News

Thinking back to when the words 'contact tracing' and 'lockdown' were not part of our everyday language, those little pixelated squares called QR codes could be seen on product labels, but were by and large ignorable. Fast-forward to 2021 and governments are mandating we use our smartphones to scan them, sharing our personal details at every venue we enter and...

After all the news stories of late, do women really do support other women in the so-called 'Canberra bubble'? A contingent of around 150 Canberran business women, who were very much in need of some inspiration, attended a recent International Women's Day breakfast with former Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The event was hosted by Business Chicks, an organisation aiming to...

Beyond the masks and tests, it has been a challenging 12 months for those on the front line of health, and while there has been a lot of praise and support for hospital workers, medical practice owners have also been doing it tough. Usually owned and run by the general practitioners who work in them, general practices have been hit...

More support for innovative thinking, greater certainty for industry and community and the encouragement of diverse housing choices are top of mind for the new head of the ACT Property Council, Arabella Rohde. With more than 20 years experience in the property and construction sector, Ms Rohde, Senior Development Manager at Lendlease Development, is the first woman to be elected...

Protected from eviction since April 2020, thanks to a code of conduct implemented in response to the impact of COVID-19, commercial and retail tenants are now expected to honour their full leasing obligations. Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers partner Christine Murray says despite the clear end date to the protections, some tenants have been caught out unaware of the changes. “Since the...

Businesses will soon move into the South Jerrabomberra Innovation Precinct, which was named as NSW's third regional jobs hub on Friday, 5 March. The precinct is a joint venture between the NSW Government, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC) and Poplars Developments that will target industries such as defence, space, cybersecurity, information technology and scientific research sectors. More than 1200 new homes...

After a decade of service that included the digital transformation of banking, Neale Guthrie has stepped down from his role as chair of the Canberra Community Bank Group. The Community Bank group, which operates the Bendigo Bank branches in Calwell, Curtin, Jerrabomberra and Wanniassa, offers access to Bendigo's award-winning banking and financial services. Their vision is to make their branches...

Businesses in Green Square, Kingston, are bouncing back as shoppers and specialty stores return the precinct to its former glory. Long-term retailers such as Stephanie's Boutique Lingerie, Joe's Boots, and Honeysuckle and Lace have ridden the ebbs and flows, but a new wave of businesses are helping the area boom again when just 12 months ago some were facing going...

Admiring the Andes Mountains in Chile while jogging, Mick Fritschy’s foot slipped down a pothole, breaking his ankle. Later recovering on a couch, his mind turned to renting caravans, sowing the seed of a greater adventure that would ultimately make the world a better place. That adventure began later at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, where world-class start-ups...

According to the Canberra Business Chamber, Canberra businesses impacted by the COVID-19 economic downturn were still in need of support from the ACT Government. Canberra Business Chamber CEO Graham Catt said the Budget could have done more for businesses hit hard by COVID-19 to help them recover. ''Now we’re in a recovery phase we need a focus on initiatives that...

The ACT faces a long period deep in the red despite the ACT Government's delayed Budget for 2020-21 showing a better than expected bottom line but big deficits, albeit reducing, stretching out to 2023-24. While the 2020-21 deficit is $300 million less than the nearly billion dollars forecast in the August update, at $603 million, deficits will persist over the...

In this century, it's difficult to understand why epilepsy still carries a stigma, and why those people who have the condition feel they need to hide it from others. Many famous and talented people throughout the ages have had epilepsy: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Charles V, Joan of Arc, poet Lord Byron, artist Vincent van Gogh, the artist formerly...

Viva Leisure, Canberra’s health club success story, is continuing its national expansion, acquiring six Victorian health clubs for more than $6 million. The latest move will add a minimum of 6,500 members and strengthen Viva Leisure’s presence in Victoria from eight to 14 locations. Viva Leisure’s Chief Executive and Managing Director Harry Konstantinou said acquiring Pinnacle health clubs continues to...

On 7 January, 2021, at Parliament House, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that COVID-19 vaccinations will begin rolling out in Australia as early as next month, with health and aged-care workers to be among the first in line to receive the jab. The Federal Government previously mandated flu vaccines for all aged-care workers and visitors to aged-care facilities in Australia...

Conflict Resolution Service (CRS) has been providing dispute resolution services to the Canberra community for more than 30 years and continues to ensure its staff are qualified and accredited by the Mediator Standards Board in family dispute resolution. CRS chief executive officer Melissa Haley says knowing your mediator is qualified before beginning the mediation process is crucial. "If you find...

Ethitrade International founder and managing director Zoe Piper competed against nine other startups in Canberra to win the 2020 Canberra Innovation Network Innovation Showcase. Competing pitches for the showcase flew thick and fast, but Zoe’s was a standout for the approach that her startup has taken, to empower microbusinesses in emerging markets and provide reputable information to consumers about where...