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Webinar: Unfair Contract Terms - Law Changes Your Business Must Understand Thursday 5th September 2024 | 11.00am to 12.00pm Australian Consumer Law in relation to unfair contract terms has changed. The new laws can affect the validity of standard contracts and give rise to significant penalties. In this webinar, Matthews Folbigg Lawyers’ Principal Lawyers, Zeeshaan Nordien and Michael Stevens, will provide an overview of the reforms, explore recent cases and consider risk-mitigation strategies for your business. Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
Webinar: Unveiling Blindspots: 9 Reasons Most Managers Are Underperforming Wednesday 31st July 2024 | 11.00am to 12.00pm How capable are your Managers, particularly with their current team and in the challenging climate we are facing? Their effectiveness as leaders is not just dependent on their technical skills but also on their ability to inspire, delegate, influence, and build a genuinely high-performing team. Strong leadership isn’t just a ‘nice-to-have’ - it is essential, at all levels for your organisation to succeed. Most businesses have some excellent managers and some mediocre ones – unfortunately, overall success is determined much more by the underperforming managers than by those who excel. Research from Gallup shows that businesses with ineffective leaders face significantly higher turnover rates. This not only increases costs in terms of recruitment (assuming you can even find a suitable person!), it also impacts stress levels and the morale of the rest of the team as they cover. The flow on effect of this is more burnout, more absenteeism, lower productivity, lower engagement, and more turnover (or presenteeism). It’s a downward spiral that not only impacts business profitability but also hinders long-term growth and sustainability, even business survival. So, what are the critical areas that many managers are weak in? What blindspots do you need to become aware of as a Senior Leader so that you can support and upskill your managers? How specifically can you lift them from mediocre to highly effective? You'll discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
Webinar: “Closing Loopholes” – What ALL Employers and Businesses MUST Know Thursday 27th June 2024 | 11.00am to 12.00pm Are you interested in understanding opportunities to sell to the Australian Government? If you are interested in understanding how to participate in Australian Government procurement and contracting opportunities, come along to this introductory session to find out more. The session will be delivered by the Australian Government Department of Finance in collaboration with the Western Sydney Business Connection. During this webinar, you will discover:
Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
Webinar: CYBERSECURITY – The Commercial Challenge of Our Generation Thursday 14th March 2024 | 11.00am to 12.30pm What actions is your company taking today? Cybersecurity poses an ever-present threat to every company of all sizes in Australia today and the laws surrounding cybersecurity are changing. DON'T be one of those companies that puts its head in the sand and says ‘this won’t happen to us’ because it can, and it is happening now to companies right across the country. Any company that did elect to ‘ignore and hope’ should be aware that new penalties for a breach of privacy laws can exceed $50M for corporations and $2.5M for individuals. In this free webinar, Matthews Folbigg’ Principal Lawyers Simone Brew and Gigi Au will outline what it is that you should be concerned to understand and what actions you should be taking to protect your company, your customers and your senior executives and Directors. Discover CYBERSECURITY – what is it, why is it important and what should you be doing now! Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
Webinar: Selling to Government – An Introduction to Australian Government Procurement for Suppliers Thursday 30th November 2023 | 11.00am to 12.30pm In February 2024, the Australia Parliament passed the second stage of the Government’s ‘Closing Loopholes’ employment law reforms, bringing with it a raft of further complex changes to the Fair Work Act 2009. Some of these changes have already commenced operation, whilst other changes will come into effect later in 2024 and early in 2025. Given the significant impact of the ‘Closing Loopholes’ reforms and the potential penalties imposed for non-compliance, it is essential that employers take steps to understand these changes and how the changes will impact their business. In this free webcast, Matthews Folbigg Lawyers’ Peter Doughman will canvass the primary changes arising from the ‘Closing Loopholes’ reforms, including:
Proudly supported by Australian Government Department of Finance |
Webinar: Burnout Busters: How to Combat the Unspoken Crisis of Senior Leader Burnout Wednesday 15th November 2023 | 11.00am to 12.00pm As a Senior Leader, you are no doubt all too familiar with the relentless stress and threat of burnout that often plague your team. But here's the stark truth: in your quest to safeguard their wellbeing, you may unknowingly be sacrificing your own. Recent studies have shone a spotlight on this very real issue, revealing that 41% of Senior Leaders grapple with elevated stress levels and 36% teeter on the brink of exhaustion. A staggering 69% are seriously contemplating leaving their current roles for a job that better supports their wellbeing. This burnout impacts your drive and your decision-making ability at work, it impacts your mood, energy and relationships at home. Unfortunately, it is also contagious. Employees tend to act in alignment with their leaders, often without even realising it. So when the staff see you looking and sounding stressed, when they see you going down the burnout slope, they will tend to go down the same slope. As a consequence, burnout spreads like a virus throughout your organisation, wreaking havoc on performance and morale. During this free webinar presented by leadership guru Diana Tapp, CEO of World Class Teams, you will discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
Structural Failure - Getting Business Structures Right Thursday 10th August 2023 | 11.00am to 12.00pm No matter the stage or type of your business, failing to ensure you have the best structure can lead to adverse consequences. Even your existing structure that was 'right' at the time may no longer be fit for purpose. Adopting and adapting the right business structure is a critical decision, and also an ongoing process.. In this free webinar, Geeti Chawla and Zeeshaan Nordien, both Principals in the Matthews Folbigg Lawyers Commercial and Corporate Law Group, will assess the various benefits and risks of different business structures, especially through the lens of asset protection and corporate governance. Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
How To Take Your Content Creation To The Next Level With ChatGPT Thursday 25th May 2023 | 11.00am to 12.00pm The Connection, together with our presenter Simone Rennocks, are delighted to offer this event as a condensed, free webinar on May 25th at 11.00am. AND if that's not enough, we will also share the recording with all attendees that register. For those who are unaware, ChatGPT is an AI-powered language model that generates human-like text. It has the ability to create high-quality content quickly and efficiently, as well as increase the frequency of content production, helping your business stay top-of-mind with audiences. ChatGPT is a real game changer for businesses and is taking the marketing world by storm. If you're not already using it or are unsure of how to get started, this interactive webinar is for you. Delivered by My Skills Australia CEO, Simone Rennocks using ChatGPT live, you will learn:
Proudly supported by My Skills Australia |
Millennials Are Now Managers! How To Get The Best Out Of Them As They Reshape The Workforce Thursday 20th April 2023 | 11.00am to 12.00pm With the oldest millennials now in their early forties, this generation is increasingly occupying middle management positions. And it turns out they approach management very differently to previous generations, in four areas in particular. Not only that, but research shows they are significantly more likely to report that they feel burnt out, and they choose to leave more quickly than other managers. While there has been plenty of discussion on how to manage millennials, what about the impact millennials are now having as managers themselves? How are these value-driven digital natives changing the rules for people management, communication, feedback and team building in the workplace. How do you get the best out of them, as leaders - and what are the possible pitfalls you need to avoid along the way? During this free webinar presented by leadership guru Diana Tapp, CEO of World Class Teams, you will discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
Employment Law Changes - What Every Business And HR Team Needs To Know Thursday 2nd March 2023 | 11.00am to 12.00pm The Federal Government’s recent industrial relations reforms are significant and have wide-ranging consequences for businesses from a compliance, enforcement and liability (including personal liability) perspective. Whilst the current reforms target matters such as pay secrecy, flexible working arrangements, sexual harassment at work and the prolonged use of fixed-term contracts, future reforms are expected to also cover the criminalisation of employee underpayments, regulation of the gig economy, the reduction of the use of casual employees, and requiring labour hire employees to be paid at the same rate as direct employees. In this free webinar, Daniel Iminjan from the employment law team at Matthews Folbigg Lawyers will explain the current reforms and provide practical guidance to assist employers to meet their legal obligations and to endeavour to reduce their risk of exposure to claims. Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
How To Build A Strong Bench Of Leaders Thursday 17th November 2022 | 11.00am to 12.00pm The war on talent has left businesses short on leaders. 89% of organisations report they don't have a strong enough bench to fill leadership roles. This leadership gap is a significant risk given the challenges of recruiting talent in the most competitive job market in four decades. And it's not just senior leadership positions CEOs and HR executives are worried about. Middle managers have become more important than ever in this new era of hybrid work, with increased expectations and pressure on managers to keep their teams intact and motivated. Responsible for delivering strategy and reporting to senior management while checking in with each team member, middle managers have become the "glue that holds everything together". They are critical to fostering the business’s culture, cohesion, connection and sense of belonging, particularly in workplaces where people don’t come in every day. How will you overcome the leadership gap and build a strong bench of leaders in your organisation? How will you ensure you have the leaders you need today and in the future? Join us for a free, not-to-be-missed webinar where Australia's #1 High-Performance Team Consultant, Diana Tapp, will reveal how to build a strong bench of leaders in your organisation. In this live webinar, you’ll discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
How To Create A One Page Plan To Drive Customer Decision Making Wednesday 7th September 2022 | 11.00am to 12.00pm Finding a strategy that immediately gets the attention of potential leads is often a big challenge for small businesses and despite investing a lot of time and money into their marketing efforts, business owners often see little to no results. Direct response marketing is a strategy that encourages an immediate response from customers in order to quickly generate new leads. The response can be any action such as purchasing your product, reading your marketing content, subscribing to your newsletter, sharing your post on social media or signing up for your loyalty rewards program. Direct response marketing educates instead of selling….It costs very little to produce….It’s targeted….The results are trackable and measurable….And it can be created in one single page, making it the easiest and fastest way to create a marketing strategy to propel your business growth. This free webinar has been specifically designed for small business owners and managers who want to get results and return on their marketing investment. Join us to find out:
Proudly supported by My Skills Australia |
Practical Steps To Help Your Business Weather The Insolvency Storm Wednesday 31st August 2022 | 11.00am to 12.00pm With warning signs business insolvencies are set to increase, Jeff Brown and Stephen Mullette from Matthews Folbigg Lawyers will provide: - A brief review of the most recent statistics and trends in insolvency- A short reminder on different forms of insolvency - ‘What to expect when you’re not expecting’ – what is going on that is affecting your customers that you might not see - ‘Better get a bigger boat’ – practical tips and steps to make sure you can weather the storm Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
How To Receive Up To $150K A Year To Promote Your Product Or Service Internationally Tuesday 21st June 2022 | 11.00am to 11.30am Following on from last year’s business essential webinar, How To Access Business Grants & Which Ones You Should Look At Right Now, KPMG’s Laurens Visscher is back, this time to brief us on a specific Export Grant which will open for application soon. In this 30-minute free webinar, Laurens will look at the Export Marketing Development (EMDG) Grant and how your business could receive up to $150K a year to promote your product or service overseas. This briefing is a must-see for new and existing exporters (with <$20M turnover for FY21) who:
Proudly supported by KPMG |
How To Identify Improvement Opportunities In Your Business Thursday 9th June 2022 | 11.00am to 12.00pm It is vital for businesses to continually improve. If they don’t, they will fall behind others that do. But what to improve, how to improve, has the improvement made a difference? These questions may be simple, but they are not easily answered. In this free webinar, you will:
Proudly supported by Efficiency Works |
How To Win The War On Talent Thursday 5th May 2022 | 11.00am to 12.00pm Hiring has never been harder for employers. As pandemic restrictions ease and businesses start bouncing back, the competition to recruit new workers and retain existing ones is fierce. With record-low unemployment levels and increasing inflation, companies of all sizes are trying to attract workers with increased pay. But what do you do when you don't have endless supplies of money to raise wages or when workers have already hit the top of their pay range? How do you ensure your company can attract and retain the best people? Join us for a free, not-to-be-missed webinar where Australia's #1 High-Performance Team Consultant, Diana Tapp, will reveal how you can win the war on talent. Discover the free and low-cost ways leaders can use to reward star performers, attract top staff and become a company no one wants to leave. In this webinar, you'll discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
Contract Essentials - Getting It Right & What Happens When It Goes Wrong Thursday 3rd March 2022, 11.00am to 12.00pm Putting commercial agreements in place is something companies (large and small) do almost every day. In this free webinar, Gigi Au and Douglas Brown from Matthews Folbigg Lawyers will share 5 ways to get the best out of your commercial contracts and the 3 steps to take if something goes wrong. This webinar is essential viewing for all managers. Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
Connecting To Construction Opportunities Thursday 24th February 2022, 11.00am to 12.00pm The Connection is delighted to be joined by five companies in the construction industry who will provide:
Attending Connection Members (excluding Small Business Members) will get the added benefit of submitting an Expression of Interest to our five presenting companies. |
An Economic Outlook For Western Sydney Tuesday 23 November, 11.00am to 12.00pm The Connection is delighted to be joined by the CommBank’s Chief Equities Economist, Craig James, who will share insight on:
Proudly supported by the Commonwealth Bank |
3 Ways To Empower Employees To Take More Initiative Tuesday 16th November 2021, 11.00am to 12.00pm As a leader, are you tired of having employees who wait to be told what to do? And even when you do give them a task, just do the bare minimum? Do you feel frustrated when they find a problem and pass it on to you rather than using their initiative and coming up with a solution? Taking initiative means seeing something that needs to be done and deciding to do it without being asked. It means anticipating and preventing problems and going beyond their everyday responsibilities, even if they have no formal position of authority. When this proactive culture is missing, your company risks losing ground to competitors. While YOUR employees say, "it's not my job", THEIR employees are going above and beyond to find ways to improve processes, increase customer satisfaction, cut costs and introduce innovative new products and services. The good news is that empowering people to take more initiative is an easily learnable skill. Join us for a free, not-to-be-missed webinar where Australia's #1 High-Performance Team Consultant, Diana Tapp, will reveal three powerful ways leaders can create a proactive culture, empower staff to take initiative and help drive your business forward. During this webinar you will also discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
Connecting To Construction Opportunities Thursday 14th October, 11.00am to 12.00pm Over the next 10 years the Australian and New South Wales Governments will be investing billions of dollars into Western Sydney infrastructure projects. With transport, education, cultural and health projects already in the pipeline, now is the time to connect your business to potential opportunities. The Connection is delighted to be joined by five companies in the construction industry who will provide: - An overview of their upcoming projects- A top-line summary of the products and services they are looking to procure - Information on how to tender with them |
Strategies To Improve Your Business Efficiency Wednesday 13th October, 11.00am to 12.00pm Lockdown has interrupted, and in some cases, exacerbated existing inefficiencies in the operational procedures of many businesses. It is critical to have optimal processes in place to ensure your business is efficient, agile and more profitable. During this webinar, you will learn how to: - Increase your efficiency / productivity / capacity- Simplify your operations planning process - Increase your bottom line - Create time in your business - Increase customer satisfaction - Improve worker engagement Proudly supported by Efficiency Works |
Building Innovation Into Your Strategic Planning Thursday 23rd September, 11.00am to 12.00pm Innovation is critical to the continuing success of any organisation. It improves sales and customer relationships, allows businesses to pivot when required, and to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market. How can you implement and take advantage of innovation in your business right now and create a blue print for future innovation? In this webinar, Gerard Hermens, Director of the Institute of Strategic Management (ISM), will show you how to build innovation into your strategic planning to reduce costs and generate more income for your business. You will also learn:
Proudly supported by the Institute of Strategic Management |
COVID-19 In The Workplace Thursday 9th September, 11.00am to 12.00pm From potential mandatory vaccinations to keeping employees safe, businesses are facing never-before-seen COVID-19 workplace challenges. With this area of employment law evolving daily, if not hourly, it is difficult to keep up-to-date with your legal responsibilities as an employer. At the same time, Federal and State governments are preparing the blueprint for an easing back of restrictions, including those currently affecting creditors seeking to recover their debts. There is also the pressing matter of the growing mountain of ATO debt that will need to be clawed in at some point. WSBC is delighted to be joined by two experts from Matthews Folbigg Lawyers, who will discuss some of the challenges and issues every business owner should be aware of as they navigate their way forward. Our experts will also give registrants the opportunity to receive a free letter of demand prepared by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers. During this business essential webinar, you will be provided with knowledge that is critical to your current decision-making. Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
How To Access Business Grants & Which Ones You Should Look At Right Now Thursday 26th August 2021, 11.00am to 12.00pm Understanding and unlocking government funding programs can accelerate business growth. WSBC is delighted to be joined by Laurens Visscher and Joel Lovell, two experts from KPMG, who will talk about the current grants landscape and the times when a business should check on potential funding opportunities. They will also discuss specific grant programs in the areas of R&D, export and Job Creation/Business Growth. Be one of the first to become aware of some programs that are about to open, what the key criteria will be, and whether your business will be eligible to apply. During this free webinar, Laurens and Joel will run you through the following four programs:
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5 Powerful Ways To Improve Your EQ To Become A Great Leader Thursday 5th August 2021, 11.00am to 12.00pm When you think of a world class manager or leader, what characteristics come to mind? You might picture someone who never lets emotions get the better of them, no matter how stressful the situation. Or you might imagine a person who has the complete trust of their team, encourages idea sharing, is easy to talk to, and builds strong connections. These are all the hallmarks of someone with high emotional intelligence (EQ). Being smart is not enough. What distinguishes the great managers and leaders from the average ones is not their IQ but their EQ. Being able to read people's signals and react appropriately is vital. When managers have low emotional intelligence, problems such as distrust, conflict, and silos arise. Issues are avoided and not dealt with, which results in increased staff turnover, higher absenteeism, lower engagement, and poor productivity. The good news is that EQ is a learnable skill. Join us for a not-to-be-missed webinar where Australia's #1 High-Performance Team Consultant, Diana Tapp, will reveal five powerful ways to improve your EQ to help you become an exponentially better leader. In this webinar you will discover:
Proudly supported by World Class Teams |
The NSW JobSaver Package Explained Tuesday 3rd August 2021, 11.30am to 12.30pm NSW JobSaver applications are now open and the scheme has been expanded to include larger businesses and an increase in the maximum amount that eligible businesses may receive. On Tuesday 3rd August, our tax experts will help you understand the eligibility requirements for JobSaver and give you a chance to ask all those burning questions. They will update you on: - JobSaver eligibility- Minimum & maximum payments - Step by step instructions on the JobSaver application process - Alternative circumstances - The Micro-business grant for smaller businesses Join us for this practical webinar in which WSBC member, William Buck Accountants and Advisors will continue to bring you the detail on what the measures mean for you and your business. Proudly supported by William Buck |
Variants, Vaccines and Lockdown – An Expert Opinion Friday 30th July 2021, 12.00pm to 1.00pm As Sydney endures another lockdown, a new COVID-19 variant and a fluctuation in daily cases, there continues to be a barrage of information from multiple sources around the pandemic. WSBC is delighted to be joined by two internationally renowned experts from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research (WIMR) who will help us better understand the virus, vaccines and the medium to long term outlook for you, your family and and your business. During this free webinar, we will ask our experts a range of questions including:
You will also have the opportunity to ask live questions during this webinar. Proudly supported by The Westmead Institute For Medical Research |
The COVID-19 Business Support Package Explained Friday 23rd July 2021, 11.00am to 12.00pm The NSW and Federal Government’s joint COVID-19 business support package dominated the news cycle last week. And while there’s been much written about the announcement and Greater Sydney’s lockdown, it’s been largely light on detail. Join us for this practical webinar in which WSBC member, William Buck Accountants and Advisors goes beyond the headlines to bring you the detail on what the measures mean for you and your business. Tax expert and business advisor, Tim Lyford will outline the eligibility requirements and how to apply for:
Proudly supported by William Buck |
Supplying To Campbelltown City Council Wednesday 14th July 2021, 11.00am to 11.45am AEST Campbelltown City Council is in the middle of one of Sydney’s fastest growing regions. With Council actively working with a diverse range of suppliers, there are opportunities for businesses of all sizes to supply products and services to support this growth. In this free webinar, Procurement and Contracts Lead, Rochelle Whipps will help you to better understand the procurement process at Campbelltown City Council and give some tips on what is expected when submitting a quote or tender. Rochelle will also share information on:
We will also share information on local organisations who have been successful in a tender process to supply goods and services to Campbelltown City Council. Proudly supported by Campbelltown City Council |
Bullying And Harassment In The Workplace Thursday 27th May 2021, 11.00am to 11.45am AEST Bullying and harassment in the workplace can take many forms. It can be overt and obvious, or it can be subtle and less visible. No form of workplace bullying and harassment is acceptable. Employers and managers have a responsibility to provide employees with a safe workplace free from bullying and harassment. Failure to do so is liable to cause disruption to an employer’s business, reduce employee morale, and expose the employer to significant legal risk. In this free webinar, Matthews Folbigg Lawyers’ Senior Associate Peter Doughman will explain:
Proudly supported by Matthews Folbigg Lawyers |
Light At The End Of The Tunnel - The Key Economic Trends For 2021 Thursday 18th March 2021, 11.00am to 12.00pm AEDT After a year of severe global economic contraction, is there finally light at the end of the tunnel? Macquarie Wealth's Division Director Martin Lakos is back to share his insights on the global and national economic trends expected to impact business in 2021. Known for his ability to clearly explain complex economic issues and market trends, Martin will provide a big picture global view and then drill down to Australia with an emphasis on the recovery, business and consumer activity and housing. Martin will also discuss opportunities from emerging themes. With a financial career spanning more than 40 years, Martin’s understanding of a broad spectrum of issues from big picture macroeconomics and current trends, to interest rates, investor strategy and what’s happening in key global markets, places him in very high demand. WSBC, in collaboration with Macquarie Bank, are delighted to present this exciting opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s leading economic commentators. Proudly supported by Macquarie Bank |
Proven Strategies To Generate New Business From Google Search Wednesday 24th February 2021, 9.00am to 11.00am AEDT In today’s digital world you are who Google says you are; and being visible on the most popular search engine on the planet is an essential part of doing business in 2021. Google search offers incredible opportunities for all sizes and types of organisations, giving them the ability to reach untapped markets and generate new business locally, nationally and globally. Done right, Search Engine Optimisation or SEO will significantly increase your visibility on Google search and therefore deliver opportunities to your door every day of the week. However, many businesses find that despite investing in SEO their bottom line is not seeing the returns. This webinar is for business owners and leaders who want to get reliable results and return on investment from SEO. Delegates will learn the fundamentals of Google search at a big picture level, what’s possible and what’s not, what SEO activity will deliver reliable, sustained growth and how to create a strategic and effective plan to tackle your Google visibility. Proudly supported by Brilliant Digital |
State Government Opportunities for Local Businesses Thursday 18th February 2021, 10.00am to 11.00am AEDT In 2020, over 250 businesses heard from three Western Sydney councils on local tendering opportunities. We now turn our attention to one of the state’s largest procurers – the NSW Government. Spending over $30 billion each year on goods, services and infrastructure, the NSW Government is actively encouraging a diverse range of suppliers to apply for Government work. What opportunities are available now and in the near future and how can local SMEs take advantage of them? In collaboration with the Western Sydney Procurement Steering Committee, WSBC is delighted to be joined by NSW Procurement, who will provide:
Proudly supported by the Western Sydney Procurement Steering Committee |