Business Merri-bek

01/09/2026

🛍️ Local businesses are open for business.

As Yarra Trams delivers important upgrades to the Brunswick Tram Depot, some roads and transport routes will temporarily change. However, businesses across Brunswick and Coburg are still open and accessible.

Whether you're picking up groceries, enjoying a meal, or browsing local shops, every visit makes a difference.

❤️ Continue supporting the traders who help make our neighbourhoods unique and vibrant.

Allow extra travel time, follow local detours, and keep shopping local during these essential works.

More information visit: https://transport.vic.gov.au/brunswickdepot

Image description: A lady smiling and leaning over a counter. Text reads, Open for business as usual.

26/08/2026

💛 A small detour can make a big difference

Over the coming weeks essential tram infrastructure works around Moreland Road, Sydney Road and Cameron Street may change the way you travel through the area. But one thing hasn't changed: your favourite local businesses are still open.

From cafés and restaurants to retailers and services, local traders continue to welcome customers throughout this construction period. So please make a small detour to shop local and support a local business.

Tram upgrade works are being managed by @‌yarratrams.

For road closures, detours and travel information, visit: https://transport.vic.gov.au/news-and-resources/projects/brunswick-tram-depot-upgrade

Image description: Image 1: A local business owner wearing an apron and smiling. Text reads, Take a small detour to your favourite local business.

11/08/2026

Discover how generative AI can help your business make smarter decisions, better understand your customers, refine products and marketing, and uncover growth opportunities.

Final spots available for tomorrow's workshop on "Practical use of generative AI for business: Customer insight, strategy and growth". 10am-12pm at Coburg Civic Centre. Presented by Dr Rob Leach from OCNUS Consulting.

Register now at: https://events.humanitix.com/practical-use-of-generative-ai-for-business-customer-insight-strategy-and-growth

Darebin City Council Merri-bek City Council

05/08/2026

Register for final seats to Darebin x Merri-bek free Business Skills workshops, the go to development program for 2026:

🔎 Next Wednesday 12 August – Practical use of generative AI for business: Customer insight, strategy and growth. Presented by Dr Rob Leach from OCNUS Consulting.
✨Wednesday 16 September - Define your value. Shape your offers. Win more customers. Presented by Nikki Cali from Wisdome - The Expert's Platform

We’re packing more in! This practical series, delivered by top local experts focuses on current local business challenges and topics of interest. Each session, businesses will now also be able to collectively solve blockages and connect with over 200 local business owners throughout the series. Register now at:
https://collections.humanitix.com/2026-darebin-x-merribek-business-skills-workshops

Darebin City Council Merri-bek City Council

27/07/2026

Branding is more than just a logo and design. It’s the strategy, story and creative thinking behind how your business is seen, remembered and chosen...repeatedly.

Final spots available for this Wednesday, 10am-12pm at Balam Balam, to "Brand, positioning, marketing and AI for small business. Presented by Cesar Rodigues from Craate Creative

Register now at: https://events.humanitix.com/brand-positioning-marketing-and-ai-for-small-business

Darebin City Council Merri-bek City Council

14/07/2026

Make the 2026 Darebin x Merri-bek free Business Skills workshops your go-to development program for 2026! The first two workshops:

🎯 Next Wednesday 22 July – Why your business feels stuck and what to do about it. Presented by Fiona Killackey from
®️™ Wednesday 29 July - Brand, positioning, marketing and AI for small business. Presented by Cesar Rodigues from

We’re packing more in! This practical series, delivered by top local experts focuses on current local business challenges and topics of interest. Each session, businesses will now also be able to collectively solve blockages and connect with over 200 local business owners throughout the series.

Register now at: https://collections.humanitix.com/2026-darebin-x-merribek-business-skills-workshops

il

01/07/2026

The Business Victoria Business Skills Mentoring program will provide up to 1,000 eligible small business owners with 3 one-hour mentoring sessions to be used within 3 months.

The program is for small business owners in 7 priority sectors:

- Advanced manufacturing
- Health technologies and medical research
- Circular economy
- Digital technologies
- Agribusiness
- Regional tourism; and
- Distilleries.

Before submitting an Expression of interest, please read all the information on the below link, including the program guidelines.

Expressions of Interest (EOI) will close 5pm Monday 31 August, or earlier if places are filled.

The Business Skills Mentoring program will provide up to 1,000 Victorian small business owners with 3 free one-hour mentoring sessions, to help them navigate challenges and grow their business.

24/06/2026

Brunswick Design District is a creative precinct supporting businesses, start-ups, designers, artists, makers, musicians, venues, and world-class education - supported by a partnership including Merri-bek City Council, RMIT University and Creative Victoria.

As part of this year’s Melbourne Design Week, the precinct hosted ‘Open Studios: Design Behind Closed Doors’ - inviting visitors into 12 local studios normally closed to the public.

Hear what the studios had to say about the event and what it means to be part of the Brunswick creative community. 💖

Learn more about Brunswick Design District and meet the makers behind some of Brunswick’s most loved creative studios: https://bdd.org.au/

Video description: video footage showing various studios and creative spaces around Brunswick, events at the spaces and interviews.

09/06/2026

Ready to make your business reduce waste, save on operating costs, improve efficiency, and respond to growing customer expectations around sustainability?

Register for our 2026 Business Skills Workshop, “Environmental Sustainability for Businesses” held on Thursday 18 June from 10–11.30am at Merri-bek City Council.

This workshop will cover:
🌏 Understanding why environmental sustainability matters for business resilience and success
💬 Exploring current sustainability strategies and expectations
🏆 Case studies from leading local small and medium businesses
🧩 Small group brainstorming session to explore practical sustainable solutions for your business
✨ Inspiring wrap-up with Q&A, take-home insights, and next steps

Facilitator: Martha Palacio is an Industrial Engineer with an MBA and studies in Sustainable Living. She has expertise in sustainability, circular economy, waste reduction, and carbon footprint measurement, with experience across manufacturing, logistics, agribusiness, business development, regulatory compliance, and software.

Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/environmental-sustainability-for-businesses

01/06/2026

A true leader in the making — Congratulations to Women in Leadership Program graduate Maddy Schuch from Centorrino Technologies - CT in Coburg.

In just two years, Maddy has grown her team from 3 to 23 people while also building and empowering a new layer of middle managers to support the wider team’s continued growth.
Maddy is quick-thinking, genuinely invested in the people she leads and deeply committed to “staying open to challenges, welcoming discomfort, embracing silence and leading with authenticity, discernment, passion, presence and vulnerability.”

Reflecting on her leadership journey, Maddy shared:
“Going forward, I will measure my success not by how needed I feel, but by how empowered my people feel when I am not in the room.”

Please join us in congratulating Maddy on this incredible achievement. We see a bright future ahead for both Maddy and the people fortunate enough to work alongside her.

A big thank you to NorthLink and Leadership Victoria for facilitating the program.

If you know a woman in leadership who would benefit from this opportunity (or if that person is you), please email your name, Merri-bek business name and contact number to [email protected]