First for Business e-news

Council provides a number of services for the support and development of new and existing businesses in the Monash region.

The latest business and networking activities, business training and opportunities, and local information relevant to the business community are shared through a regular business e-newsletter.

Subscribe to Council's First for Business e-news

This email newsletter promotes business and networking activity. It features business events, training opportunities and local information relevant to the business community.

2026

Business Update – February 2026: Happy Lunar New Year, Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Jo Stanley, Small Business Bus visits Mount Waverley, ATO Masterclass sessions, Business Plan Accelerator workshop, Spotlight on coworking and innovation spaces in Monash, Get Started: Disability and beyond workshop series, Caution on counterfeit money, Get ready for PayDay Super regulations, Visa Vibe grants, Eastern Innovation’s From idea to impact Business breakfast & Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night and expressions of interest, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Program, Creative workplaces survey, Business Skills Mentoring program, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, CSIRO Kick-start funding, Register your sender ID, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder.

Business Update – January 2026: Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Jo Stanley, Business Plan Accelerator workshop, Monash Business Association launch event, Monash achieves Net Zero, Monash Conversation Circles, Buying or selling an existing food business, Bogong Carpark, Food Safety portal, Eastern Innovation’s From idea to impact Business breakfast & Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Cylite sustainability wins, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Program, Monash University networking event, CSIRO Innovate & Grow coach applications, Prepare for high-risk weather season, Business Skills Mentoring program, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, Endeavour Awards nominations open, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder, LaunchVic’s grants.

2025

Business Update – December 2025: End of year small business and sole trader networking wrap-up, Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Jo Stanley, Business Plan Accelerator workshop, 16 days of Activism, Santa Claus is coming to Monash, Footpath trading and outdoor advertising policy, Minimum pay rates deal, Eastern Innovation’s From idea to impact Business breakfast & Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Program, Business Skills Mentoring program, Monash University IT solutions, Digital Jobs program, Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grants, Building culturally safe and inclusive workplaces lunch, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder, Mental health and wellbeing support resources.

Business Update – November 2025: Digital marketing workshop, Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Jo Stanley, Monash Precinct Network event, Monash Grants Finder, Santa Claus is coming to Monash, Hiring over holiday season, Get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, IP Essentials for Innovation webinar, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Going Circular program, Energy Savers Program, Growing your business checklist, SEMMA Lunch + Learn webinar, Know your rights information session for migrant workers and renters, Monash University receives record funding, Quantum diamond foundry opens in Monash, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Mental health and wellbeing support resources.

Business Update – October 2025: Oakleigh Pop Ups at Eaton Mall, SEO strategies for AI workshop, End of year small business and sole trader networking, ATO Masterclasses, Community Safety Month, Starting a food business, Understanding commercial and industrial property tax, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Program, Monash University Industry Experience program, Free psychosocial risk assessment, Apprenticeship and traineeship support, Moderna’s new mRNA manufacturing hub in Clayton, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder, Upcoming SEMMA events.

Business Update – September 2025:Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Ramona Roach, SEO strategies for AI workshop, Hopeful Horizons workshop, Monash Business Awards Gala winners, It’s your food newsletter, Tips to tackle business changes, Incorporating a Traders Association, Eastern Innovation Founder’s Focus Coworking session, Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Going Circular program, Energy Savers Program, VSBC free webinars, Social Media workshop with Whitehorse Council, Industry Growth Program grants, Fair Work resources, National Workforce plan for Manufacturing, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder.

Business Update – August 2025: Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Ramona Roach, Monash Speed X 2025, ATO Masterclass training, Monash spending trends data Review of card payment costs, Tobacco licensing changes, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Program, Scam awareness workshops, Manufacturing Industry Awareness session, VSBC free webinars, Creative Enterprises Program, LGBTIQA+ inclusive workplace guidelines, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Monash Grants Finder.

Business Update – July 2025: Cyber security essentials webinar, Monash Business Awards Gala, Monash Women’s Business Network lunch with Ramona Roach, ATO Masterclass training, Clean Energy Engagement work experience program, Changes to liquor licencing, Workplace updates from 1 July, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Women in Business: Exclusive peer mentoring roundtable, Connecting to nature for businesses, Business Energy Savers Group, VSBC free webinars, Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) Program, Digital Solutions Program, Manufacturers’ Monthly Endeavour Awards, Free mental health coaching for small businesses, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates, Guidelines for LGBTIQA+ workplaces, Monash Grants Finder.

Business Update – June 2025: Start Up, Invest & Grow in Monash wrap up, ATO Masterclass training, Sir John Monash Awards nominations, Business Plan Accelerator workshop, Career Launchpad: Regenerative Economy event, Bogong Carpark opening, Grants for small restaurants, Machete sales banned, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange Networking night, Business Renewables Buying Group, Business Energy Savers Group, SEBN Women in Business event, SEMMA Future Manufacturing forum, ABAW Business Awards nominations, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates.

Business Update – May 2025: Start Up, Invest & Grow in Monash program, Economic Development Strategy refresh, Monash Grants Finder, Navigating Family Violence webinar, National Volunteer Week event, Plan your sale dates for 2025, EPA resources for retail & small business, Eastern Innovation Startup pitch competition, Circular economy basics webinar, Sustainable business workshop, Holmesglen Self-employment Assistance program roadshow, Monash University Industry Experience program, VSBC webinar, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, SRLA updates.

Business Update – April 2025: Start Up, Invest & Grow in Monash program, Expanding Horizons, ATO Masterclass series, Shape Your Monash feedback, The Creative’s Marketing Blueprint, Vic Aboriginal Business Investment program, Changes to casual employment, 2025 Australia Post eCommerce report, Eastern Innovation facilities, Business Energy Savers program, Buy Circular webinar, VSBC webinar, Startup Alt. Leather part of CSIRO initiative, WorkSafe free workplace consultation session, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring, Australian Manufacturing Week, Monash Grant Finder.

Business Update – March 2025: Monash Women’s Business Network International Women’s Day 2025 event with Carolyn Creswell, Start Up, Invest & Grow in Monash program, ATO Masterclass series, Expanding Horizons, Small Business Bus in Oakleigh, Tendering: Social impact suppliers, Call to ease small business burden, Understanding employment types and hiring options, Eastern Innovation Pitch Night, Entrepreneur Exchange, Business Renewables Buying group, Business Energy Savers program, VSBC webinar, SEMMA Future Manufacturing forum, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring.

Business Update – February 2025: Monash Women’s Business Network International Women’s Day 2025 event with Carolyn Creswell, CSIRO SME Connect event, ATO Masterclass, Expanding Horizons, Council tender portal, Monash Community Grants, Eastern Innovation Sustainability Skills Lab, Visual Merchandising, Laws around selling knives, Retail Industry Federal Budget submission, Business Renewables Buying group, ASBFEO survey, Partners in Wellbeing helpline, SEMMA WHISE workshop, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring.

Business Update – January 2025: Lunar New Year celebrations, Monash Women’s Business Network International Women’s Day 2025 event with Carolyn Creswell, CSIRO SME Connect event, Service Design workshop, ATO Masterclass, Expanding Horizons, Victorian Economic Growth Statement, Join a Monash Advisory Committee, Eastern Innovation Entrepreneur Exchange event, Sustainability Skills Lab, Cutting red tape for hospitality businesses, Local Trader Associations, Golf ball recycling, Monash Industry Experience program, Manufacturing and Industry Development Fund recipients in Monash, Walk for Waverley fundraiser, Preparing for high-risk weather season, Business Vic online workshops, courses and mentoring, Small Business Mentoring.