken to ensure the information is accurate and reliable, to the maximum extent the law permits, Clearview and its related bodies corporate, or each of their directors, officers, employees, contractors or agents, will not assume liability to any person for any error or omission in this material however caused, nor be responsible for any loss or damage suffered, sustained or incurred by any person who either does, or omits to do, anything in reliance on the information contained herein.
Warren Strybosch
You can call them on 1300 88 38 30 or email info@findretirement.com.au www.findretirement.com.au
We're Back In Lockdown, But There's Good News Too!
Due to the COVID-19 circuit breaker, all libraries are closed from Friday 28 May, with a planned reopening on Friday 4 June.
Now for the good news – James Merlino, Acting Premier of Victoria, has stated that public libraries are able to offer click and collect services - music to our ears! Isn't it great that Your Library is recognised as an essential service?
Call + Collect
You can call the team at your local branch and ask them to put together a bag of books, DVDs, or other library items for you and your kids. Maybe borrow something for your Mum and Dad too.
Tell our team what you like to read or watch and they may even include a surprise or two for you as well!
Existing reservations
More good news! The staff at your library will call you if your reservations are available and let you know they're ready to collect. Why not ask the staff to include a couple of additional surprise items for you to read or watch?
Returns
Our after-hours return chutes will remain open while the libraries are closed, with the exception of Belgrave Library. Don't forget, Your Library is fine FREE.
Are you house-bound?
Please let us know if you are house bound due to illness, or another reason. We can’t promise you delivery, but we will do our best.
*Please note, Belgrave Library is currently closed for extensive refurbishment and Call + Collect services are not
available from this branch.
Collections
You can collect your items between 9am and 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 10am to 12 noon on Saturday at all branches*.
