Surf Coast Business Collective

29/09/2026

Hiring for the season? Don't miss this one. 👋

The Hospitality & Tourism Jobs Expo is coming to Geelong on Monday 12 October, and tourism and hospitality employers across Greater Geelong, The Bellarine and the Great Ocean Road region are invited to exhibit.

It's a chance to meet motivated jobseekers face to face, and to:
✅ Showcase your business, culture and career opportunities
✅ Promote current vacancies and future pathways
✅ Chat with candidates in person and see if they're the right fit
✅ Run short interviews on the day and spot potential hires straight away

📅 Monday 12 October, 10am to 3pm (includes set-up and pack-down)
📍 The Gordon, Geelong City Campus (corner Latrobe Terrace and Gordon Ave)
⏰ RSVP by this Friday 2 October

Delivered by Workforce Australia Local Jobs (Barwon) with Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine, The Gordon TAFE and Skilling the Bay.

To register your interest, search "Hospitality & Tourism Jobs Expo 2026" on Humanitix, or head to events.humanitix.com/hospitality-and-tourism-jobs-expo-2026

28/09/2026

From a Torquay garage to a global surf brand 🏄‍♂️

In March 1969, two mates — Doug "Claw" Warbrick and Brian "Sing Ding" Singer — crossed paths on Gilbert Street, Torquay. Claw had just wrapped up a shaping job, Brian was teaching science. As the story goes, Claw floated the idea of making surfboards together — and within days, Brian had handed in his resignation.

They started shaping boards out of a garage on the Great Ocean Road, chasing the winter swell at Bells Beach. By November that year, they'd outgrown it and moved into the old Torquay Bakery on Boston Road — $10 a week got them a proper workshop and production jumped to 12 boards a week.

A local surfer, Alan Green, joined the team soon after, and by December 1969 they'd started making wetsuits too — adapting diving technology to handle Victoria's cold water. That pivot became the foundation of one of the biggest surf brands in the world.

More than 55 years on, Rip Curl is still headquartered in Torquay — and every year, the world's best surfers descend on nearby Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, the longest-running event in professional surfing. Fittingly, a lot of the buzz still centres right back here: team signings, live screenings and Q&As all happen at the flagship store and HQ during event week.

Next time you're walking past their store — that's where it all began. 🌊

22/09/2026

Some stats worth knowing about the place we all do business in:

🏄 2.6 million visitors come to the Surf Coast every year
💰 $593 million+ in visitor spend annually
☀️ 75%+ of summer expenditure comes from visitors
👥 12,500+ local jobs, with 2,151 more needed by 2031
🏡 42% of residents both live and work locally
📈 Population sitting around 39,928 and growing

Behind every one of these numbers is a local business playing its part — the café serving the morning rush, the tradie booked out through summer, the shop that visitors stumble into and locals swear by.

This is the community we're proud to support. 🌊

Source: Surf Coast Shire Council Plan 2025–2029

20/09/2026

Employment Assistance Fund (EAF): Supporting Inclusive Small Businesses.

The Employment Assistance Fund (EAF) helps remove barriers to employment by providing financial assistance for workplace modifications and support services for eligible people with disability and their employers. It's administered through JobAccess, the Australian Government's disability employment service.

For small businesses, the EAF can help cover the cost of practical workplace adjustments that enable employees with disability to perform their roles effectively. This may include specialised equipment, workplace modifications, Auslan interpreting services, adaptive technology, or other supports that create a more accessible workplace.

By reducing the costs of workplace adjustments, the EAF makes it easier for small businesses to attract and retain skilled employees, build a diverse workforce, and create a more inclusive workplace culture. It gives employers confidence that support is available, allowing them to focus on finding the right person for the job rather than worrying about the cost of accommodations.

👉 Learn more: jobaccess.gov.au
📞 Or call 1800 464 800

17/09/2026

Did you know we have an online map showing works happening near you? 🗺️

Our interactive map tracks road works, projects, and parks/open space works across five regions of the shire:

📍 Torquay and Jan Juc
📍 Winchelsea and Moriac
📍 Lorne and Deans Marsh
📍 Anglesea
📍 Aireys Inlet

We keep it updated as new information comes in — so whether you live there, work there, visit often, or just drive through, you can stay in the loop on what's happening where.

We'll also add works by other agencies when we have the details, with a link through to the right place for updates.

🔗 Find the map on our Your Say page:

Find out about the road upgrades and works happening in your town with this interactive map.

17/09/2026

🌱 Sustainability in the AI Era — Melbourne Breakfast Panel

Curious how AI can help your business cut waste, save time and keep up with sustainability expectations? Join experts from accounting, marketing, tech and government for a practical breakfast panel covering AI, Scope 3, greenwashing and more — plus time to connect with other SME leaders.

📅 Fri 2 Oct, 8–10am
📍 Deakin Downtown, Melbourne
☕ Free to attend, breakfast included

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/how-ai-helps-small-businesses-cut-waste-lift-efficiency-lower-cost-tickets-1999228134167

08/09/2026

The Surf Coast is growing — and so is the opportunity. 📈
2,151 additional jobs are needed by 2031. That's a lot of room for local businesses to grow into.
Here's the economy in numbers — and why now's a good time to be part of it.

03/09/2026

The Turning Point: recap 🎬

Huge thanks to everyone who came along to The Turning Point: Finding your path to growth! We loved seeing the group get stuck in — the energy and engagement in the room made for a great session, and we hope you all walked away with a clearer path forward (turning point achieved 😉).

A reminder that Better Business Skills workshops are subsidised by Council, so sessions like this come at little to no cost to you — just a great excuse to invest in your business.

Want the full rundown on this workshop? Head here 👉www.surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/Businesses/Better-Business-Skills-Workshops-Events

Stay connected for what’s coming up next — more workshops, more growth, more Surf Coast business community. Stay tuned 🌊

03/09/2026

What actually is the Business Concierge? 🤔
If you've seen the name and wondered what it means for you - here's the short version.
It's your first point of contact at Council if you're starting a business for the first time, or you’re thinking about
expanding your business. Figuring out what you need to do and who to talk to (and in what order) can get complicated fast. That's exactly what this service is designed to untangle.

They'll help you:

✅ Work out which permits you need

✅ Connect with the right people across Council

✅ Understand what grants or support might apply

✅ Link up with local business networks

If your proposal needs several permits, they’ll seek advice for you from our subject matter experts, making
it easier to navigate Council. You'll walk away with a written summary of advice, and next steps.
It's free, it's local, and it's designed to save you time (and money) before you even get started.

📞 Call 5261 0600, or link in our bio
to submit your business proposal.

31/08/2026

Small Business Day in Winchelsea! 🚐 Wednesday 9 September, the Business Collective team is rolling into town to connect with
local business owners.

Three free ways to get support on the day:
📍 Social Media & Content
Marketing Workshop - Shire Hall, 9.30 am–12.30 pm.

📍 Small Business Bus – Shire Hall carpark, 10 am–4 pm. Book a free 45-minute session with a Business mentor.

📍Business collective team – Drop in to talk with Council’s Business Support officers about how Council can help you – Shire Hall, 8.30 am – 9.30 am.

Whether you're after a fresh set of eyes on your content strategy or one-on-one advice on where to take your business next, this is a great chance to get practical support, right in Winchelsea.

Spots are limited — head to our Business page → Better Business Skills to register.