Useful Contacts for Young Business Operators

There are many places where you can find support and guidance.

Industry Associations
Government Programs
Small Business Centres
Australian Taxation Office
Incubators

And there are many specific youth organisations which can also be a valuable source of information.

Youth Organisations
Youth Networks
Youth Self Development

Industry Associations

The art of networking can reap enormous benefits, from marketing opportunities to problem solving. It’s important to maintain contact with people within your own industry, to keep up to date with the latest developments and to keep one step ahead of your competition.

It’s important that you join your Industry Association, which is a great place to contact when you need answers to questions that are specific to your particular industry, such as;


Here's a list of all Industry Associations and Government organisations which can be a rich source of support and information to help you improve and develop your business.

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Government Program

Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources
National Innovation Awareness Strategy: www.innovation.gov.au

NAIS, a Federal Government initiative, looks at the key questions for youth regarding innovation and entrepreneurship.  This information and the links provided will give you access to a variety of sources of assistance that will help in understanding innovation, assist in progressing your innovative ideas and help you identify sources of training and education that will assist in following innovative careers.  It encourages better business decision making based on an informed understanding of innovation, and motivates young people to pursue innovative and entrepreneurial careers.

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Small Business Centres

If you need some information or guidance and it’s difficult to get into the city, or you are located in regional Western Australia, you can call on your local Small Business Centre for free and confidential business assistance.

Small Business Centres are located throughout Western Australia in city and country areas to assist you to expand your existing business or explore new business ideas. A management committee with representatives from business, private sector organisations and local government, support a Manager who will work with you to achieve your goals.

The Small Business Centres offer free assistance and support to new and existing businesses through the following services:

Benefits for You

If you want to start a business with a solid foundation, or improve an existing business, your local Small Business Centre can assist you to plan your future growth and development.

The Small Business Centres run workshops and seminars such as “Marketing Today” and “Cashflow Today”, and you may be eligible for their “Small Business Smart Business” $200 training voucher.

Assistance Available

Small Business Centres have networks of contacts that they can access to find answers to your inquiries about:

Practical Experience

The Small Business Centre managers have business experience, can relate to your needs and provide practical assistance. They can simplify the process of accessing private and public sector support-and-development programs available to your business.

There is a state wide network of Small Business Centres in WA from Kununurra in the north to Esperance in the South. Click here to find your nearest Small Business Centre, or Tel: 1800 093 340.

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Taxation

There are many questions to ask about taxation issues and you must understand your obligations and comply with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) requirements.

You can contact the business tax adviser located in SBDC's BILC, by Tel: (08) 9220 0249, or by calling in to the Business Information and Licence Centre (BILC), without making an appointment.

For comprehensive taxation information on starting and operating a business and to apply for an ABN online, you can visit the ATO Business Portal, which can assist small business owners to increase their tax awareness and improve access to the ATO's online products and services at: www.ato.gov.au/onlineservices.

The ATO also presents a series of FOUR FREE 2 hour ATO BizStart WORKSHOPS which explain all your rights and obligations under the tax system. Topics covered include the ABN, Income Tax, Record Keeping, Business Structures, Capital Gains Tax, GST, PAYG, Business Activity Statement, Fringe Benefits and Superannuation Guarantee. For further information and to book a place ring 1300 661 104, or register by email wabizstart@ato.gov.au, or visit the ATO website.

If you are looking for an accounting software package, you might be interested in the register of commercially available software which meets ATO requirements. The Registered Software Facility (RSF) Product Register enables you to search for tax-related software products. Using products listed on the register will increase the quality of business management and record keeping, resulting in efficiencies within accounting practices, increased compliance and less intrusive audits. For direct access to the RSF product register visit: www.ato.gov.au/rsf/business. You can search the register by either:

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Business Incubators

Are you starting a business on a limited budget? Can't start it from home? Has your home based business grown too big, or do you want to present a more professional image? Do you need to find a cheap and convenient place to operate? A unit in a Business Incubator may be the answer.

There are currently 12 Business Incubators in Western Australia. Some of the benefits and services offered include:

To find your closest WA incubator location visit the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) website and for further information phone the Bizline: 131 BIZ (131 249).

Find more information on incubators at the Business Incubator Association of WA click here.

If you are planning on moving into commercial premises be sure to read the SBDC's free business brief on leasing commercial property, or read about the subject in books available for sale from the SBDC Bookshop. It's important that you read and understand the terms of a lease prior to making any commitment. Your solicitor can assist you with this.

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Youth Organisations

The following links to specifically youth oriented organisations may be of interest:

The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) - www.youngaustralians.org

The Foundation for Young Australians is a dynamic, not-for-profit organisation committed to developing innovative initiatives that support and empower the lives of young Australians aged 12 to 25.

FYA provides seed-funding for ideas; proactively seeks co-funding to support initiatives; and helps grant recipients to build their organisational capacity to ensure long-term sustainability.

Each year The Foundation manages a portfolio of grants totalling over $6 million for initiatives that help provide young people with opportunities to reach their full potential and make a valuable contribution to the community.

Office for Children and Young People's policy - www.youthregister.dpc.wa.gov.au

The Government of Western Australian is committed to ensuring young people are provided with opportunities to voice their opinions and ideas by actively participating in the decision-making processes that impact on their lives and their communities.

Many decisions made by Government and non-government organisations directly affect the lives of young people, therefore it is important to ensure young people have an opportunity to have their say on these issues.

There are a variety of ways young people can be involved in decision-making processes, eg. participation in focus groups, reference groups, advisory councils, surveys, feedback forms as well as boards and committees.

By having a 'Youth Register' the Office for Children and Young People's Policy hopes to identify those young people who are currently involved or may be interested in having input to the many areas of Government activity.

If you know of any other youth organisations that would be of value to YBN members submit details here.

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Youth Networks

There are many networks created for and by young people for a great many reasons, and the best way to develop a good business it to network with a wide variety of people, businesses, and organisations. The following links may be of interest:

Young Australian Rural Network - YARN.gov.au

YARN is an interactive website designed for young people in rural industries. It's an Australian Government initiative which aims to provide people with a place to interact and share information with others around Australia.

The Young Professional Alliance (YPA) - www.ypa.net.au

YPA is a not-for-profit association of professional and industry organisations whose activities cater to professionals aged 18-40 working in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions.

The YPA brings together a wide range of organisations and individuals within the ACT to foster synergies between them and to support the professional development of young professionals, representing over 3000 members from several professional networks and associations.

Membership spans the arts, design, communications, marketing, law, engineering, IT, accounting, environmental management, small business, financial sector and the public service.

The goals of the YPA are to:

Youth 2 Youth - www.youth2youth.com.au

Since 2001, Youth 2 Youth has worked with thousands of young people to develop their enterprise skills. Their workshops, resources and custom-made programs are highly rated, evaluated, and recommended by a wide variety of metro through to rural schools, universities, local councils, and youth organisations as diverse as the Department for Family and Community Services through to Questacon, The Spastic Centre, and The Benevolent Society.

YouthGas - www.youthgas.com

To find out what's happening in the world of young people you can join the YouthGas network to receive information and to express your views.

If you know of a youth network that would be of value to YBN members submit details here.

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Self Development

One way to develop your business is to develop yourself. If you continue to expand your skills and knowledge your business will benefit and there are many organisations designed to help you in your quest.

Junior Chamber International Australia - www.jcaustralia.org

An international not for profit organisation for young professionals and business owners between the ages of 18-40 to assist in their professional and leadership development through participation in community projects.

Rotaract Club of South Perth - www.rotaract9470.org/southperth

A non-profit, non-political, non-religious professional development and volunteer service organisation for students and young professionals aged between 18 to 30 years.  Leadership and Career Development skills are enhanced through training seminars, workshops, an annual youth leadership camp, and organisation and implementation of projects in the local community and overseas.

Youth mentoring programs

Mentors are an excellent way to benefit from the experience of others who have been through the process of starting and operating a business. You can join others in being mentored through recognised enterprise programs.

If you have gained valuable experience and wish to help others you might consider becoming a mentor. The rewards are exceptional and come in many forms when you least expect them.

The following websites can provide information and food for thought:

Young Achievement Australia (YAA) - www.yaa.org.au

The YAA Business Skills Program operates Australia wide in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote locations and is aimed at senior high school students, tertiary students or post secondary and tertiary groups. Mentors are fully supported with comprehensive information, instructions and manuals and are matched with a group of Mentors
For 2 hours each week over a period of 16-24 weeks the YAA student participants:

Throughout the program participants tackle typical issues and challenges that confront commercial operations and develop enterprise skills such as decision making, negotiating, risk taking, creativity, communication and teamwork. They can also achieve the Certificate II in Business Studies, and due to generous sponsorship and volunteer mentors the program is free of charge to all participants.

The YAA Mentoring Program is aimed at professionals, business people and people from the local community who want to improve and increase their range of skills and experience while assisting to develop the skills, attributes and values in our young people.

Enterprise Network for Young Australians (ENYA) - www.enya.org.au

ENYA is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers and funded by the Australian Federal Government. ENYA is looking for one-on-one mentors, who could mean the difference between a young Australian entrepreneur going from rags to rags, or from rags to riches. To find out more and to register please email VBI@enya.org.au

If you know of an organisation which helps young entrepreneurs develop their leadership skills or business expertise submit details here.

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Business Buddy

Do you have a small business related question but are not sure who to ask? The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has produced a handy directory of key contacts - for assistance and information - for WA's small business sector. The Business Buddy, a pocket sized directory, provides details by key topic areas.

If you're a small business operator and you feel like you're wandering through a maze trying to find the right information, this guide will point you in the right direction. It provides easy access to information that frees up small business operators' time to get on with the business of running their business.

The Business Buddy has also been printed, and is available free of charge from the Small Business Development Corporation and your local Small Business Centre. Either telephone or email to have one sent to you.

The PDF version of the Business Buddy is available here.

 

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