We were so pleased to celebrate the achievements of all of our finalists at the 2023 Hobsons Bay Business Excellence Awards and see the level of excitement and gratitude as we heard from our winners.  Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who cheered our finalists on along the way - it was a very special night indeed! 

Congratulations to all of our winners:

Excellence in Customer Experience
Renew Hair Salon 

Creating Social Change and Diversity
TreeHaus Williamstown

Excellence in Sustainability and Circular Economy
Gedlec Energy Pty Ltd

New / Start-up Business
Oculus Dexter Optometry Pty Ltd  

Home Based Business
A Focused Birth

Excellence in Innovation
Treehab Tiny Houses Pty Ltd

Mayoral Award - Service to the Community
Assist Ability Australia Vic Pty Ltd


Come together for our Business Networking series to promote your business and share ideas, while meeting business professionals from a range of different industries.  

Next event: 
Tuesday 14 November 2023 | 10am to 11am

Climb West
193 Maidstone Street, Altona 3018


Cherry Bamboo's CX Fundamentals workshop is a fast-pace 2-hour session that will have you up on your feet and dialing up your problem-solving skills with your customer in mind.  We'll review actual customer pain points and collaborate in finding solutions.

Thursday 21 November 2023 | 10am to 12pm 

Hobsons Bay City Council
115 Civic Parade, Altona 3018

Register below for workshops to support your preparation for community projects, and the submission of Council and other grant applications in 2024.  

Project planning and design workshop
Still forming an idea or project? Come along to an interactive workshop with facilitator Debby Maziarz, full of simple tools and principles to help you define a project, including its scope and desired outcomes in preparation for approaching funding bodies and partners. 

Thursday 23 November 2023 from 6pm to 8pm 
Altona Civic Centre
115 Civic Parade, Altona 



Grant writing workshop 
Join expert grant writer Debby Maziarz online via Zoom to learn how to get the most out of your grant applications and have a greater chance of success.  This fun and hands-on workshop will focus on transforming your 'ideas' into fundable concepts and will walk you step-by-step through the grant writing process. 

Tuesday 28 November 2023 from 6pm to 8.30pm 
Online via zoom 

We are now planning for the 2024 events calendar and would love your feedback to help us build the schedule. Do you have ideas on new formats? Which workshop topics do you want us to cover? Do you have thoughts on future networking events?

Complete the survey to tell us more!

Are you interested in supporting and growing the local visitor economy?  Council is seeking your input to help draft an updated Experience Hobsons Bay Tourism Strategy. 

The draft Economic Development Strategy 2023 - 2028 is also out for consultation.  Please read the strategy and provide your feedback today.

Consultations close Sunday 12 November. 

Complete the Tourism Strategy survey 

Complete the draft Economic Development Strategy Survey

Beyond Blue's NewAccess for Small Business Owners (NASBO) is a guided self-help mental health coaching program. 

It's free, confidential and convenient.  Available nationally by phone or video call, no GP referral is required. 


Are you thinking about hiring staff to cover the busy holiday period?  Here are five tips to help make your hiring process go smoothly. 

1. Understand the steps to hiring an employee
2. Decide on the employment type 
3. Start the hiring process early
4. Advertise your value
5. Create an employment contract 


New food safety standards will come into effect Friday 8 December 2023 with updated training requirements that impact most Victorian food businesses. 


Nominations are now open for the Hobsons Bay Citizen of the Year awards!   

The awards celebrate the outstanding contributions or achievements individuals make to the Hobsons Bay community.  

If you know someone in our business community who makes a notable contribution to improve our city, show them you value their work and nominate them today.

Nominations close Sunday 12 November 2023.


Click on the links to find out more: 
The Partners in Wellbeing Helpline is a free, confidential service offering small business owners and their employees one-on-one access to trained wellbeing coaches, financial counsellors and business advisors. Call the Partners in Wellbeing Helpline on 1300 375 330 for assistance between 9am to 10pm on weekdays and 9am to 5pm on weekends. A live chat function is also available on the website. 

For a list of other resources available visit the Mental Health in Business webpage.