To our Maribyrnong Business Community, 

In this month's edition, we share information about the next Women in Business Networking Event in May. We also share information about grant opportunities for manufacturers in our Community.

A new initiative from the Victorian Government which will give more employees access to sick leave and carer's leave. Read below to see if casual staff in your industry are eligible.

This month's featured Education Module on Maribyrnong Localised is 'Describing Your Business'.  It's a basic task which we need to do all the time, but this lesson will help you give a business description that will leave an impression.

With Easter just around the corner we share information about restrictions of trade on Good Friday and ANZAC Day. 

There's lots to get through in this month's edition, but if you have any comments, queries or suggestions email business@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Best Wishes and Happy Easter
Economic Development Team, Maribyrnong City Council

The next Women in Business Networking Lunch is almost here!

If you're looking for new local business contacts or just fancy a chat over wine with new people, the Women in Business Networking Lunch is the lunch for you! 

Hosted by local entrepreneur Jules Brooke from She's The Boss, this networking opportunity will allow participants to mingle in a laid back manner, with no forced agenda or pressure, 

Whether you're a seasoned networker or new to the game, this event will help you build business opportunities and contacts with other local business women in the community. Get your business out there and grow your network! 

Find out more and book your ticket now

Connect with on-line, on-demand learning on the 'Educate' section of the Maribyrnong Localised platform

This new module has on-demand lessons targeted at some of our business community's most common pain points.  The short, sharp lessons gives business operators the opportunity to up-skill or learn new techniques. Your host and mentor guiding you through the lessons is local marketing expert Ailsa Page from AP Marketing Works.

There are a range of topics available to explore and this month's feature learning module is:

Describing Your Business
Describing Your Business

You must be a registered user on Maribyrnong Localised in order to access these FREE training webinars.  It is free to register, and by adding your business to the directory you'll help increase your exposure and improve your digital presence.

What are you waiting for? Sign up now

We are exploring a move to a more dynamic, contemporary model of festival and event support. 
Maribyrnong has built its reputation as a 'Festival City' with a number of well-attended and well-received events on the annual calendar - such as Yarraville Festival, Lunar New Year events, Eat Drink Westside, New Year’s Eve Fireworks, St Jerome’s Laneway Festival, and many more.

Our Festival City Program is guided by the Festival City Policy, which sets out the framework to attract, host, and support festivals for the benefit of residents, businesses, and cultural tourists.

While the current Policy has served our City well supporting a strong and vibrant festivals program, the landscape around festivals and events has changed significantly, particularly over the past two years during the pandemic.

With this in mind, we are aiming to broaden the current framework policy and we would love to hear your thoughts about this new approach. 

Take the survey now

The $60 million Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program is still open, offering customers the opportunity to claim 25 per cent on purchases at dining and entertainment venues across Victoria, between Monday and Thursday each week.

All your business needs to do to take part is provide customers with an itemised receipt that includes your ABN.

The customer then uploads their receipt and contact information and the 25 per cent rebate is credited to their nominated bank account within five business days.

Full details at the State Government website.

The Medtech Manufacturing Capability Program will assist Victorian manufacturers and medical technology businesses to build capability and capacity by supporting new manufacturing projects and scale-up activities. The program aims to increase the size and value of Victoria’s medtech manufacturing sector and strengthen long term global competitiveness.

A Project proposed for grant funding must be to develop a manufactured medtech product or for the development of value chain inputs for a manufactured medtech product where the product:

  • is or will be for the duration of the project wholly or partially manufactured in Victoria
    and
  • is a medical device, the purpose of which is to diagnose, prevent, monitor, treat or alleviate a disease or injury, or modify or monitor anatomy or physiological functions of the body, or are intended to be used in a healthcare environment including medical equipment, scientific instrumentation and consumables or medical disposables or
  • an enabling medtech product or device using assistive, additive manufacturing or 3D printing technologies
  • is relatively advanced in development, that is at least at proof-of-concept stage  
  • has been verified with research and development or other pre-clinical studies.
View the guidelines and application form now 

Under Victorian law there are 2.5 restricted trading days each year:

·       Good Friday

·       Christmas Day

·       Anzac Day between 12:01am and 1:00pm

On these days, only exempt businesses and shops are permitted to open. 

With Good Friday and ANZAC Day approaching, you can check if your business is exempt from restricted trading. 


Council Offices will be closed on Good Friday, 15 April and Easter Monday, 18 April. Normal Council trading hours will resume on Tuesday 19 April.

The Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee provides casual and contract workers with a guarantee they will receive sick pay when they need to take time off when they are sick or need to care for loved ones. Because no worker should have to choose between a day’s pay and their health – and the health of a loved one.

Victoria is the first state to provide 5 days a year of sick and carer's pay at the national minimum wage for casual and contract workers in certain occupations.

Check if your occupation is eligible