Rachel Payne MP asked the Minister for Small Business if the government will commit to continued funding for the Partners in Wellbeing program. Partners in Wellbeing is an initiative which has been supporting small businesses since the pandemic but is set to cease in 2025.
Wednesday the 30th of October, 2024
Victorian Legislative Council
RACHEL PAYNE (South-Eastern Metropolitan): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Small Business. I am blessed to have my electorate office next door to the beautiful beaches of Chelsea, surrounded by many fantastic local businesses.
But often when you walk down these high streets you are struck by the number of shops with reduced hours or just not even opening at all. This is the reality for many small businesses in my region, who are dealing with a barrage of increased costs.
At a time like this, small businesses need as much support as we can give them so that they can not only survive but thrive. Partners in Wellbeing is a specialist small-business program that offers this kind of support. The program has helped over 5000 small businesses through free, confidential, one-on-one financial, business and wellbeing support. Originally started as a pandemic initiative, this program became an invaluable source of support for the small business community, particularly as the cost of living began to bite and the number of insolvencies in Victoria jumped 29 per cent in 2023.
It is at a time like this that the wraparound services offered by Partners in Wellbeing are so essential to ensuring that the over 600,000 small businesses in Victoria have access to support when and where it is needed, yet the Victorian government has severely reduced funding for this service and significantly reduced the number of businesses that are able to access it.
As a result, it is expected that without government intervention Partners in Wellbeing will have to cease operating altogether in the coming months. After this government reduced funding there was an 81 per cent increase in calls to the Small Business Debt Helpline. The closure of this program would have an even greater impact. There is a clear demand for services that is simply not over yet.
So I ask: will the minister advocate for funding for Partners in Wellbeing and its restoration as a statewide program so all Victorian businesses can access this important service?
Response Received, 27th of November:
I would like to thank the Member for South-Eastern Metropolitan Region for her question.
The Partners in Wellbeing program was launched in July 2020 to assist businesses in navigating complex and compounding challenges of the COVID-19 global pandemic. With the program’s focus on supporting businesses through periods of significant disruption, Partners in Wellbeing was extended until 30 June 2025 to assist impacted businesses in their recovery from the flooding events in October 2022.
The Partners in Wellbeing helpline has been successfully delivered positive outcomes for small businesses, their employees and the broader Victorian community during and after these difficult events. I have asked my Department to continue to explore opportunities and alignment with other government mental health programs, to support small business wellbeing across Victoria.
There is a range of Small Business support services listed and available through the Victorian Government’s Business Victoria website to support workplace wellbeing. The Business Victoria website also provides access to a range of free resources – including guides, tools and templates – to support business operations and help businesses facing challenging circumstances.
Thank you again for your ongoing support of Victorian small businesses.
The Hon. Natalie Suleyman MP
Minister for Small Business
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