ISSUE 13 July - September 2022
KRIEGER INDUSTRIES Manufacturing for Aussie Troops
THE RISE OF NFTS New tech shaking up the region
PRONOUNS AT WORK Opening up the conversation about gender inclusion
TALK OF THE TOWN LEADERS AT NURTURING SKILLED TALENT YOUR FREE NORTH QUEENSLAND BUSINESS MAGAZINE
E x p e r i e n c e Yo u C a n Tr u s t
Managed IT Services App Development Website Development
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CONTENTS
18 20 04 NATIONAL
INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY YOUR LOCAL TEAM Supporting innovation, business growth and education top priority for nbnTM local
06 OPENING UP THE
CONVERSATION ON PRONOUNS The use of pronouns in the workplace
08 MOVERS, SHAKERS & CHANGE MAKERS
Updates from the local business community
09 C'EST LA VIE Marketing cultural events in North Queensland
10 GLOW UP
Leveraging brand aesthetics to grow your business
12 THE RIGHT
INGREDIENTS FOR REAL SUCCESS Ray White Townsville shares their secret to a rewarding career and lifestyle
13 SOCIAL FEATURE
14 WORKING TOWARDS GOALS
Establishing that work/life balance with confidence
15 FAMILY COMES FIRST From humble beginnings to founder of NQ Family Therapy Centre
16 TALKING UP 10 YEARS
TalkHQ celebrate one decade in business
18 FIVE STAR
EXPERIENCE Introducing Townsville’s first burlesque club
20 CREATING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGIONAL GROWTH Townsville City Council helping businesses realise their potential
22 NEW FOR
TOWNSVILLE Everything you need to know about NFTs
24 BEING BETTER IN BUSINESS
PVW Partners share the attributes of successful business owners
30 26 CLOSING THE LOOP ON SOLAR PANEL RECYCLING
NQ soon to become home to a worldleading solar recycling and material recovery plant
28 PLANNING FOR CONFLICT
The benefits of planning and approaching conflict collaboratively
30 RIDING FOR THE KIDS
Meet the business owners participating in this year’s Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride
32 CREATIVITY, ACTION SERVICE
The International Baccalaureate creating education for a better world
34 MANUFACTURING
FOR AUSSIE TROOPS Krieger Industries creating fit for purpose tactical gear
36 GUEST ARTICLE Making 2023 your best financial year yet
BDMAG ABN 77 899 099 507 M. 0415 908 896 www.bdmag.com.au EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES E. info@bdmag.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Kate Banville, Georgie Desailly, Julie Johnston, Elisabeth Silvester, Sian Yewdall FRONT COVER TalkHQ Co-owner Jenna Mottin & Ellis Crisp, Photography by Sonia Warrell, Hello Muse Photography BDMAG PHOTOGRAPHERS Sonia Warrell, Hello Muse Photography; Phil Copp, Phil Copp Photography DESIGN & PRINT NPS Print Co. We acknowledge the Bindal and Wulgurukaba peoples as Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate and pay respect to Elders past, present and future. BDmag is committed to providing a media platform that is diverse and inclusive. All contents of BDmag are subject to copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission from the publisher. The views and opinions of the authors and advertisers do not nessecarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of print, the publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for any errors, omissions or subsequence including loss or damages from reliance on information in this publication. BDmag is printed on FSC certified, sustainably sourced paper.
LETTER FROM THE
EDITOR Who would have ever guessed a business magazine would feature a puppet on the front cover? Building a successful business is far from child’s play, and this issue’s cover stars, Talk HQ, are celebrating a decade of delivering speech therapy services throughout North Queensland. Hailing from Ayr, the three co-owners share a passion for ensuring regional towns have access to quality health services and providing a strong organisation culture to attract and retain talented staff. Their continued growth is proof of their commitment of working on the business, not just in it, and their willingness to share their knowledge with others has led to their new franchise offering to enable others to duplicate their systems to grow a successful speech pathology business.
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Theirs is just one of many inspiring stories you’ll read in this issue – the depth of talent and innovation in North Queensland certainly gives us plenty to write about. We’re also inviting you to open up the conversation on pronouns in your workplace. The article comes after much robust discussion and the realisation that a large percentage of business leaders are of the generation that may not yet have had the opportunity to gain insight into why the widespread usage of pronouns and creating a gender inclusive workplace has the potential to allow everyone to feel comfortable and have the ability to express their true selves. I’d also like to give a warm welcome to our new staff members, Meghan Boland and Luke Lum. I know they will be instrumental in helping us achieve our next growth phase, particularly online, and we look forward to continuing to improve our product offering to benefit our advertisers, audience and the business community.
5 Minutes With Do you or someone you know want to be featured in our online 5 Minutes With section? Head on over to our website to submit your information.
Events Are you holding a business event? We want to know about it! Head on over to our website to view our contributor guidelines. Proudly sponsored by
EDITOR & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
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NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORTED BY YOUR NBN LOCAL TEAM The days of listening to your computer dial up to the internet are now just a distant memory. Businesses have evolved and technology has changed; meaning secure, fast and reliable internet connection is more important now than ever before.
we are helping to level the playing field and ensuring that more businesses throughout Australia in more locations can participate in the digital economy on an equal footing, with greater parity on recurring monthly wholesale charges.”
Helping to support innovation, business growth, job creation and education across north-west Queensland is a top priority of nbn™ Local.
Locally, on the ground, the north-west Queensland region is fortunate to have four dedicated nbn™ Local specialists and a team of field engineers working together to raise our digital capability.
Townsville was one of the nation’s first nbn™ pilot sites. Excitingly, the nbn™ multi technology mix has evolved over time. Many Townsville and Ayr businesses that rely on the nbn™ network can now access business-grade fibre product- business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet#via retail service providers based on CBD equivalent wholesale pricing. It is the fastest symmetrical wholesale product available, with a 99.95 per cent network availability uptime target, helping to reduce business downtime. Head of nbn™ Local Queensland Kylie Lindsay said Enterprise Ethernet helps regional businesses access the same digital opportunities as those in major capital cities. “Businesses are increasingly using business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet to support cloud-based business operations, remote file storage, content hosting, unified communications, large file distribution, and to connect head office locations,” Kylie said. “For business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet customers,
Townsville-based Business Lead Stuart McDonald said the team understood the challenges and needs of business, industry and customers because they are involved in their local communities and were passionate about what they do. “We have Casie Scott in Townsville who is the Community Engagement Manager, who is focused on strategy, whilst also working with a wide variety of stakeholders,” Stuart said. “We also have two Community Ambassadors who help individuals and community groups with 101 sessions, scam awareness and connection issues. “I engage directly with businesses, business groups and Information Communication Technology providers to make sure they are making the most of their network connection. “Our job is essentially to help with questions or problems that customers may have and to help them so our Region can thrive.”
For more visit nbn.com.au/business or contact Stuart McDonald at stuartmcdonald@nbnco.com.au
Business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet is only available in the nbn™ Business Fibre Zones, nbn™ Fixed Line network footprint and at limited premises served by the nbn™ Fixed Wireless and Satellite networks. Customer experience, including the speeds actually achieved over the nbn™ network, depends on the configuration over which services are delivered to your premises, whether you are using the service during the busy period, and some factors outside of nbn’s control (like your equipment quality, software, chosen broadband plan or how your provider designs its network). If your service provider has not selected a bandwidth in the highest of three classes of service available for business nbn™ Enterprise Ethernet, the speeds you experience may be affected by contention on the nbn™ network, particularly in busy periods.nbn is a wholesaler and does not control costs charged by service providers. Customers should contact their preferred service provider to ask about availability and any fees and charges from their provider that may be applicable.
*GST EXCLUSIVE
Meet the Press
Thursday 11th August 2022 5:30pm - 7:30pm Mercure Townsville
Gain valuable media insights and build connections with local journalists to help you pitch your next story to the media with success •
Panel discussion with local journalists “What makes a newsworthy story” facilitated by Julie Johnston, BDmag Editor and Creative Concepts PR Director
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Network with local journalists Welcome drink on arrival Canapes
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PAGE 7
Opening Up the
Conver/ sation s n u o n o r ) p ( on
The use of pronouns is becoming more widespread, and something that business leaders could consider adopting in the workplace.
When Maverick, a local advocate for the use of gender pronouns, came out as non-binary, meaning they do not identify as explicitly male or female, Maverick requested the neutral they/them pronouns be utilised when referring to them. “I self-identify as non-binary but leaning quite fluid with my identity,” explains Maverick. “I’ve always felt as though I didn’t fit in to the traditional gender boxes of male or female. When I came out as non-binary and started using they/ them pronouns, it immediately enabled me to express exactly who I am.” Maverick’s workplace was very supportive of the pronoun change, and whilst it initially took time for co-workers to adjust, Maverick says it has since become second nature for many. “My co-workers have been wonderful, and I can’t tell you how much that has positively benefited my mental health and ability to give my all to my work,” continues Maverick, who often wears a badge displaying their preferred pronouns at work. “Imagine if someone was constantly getting your name wrong. They are talking to you, but it’s not really you.
06
By Georgie Desailly
“What many people fail to understand is how harmful misgendering someone can be, particularly in the workplace. We all deserve to be comfortable, especially at work.” As more companies look for ways to make their workplaces more inclusive, pronouns have become a significant focal point, with it no longer unusual to see them listed beside email signatures, social media platforms and appointment bookings. “Sharing gender pronouns often leads to more conversations about gender identity and can help promote greater respect and inclusion in Australian workplaces,” says Katie Spearritt, CEO of consulting agency, Diversity Partners. “For most people, their pronouns may not seem significant. But sharing pronouns can be particularly helpful to people who may identify as trans or are outside of the gender binary, who are often misgendered or questioned. This can lead to exclusion at work.” In partnership with the Pinnacle Foundation, Diversity Partners have recently launched Project Pronoun, an initiative encouraging businesses to incorporate gender pronouns in the workplace and prevent making assumptions about gender.
What are gender pronouns?
Maverick echoes this sentiment and says the best thing employers can do is to keep an open mind and educate their staff on the importance of considering their use of pronouns at work. “It’s important to remember that everybody has pronouns; it isn’t unique to just those in the LGBTIQ+ community,” continues Maverick. “I think there are a lot of people who simply just don’t understand pronouns, and it just comes back to education, being open-minded and having a discussion.
Gender pronouns are the terms people choose to refer to themselves by.
“At the end of the day, it’s simply businesses giving workers the option to put their pronouns at the end of their emails, on name tags and social media bios, or asking upon hiring, what are your pronouns?
These could include he/him, she/her or they/them.
“It’s not about forcing anyone to do anything. It is about opening up the conversation and giving people the option to decide how they want to express themselves in the workplace. “And who wouldn’t want that for their employees?”
“We’re encouraging business leaders to share their gender pronouns in conversations, email signatures, team calls, and social media profiles such as LinkedIn,” continues Katie.
How can you incorporate pronouns in the workplace?
“When more of us start to share pronouns, it normalises it. It means we’re all taking responsibility for more inclusive workplaces. “It also gives an opportunity for business leaders to show their support for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in Australian workplaces.” Katie, who spent her earlier years in Far North Queensland but is now based in Melbourne, says they are seeing more Australian businesses actively taking steps to make their workplaces more gender inclusive. “When we launched the project, we were overwhelmed with positive responses and people sharing that they had immediately updated their LinkedIn profiles,” continues Katie. “While some people may question why, pronouns create an opportunity to start a conversation about the importance of respect for someone’s gender identity. “There’s greater awareness of the importance of not making assumptions about someone’s gender, and of the importance of avoiding binary-gendered language generally.”
•
Invite all staff to add their pronouns to their name badge.
•
Invite people to add their pronouns on video meetings.
•
Add your pronouns to your email signature.
• •
Update company policy.
•
Provide ample opportunity early in the recruitment process for candidates to state their pronoun preference.
Share your pronouns when you introduce yourself in meetings.
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With a PhD in Astrophysics and over 20 years of data science experience, Alan Payne has relocated from Brisbane to Townsville to take the position as Principal Data Scientist at Queensland Country Bank. This newly created position will enable Queensland Country to continue to improve and enhance data management practices and stay abreast of technology advancements to deliver on their service promise to Members.
MITEZ Welcomes New CEO MITEZ, the peak regional development body for Northwest Queensland, has appointed Maria James as their new CEO. Maria joins MITEZ after more than a decade at Port of Townsville and will work together with the MITEZ Board, members and staff, to collectively achieve strong economic growth outcomes for the region from Townsville to Mount Isa.
Small business growth expert and author of Big Little Business, Jayne Arlett, has been appointed Deputy Chancellor JCU.
Local Voice for Small Business
Jayne was first appointed to the JCU Council in 2018 and in her new position will take on a larger governance and strategic role at the university.
Congratulations to Gerard Byrne from Townsville Consulting Services who has been appointed to the Queensland Small Business Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will work with the Minister for Employment and Small Business and the Queensland Government to provide advice and suggest changes to ensure small businesses are supported to start, grow and thrive.
Two new team members have joined BDmag to support the continued strategic growth of the multimedia platform. Meghan Boland brings strong organisational, graphic design and marketing skills to the role of Communications & Digital Marketing Officer, while former radio announcer Luke Lum will create engaging online content in his role as Communications Officer.
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SeaLink has taken delivery of its new 350 passenger vessel for its Magnetic Island service. It is one of five new vessels constructed in Queensland as part of a $23m investment.
By Georgie Desailly Vicki Saylor is a woman who wears many hats: a jazz singer, a guest speaker, an awardwinning actress, an educator, a community connector and a cultural practitioner; the latter of which Vicki has built upon through her marketing and events business, SayLa V. “I’m Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, South Sea Islander and White Australian - I have all the basics covered,” Vicki says. “I love every bit of my heritage, and that’s what’s given me the opportunity to reach lots of people and be involved in various activities throughout my career.” For over thirty years, Vicki has been a cultural liaison officer, working across community, government, private enterprise and now her very own successful business, SayLa V, which was founded with the intention of bringing cultural flavour to events across the North. “I have had the opportunity to manage various high-profile events throughout my career, but I come from a large family, so every gathering was like I was organising a major event" laughs Vicki when recalling her early experience. “As a cultural events specialist, my goal with SayLa V was, and still is, to bring culture into everybody’s event. This could be through catering, the presentation of the event, showcasing performances or artists - the list is endless.”
After a stint down south, Vicki, who is on the Board for the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, Museum of Underwater Arts and the Youth Services Management Committee, returned to Townsville six years ago and identified a niche in the cultural events and marketing space. “There wasn’t that point of real difference that enhanced the beauty of the region and its history,” says Vicki, who decided to dive head-first into the world of business in her early 60s. “It’s really about giving people the opportunity to engage and mix with one another, and what better way to do that than through events. “Any opportunity that we can showcase the good things about our culture and its beauty and history is important and it’s something I feel needs to be emphasised more.” Vicki credits her success in business to the genuine relationships she has built both professionally and personally; something she believes is also the answer to establishing true reconciliation. “You’ve got to seek out genuine relationships and connections,” says Vicki, who is also extremely passionate about working with young people. “It’s not only the key to business success but also, I believe, the answer
to closing the gap. It all comes down to deeper conversations. And how can you do that without genuine relationships?” Vicki certainly has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Instead, she is currently in the process of curating her very own event, the Kai Kai Feàstival, a two-day event that will highlight the fusion of traditional Indigenous cuisine - from Bushtucker to Crayfish Pie - and will take place in Townsville in September. “The festival is about celebrating the good things that came from the bad when Indigenous Australians were displaced. When all the different cultures came together, so did the food and we want to celebrate that rich history,” she says. “I’m working with many like-minded people who want to see positivity come into Townsville, including elders, local schools, council and defence.” Most importantly, Vicki says it’s about bringing people together to learn, celebrate and live. “Like every one of the events I work on, it’s about encouraging people to embrace who you are and not taking one’s cultural background and history for granted,” she says. “As I always say, in business and in life, if you just do you, nobody will be able to stop you.” Photographer: Phil Copp
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w o l GUp
Leveraging brand aesthetics to grow your business By Melissa Moriconi Graphic Designer, NPS Print Co.
Branding can seem an intimidating subject on first approach. An elusive tool wielded and mastered solely by large corporations, the likes of Apple, McDonalds and Nike. The reality is that, if the fundamentals of branding are done thoughtfully, it is an effective and attainable device for growing all business, big to small and with tangible results.
Encompassing a host of strategies such as visuals, messaging, client journeys, and valuefocused operations, measured branding allows businesses to successfully reach and communicate to their ideal customers. Core to the purpose of branding is to bring clarity and continuity to the visual and messaging components of a business identity. Exploring all facets of building a brand is a worthy exercise for businesses to undertake, one which deserves a deep dive that our word count doesn’t allow. So, to break down this subject into a more bite-size morsel, let’s specifically look the visual structure of a brand, that is the way it looks and feels from a client-facing point of view. We will discover why bringing consistency to company aesthetics and carefully considering the health of a brand is more central to business operations than one may initially expect.
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How leveling-up your brand can benefit your business
Developing a cohesive new brand or consolidating visual elements for an existing brand can reap many direct and ancillary benefits for businesses. Here are just some reasons investing into your brand can pay off.
CUSTOMER RECOGNITION Have you ever walked past a sign, seen an advert or social media post and automatically knew what company it was for? This is a perfect example of brand recognition due to steadfast visual representation. Brand recognition is built over time by maintaining consistency across all channels, that means in logos, colours, fonts, brand messaging, and other stylisations. How does this contribute to growing a business? When shopping for a particular product or considering a company to perform a service customers will quickly recollect brands they have seen portrayed clearly and consistently and in turn will be far more likely to choose a brand that they recognise over something unfamiliar.
BUILDING TRUST Trust is built on a sense of knowing a person and feeling they are reliable. In the same way, customer trust is gained by feeling they know a brand and what to expect from a service or product. Building strong visual cues through consistent branding helps customers know what to expect when they see a business represented, helping grow a sense of dependability in that brand which directly translates into business profits. Forbes.com published research stating that consistent brand representation can increase revenue by up to 23%.
ACCURATE REPRESENTATION When attracting ideal customers, a business must think about who those preferred customers are and what values they will have in common. When thoughtfully executed a brand can communicate these values as well as the personality of a business, they provide insight into what kind of experience a customer will be investing into. Giving a clear picture of who you are through your brand can also provide a means of differentiating you from your competitors. This can all be told through visual assets such as imagery, colours and fonts which is why carefully considering these elements is important to all businesses.
READY FOR your
ATTRACT iDEAL TALENT Quality branding is not only about drawing in new customers, but also a way to help attract skilled staff and keep teams motivated by creating a sense of unity and reliability. Having a professional and unified visual front to the business can also help establish a sense of pride with employees making them more emotionally satisfied in their role. Further to that, when a brand’s values are clearly distinguishable through its aesthetics, they are more likely to appeal to people who share the company values. This is the key to developing a longstanding and successful relationship between employer and employee.
Focus on the foundations If you don't know where to start, working with your designer to define your brand’s visual building blocks can have a surprisingly impactful outcome toward making a brand feel refreshed and more professional. Remember consistency is key. Once a set of complementary visual assets are established, documenting them in a brand style guide will ensure that replication and representation of your brand stays true.
LOGO When working on a logo design there are lots of important questions to ask. A few of the most critical things to consider are: "Does it appeal to the target market?"; "Is it easily recognisable?"; "Does it accurately tell the business story?"; and "Is it easily adaptable to all necessary graphical compositions?"
FONTS Selecting a few compatible fonts that work alongside your logo for company documentation and marketing will go far in anchoring your brand's look and feel. Imagine how these fonts will be used in your everyday assets and choose versatile options for heading, graphics and body copy.
WE’RE YOUR FRIEND IN
COLOURS When it comes to first impressions, colour is the initial thing our senses process. Based on that, we subconsciously get a fundamental sense of a brand just by colour alone. Choosing a suite of complementing colours that ties back to your logo gives you options whilst ensuring continuity for your brand.
We love desiging for local business including our friends at BDmag.
IMAGERY Playful or polished? Cutting-edge or traditional? Brand imagery is where the personality of your business can start to shine through. Photography styles and graphical elements that align with your aesthetic and portray your 'tone of voice' gives customers an instant impression that its you.
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Ingredients Th e R i g h t
fo r re a l s u cce ss
Jools Munro enjoys a successful career in real estate and is highly regarded by her staff, clients and industry peers, but she wants aspiring agents or those looking for a career change to know that it wasn’t always that way, and with the right attitude and support, others can also enjoy this rewarding career and lifestyle. “I barely passed high school, flunked out of university, and joined the coppers at age 17, where I stayed for 23 years,” she laughs.
agents to help them achieve success in their career and to ensure clients receive the best possible service every time.
“Prior to entering the real estate market nine years ago, I had formed an opinion of the classic Real Estate Agent: posh car driver, always dramatically on their mobile phones, sitting in coffee shops and getting paid lots of dollars for not a lot of work!”
“We have hired more experienced support personnel to ensure our Sales Agents and Portfolio Managers can achieve their goals,” she says.
Now working alongside her husband Errol and a dedicated team at Ray White Townsville, Jools is keen to share her love of the industry with others. “I want to shout it from the rooftops that this industry does not require a tertiary degree or the best academic results,” she says. “What this industry requires is personal drive, focus, commitment, discipline, energy and a focus on the client’s goals and wins. Tasks need to be completed in an order, on time, with focus, hope and optimism.” With over 80% of residential sales agents leaving the industry within their first 18 months, Jools and Errol set up a business model to support new and experienced
“All best practises within the industry are shared with all our sales professionals, and we always ensure new employees are well supported so we’re not sending them out underprepared. “We have an open database to ensure our sellers get every buyer, and we have limited our rental portfolio managers to overseeing 90 properties to ensure they have adequate time to conduct through inspections and communicate with landlords and tenants. “Real estate can offer a fun and rewarding career as part of a well-balanced lifestyle when you work alongside other committed and supportive professionals. “I’m always open for a chat and coffee for anyone who would like to know more about working in real estate.”
What this industry requires is personal drive, focus, commitment, discipline, energy and a focus on the client’s goals and wins. Tasks need to be completed in an order, on time, with focus, hope and optimism.
Your Goals, Not Ours Your Profits, Not Ours When you hire Ray White Townsville, you get the whole team focusing on making sure you get the best out of selling or renting your biggest asset. Selling or renting your home? Experience the Ray White Townsville experience.
Julie Munro 0407 352 276
Errol Munro 0417 798 522
Ray White Townsville 07 4421 5900 townsville.qld@raywhite.com
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Socials Feature
Hospo TechTalk Over 80 North Queensland food and beverage operators attended a first of its kind Hospo TechTalk held at The Ville Resort-Casino, with some of Australia’s leading food technology experts dishing out best advice and strategies to thrive in the post-pandemic world. The event also marked the official launch of PEISO, a hospitality profitability software founded by local Ivan Brewer.
Tash Henderson, Simon Balfe, Kerrie White
Vanessa McKinnon, Karissa Chase, Simon Santos Rose
Ivan Brewer, Naomi Watts
Clint Wallis, Jackson Page
Image credit: Greenhouse Media Production
Queensland Country Bank Business Banking Function Queensland Country Bank’s Business Banking team hosted a function for 70 guests at the Hutchinson Builders Centre with an exclusive behind the scenes tour. North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Head of Football, Micheal Luck, spoke of the importance of developing a high performance culture in a professional sporting organisation, and how business owners can adopt this strategy to reach their financial goals.
Aaron Newman, Micheal Luck, Brad Hodder
Ben Perkins, Clint Corbett, Ross Aldridge
Janeen O’Connor , Maria & Charlie Gianoulis, Gavin Cooper
Rupen Singh, Peter Walker, Dave Douglas
Image credit: Budd Photography
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WORKING
towards goals We all know achieving that desired work/life balance can be challenging, particularly when you’re running your own business. No one understands this more than Coutts Redington Chartered Accountants, who have been helping businesses achieve both their professional and personal goals for over 60 years. “From start-up advice and strategic planning to tax, accounting and bookkeeping support, we take great pride in helping our clients achieve their main business goals with confidence.”
From humble beginnings with origins dating back to the 1960s, Coutts Redington Chartered Accountants has remained 100% locally owned and operated with a talented team of locals working behind-the-scenes to support the growth and development of businesses across North Queensland. Under the guidance of Bruce Coutts and Greg Redington, Coutts Redington Chartered Accountants has grown into a leading business advisory firm with dedicated experienced accountants and advisors who are always looking for the next challenge to help other businesses flourish. “As our business has grown over the years, we understand the questions and challenges business owners face when striving to grow their business while still maintaining their personal lifestyles with their families,” says Bruce.
"
We help our clients achieve their goals by providing clarity, direction and support, which in turn, strengthens and improves elements of their life beyond just the business environment.
In addition to business advice and accounting services, Coutts Redington have teamed up with leading local professionals to offer both financial planning, retirement planning, risk assurance and legal services to Townsville and the greater Queensland community. “These collaborations help provide business owners with the confidence and support needed to make smart financial decisions now so they can have a suitable financial future,” adds Greg. “Always remember a goal without a plan is just a wish – your business plan is an important part of reaching your goal and our team is here to help you achieve them. “The challenge of work/life balance can be made easier with the right guidance and direction. “We are not new kids in town, in fact, we are familiar faces in the Townsville community, helping business owners achieve the good things in life!”
ng on Focusi siness u B R U YO YOU &
Our Team are here to help
4796 0888
AITKENVALE - 4/278 Ross River Road Our Team are only a phone call away
Visit our www.couttsredington.com.au website www.couttsredington.com.au.
4796 0888 KIRWAN - 127 Thuringowa Drive
By Sian Yewdall
Eriola Sanxhaku acknowledges that it has not been an easy journey to this point; Founder & Principal Psychologist of NQ Family Therapy Centre. “People who know me well, know I have faced many challenges to be where I am today. My role as a Psychologist and Family Therapist is a privilege, not an entitlement, and I’m extremely grateful to my clients who trust my work and experience,” says Eriola. Arriving in Townsville in September 2009 with her husband Erjon and their 18 month old son Bjorn from Italy, Eriola was excited to settle into their new home, where in 2016 they welcomed their second child Mia. Despite English being her third language, Eriola found her feet working at local social services agencies, until she met Professor Maurizio Andolfi, a world-renowned Master Family Therapist and a Cofounder of the European Family Therapy Association, that opened her heart and mind to Family Therapy. “Professor Andolfi taught me that children often come to therapy carrying a family problem as children are expert witnesses of their families. This impacts their life and mental health. It’s this holistic approach to mental health that I wanted to add to my work,” she says.
In 2017 Eriola and her family decided to move back to Italy so she could complete an internship at the Accademia Di Psicoterapia in Rome.
Never one to let challenges slow her down, Eriola applied for a grant from the Queensland Small Business Recovery Centre.
“It was a fantastic experience to observe experts of Family Therapy and Lecturers of the University of La Sapienza in Rome and be part of their team working with couples and families,” she says.
“I will always be grateful to the team at the Small Business Recovery Centre. Their financial support and guidance allowed me to continue working with families severely affected by the floods and grow my business.”
As a result, Eriola followed her intuition to open a dedicated Family Therapy practice in Townsville in August 2018.
Since opening again in Mundingburra, Eriola has employed a Townsville based Psychologist and two other Psychologists who provide Telehealth services from Brisbane, plus monthly visits to manage assessments for children and adults.
“The need for family therapy in North Queensland is significant and I am passionate about giving back to this incredible community that has been so supportive to us,” says Eriola. Unfortunately, her new business was soon washed away. Literally. Her first office was located on ground level in a converted Queenslander which was flooded during the monsoon in 2019. “It was devastating. We had to clean up the building, find somewhere to continue supporting my clients and finish my Masters Degree all at the same time" she says.
“We are looking forward to welcoming new psychologists to our practice this year who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge working with children and families,” says Eriola. “Every family member has a valuable role to play and working with the entire family is the best way to help those affected by emotional, mental health or behavioural issues. “I’m so thankful to our community for trusting my work and enabling me to establish a practice that works with the entire family system because I do believe that family does come first.”
“I couldn’t have done it without the love and support of Erjon and my beautiful children.”
Image credit: Insight Creative
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p U g n i k l Ta 10 Years
By Elisabeth Silvester TalkHQ co-owners Jenna Mottin, Julie Sexton, Alex Hartley
A small North Queensland business has emerged as leaders of the pack by removing the barrier of distance and creating a family orientated mindset. It is a story of courage for speech pathology clinic TalkHQ Speech Pathology which was started by speech pathologist Julie Sexton a decade ago. After Julie migrated back from Ireland to Australia with just a suitcase in her hand and the clothes on her back in 2012, she was determined to build a business empire to help people.
“Even when I opened our first clinic, I was strategising how to grow and open TalkHQ clinics all around North Queensland so that we could make it that no family would be disadvantaged just because they lived in a rural area.”
“I was able to borrow money from my Mum and Dad and use that money to buy the assessments and things that I needed to initially set up the practice,” she says.
The business is now proud to have clinics in Townsville, Ayr, Ingham and Mount Isa along with outreach programs on Palm Island, Hughenden, Middlemount and Dysart.
“I then rented a room from my dad, who had a dental surgery in Ayr and in those days, the best way to announce a new business was to put advertisements in the local newspaper, so I borrowed more money from Mum and Dad and did that.”
With the growth of TalkHQ came the need to develop a plan to help sustainably expand the company for longevity.
TalkHQ helps children close communication gaps with therapy services to improve their talking, listening, reading, and writing skills by using play to help make the learning fun. Julie says after growing up in Ayr she understood the barriers for families to access vital health services. “I was aware of the lengths people had to go to, to be able to access speech pathology if you were in the country versus a city,” she says.
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“The unfairness of it all really drove me to start the practice, but I did not want to stop with one clinic.
Julie says she attributes the expansion of TalkHQ to the team's commitment to building a strong organisational culture. “The growth of TalkHQ has always been about increasing access to quality speech pathology and that is what we still strive and pride ourselves on today,” she says. “We were very aware that in order for us to achieve our mission we needed a team of likeminded people and in order to attract the right team members, we needed to consciously focus on team culture.
“So, like most organisations, we are listening to team members and potential team members to see what they value and strategically work out how we can incorporate this systematically into the organisation.”
“This is systematically embedded into the organisation, from recruitment to meeting structures.” Julie says the success of TalkHQ could also be attributed to identifying the need to nurture and treat all team members as family. “There is a national shortage of speech pathologists and research at a national level has shown the average time in each job is about two years, especially in the Millennial and Generation Z team members,” Julie says. “So, like most organisations, we are listening to team members and potential team members to see what they value and strategically work out how we can incorporate this systematically into the organisation.” As the business grew stronger over the years, so did the team members at TalkHQ with Julie welcoming co-owners Jenna Mottin in 2014 and Alex Hartley in 2021 to the hierarchy.
“Alex is very structured, organised and systemsbased in the way she approaches problems, and she loves creating efficient systems and training.” During the 2019 Townsville floods the team had to band together after the clinic was inundated with water causing extensive damage to the clinic. Julie says dealing with the aftermath of the carnage made the team even more committed to serving North Queensland. “The flood was a massive challenge for us as we needed alternative accommodation to house eight therapists and two administration team members,” she says. “The ripple effect from stress throughout the whole team was immense and we lost team members in the process, so we really had to strip things right back and revisit the purpose and values of the company while focusing on team support and rebuilding the company from there. “Our biggest challenge was rebuilding our confidence and trust in ourselves as business owners and there were things we did poorly during this time and we had to make sure we learned from those mistakes to make the pain in this time worth it.” Looking to the future, Julie says her firm goal is to consistently support and develop her team of speech pathologists and TalkHQ franchisees while investing in training so children can succeed. “Speech pathologists can now be in business for themselves but not only by themselves by duplicating our systems to grow their business,” she says. “Over the last 10 years we have made some expensive mistakes and had some incredible wins and it is being able to package that so other speech pathologists can hit the ground running with their own successful speech pathology business.”
Julie says Jenna has brought a “unique charisma and energy” to the company. “Jen was my little sister's best friend so we had known each other for years and she was looking at going into practice herself and when we got to talking, it was obvious we both had pretty much the same vision of where the business was to go and we said let’s do it together,” she says. “I have four children and the amount of workload that is involved in running the business is a lot so being able to share the responsibilities and to have someone else to talk to about how to roll out the business was really good and I didn’t feel so isolated.” Julie says Alex has been a consistent heartbeat of the business since she joined TalkHQ as a university undergraduate. “Alex Hartley had joined TalkHQ when she was a speech pathology student at JCU and with her outstanding clinical skills and previous experience in management, Alex's career progressed from speech pathologist, branch leader to Chief Operations Officer,” she says. “The decision to offer Alex shares in the business was the logical next step as she brought a distinct set of skills to the leadership space that was evidently going to take TalkHQ to the next level.
“Speech pathologists can now be in business for themselves but not only by themselves by duplicating our systems to grow their business.”
Image credit: Hello Muse Photography
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By Elisabeth Silvester Co-owners Vivienne Starr & Di Brown
Iconic local dancer, pinup girl and businesswoman Vivienne Starr has added another feather boa in her cap with the recent opening of Townsville’s first burlesque club VaVoom Room Bar. Nestled in the heart of the Townsville CBD on Flinders Street, the new nightspot is inspired by the 1940s Las Vegas era offering patrons a live burlesque dance scene paired with cocktails and chilled vibes. Vivienne says opening the bar last December had been a huge step forward in expanding her professional portfolio. “I am excited, terrified, nervous and overjoyed of growing my own business especially after a global pandemic,” she says. “I am still trying to find my feet and rhythm but one thing I am really looking forward to is networking and engaging with other incredible female entrepreneurs and businesswomen in Townsville and North Queensland.” Starting her career as a dancer, actress and model in her 20s, Vivienne, also known as Libby Henderson, has travelled the globe competing in competitions and performing for the world. Vivienne’s obsession with burlesque dancing inspired her to open dance and fitness studio VaVoom Room in 2015, also located on Flinders Street. From the opening of VaVoom Room spawned a community of local women
who were eager to share their love of cabaret and burlesque with a Townsville audience. Vivienne says the live dance shows on Saturday nights at the bar were empowering women to embrace their bodies. “VaVoom Room Bar is actually the only dedicated burlesque club and bar left open in Australia so it is something we are very pretty proud of,” she says.
“We teach women how to love the skin they are in, regardless of their shape, size or weight and we show women that their power and beauty comes from within.” The mother-of-two says the idea to open VaVoom Room Bar started around 18 months ago. “We have been doing similar style (burlesque) shows at various venues around North Queensland for several years and we saw an increase in demand and interest,” she says. “So, we put some feelers out for a venue around town and once we had a few pieces of the puzzle together, we couldn’t find any more reasons not to do it, so we just jumped in.” With opening a new business
venture comes the hurdles of new responsibilities with Vivienne saying she was looking forward to developing her professional skills. “I am learning the importance of time management and competing priorities while juggling a full-time day job in senior management paired with an increasingly successful dance school and now burlesque bar,” she says. “Thankfully, I have the most incredible partner in life and business who keeps me as organised as possible and the ship sailing.” Although the stars in Vivienne’s eyes will never dim, she is looking forward to concentrating on growing the following of her two businesses for the foreseeable future. “I want to show North Queensland that right here in Townsville, you can get the best burlesque and vaudeville fix around whether that’s through joining our dance classes, heading in for Friday night drinks, attending our Sultry Saturday burlesque show or waiting for our brand-new poker nights starting July,” she says.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I think my hobby and my passion would turn into this and I can honestly say burlesque and VaVoom Room have changed my life and I don’t have one single regret.”
Image credit: Hello Muse Photography
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Creating opportunities for regional growth. Local businesses are at the heart of the Townsville economy and vital to supporting the region’s expected growth over the next few decades. Supporting and helping businesses realise their potential is one of the core functions of Townsville City Council. Council is on course to spend more than $200 million, or 85 per cent, of its procurement budget with local businesses in Townsville this financial year. Mayor Jenny Hill says Council had set a goal to increase procurement spending with local businesses to 90 per cent by 2026, while procurement with small to mediumsized businesses would increase by 65 per cent during the same period. “Capacity for procurement to deliver services and goods to Council continues to grow, and Council supports that growth through procurement and work opportunities, business learning and development seminars, business advisory services and start-up accelerator and incubator programs,” Cr Hill says. “Through partnerships like the one Council has developed with Smart Precinct NQ, we are helping local businesses prepare for future growth opportunities and provide support through collaboration and learning. “Our partnerships lead to businesses being offered opportunities to participate in courses and mentorship programs as well as activities like business boot camps. “The work Council does with local businesses through partnerships help them adapt to some of the changes and challenges as our region grows and transitions into future industries.” Cr Hill says Council was continually investigating ways to future-proof the region’s economy and job market through attracting green industries to Townsville.
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“Council is also helping local businesses transition to future industries by endorsing a master plan for the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct and establishing an industry-leading simulation training facility for defence, education and health based in Townsville,” she says.
“By establishing these start-up ventures, Council is helping create opportunities for local small businesses to expand into future industries and continue to grow. “Through Lansdown, local businesses will have the opportunity to be involved in industries like hydrogen and renewable energy in Townsville. “The establishment of a simulation training facility will give local businesses the confidence to invest and expand into growth industries like health care, artificial intelligence, augmented reality and more.” Townsville City Council is one of 18 local governments in Queensland to be recognised as a Small Business Friendly Council (SBFC). Cr Hill says by signing up as an SBFC, Council had committed to supporting small businesses across Townsville and strengthening the local economy. “Council has made a strong commitment to engaging and communicating with small businesses, raising their profile and capabilities, supporting resilience and recovery, reducing red tape, ensuring fair procurement and prompt payment terms and promoting place-based activities,” she says. “Council has already started this through activating parts of the city during major events like Carols by Candlelight, the Matildas vs New Zealand Football Ferns international football match and the 2021 State of Origin game to
encourage people to come into these areas and spend money with local traders. “Local businesses are directly supported during these place-based activations to supply services like food, entertainment, audio visual production, security, cleaning, waste removal and service providers. “The door is always open to businesses wanting to know how they can secure work with Council. Council also runs a proactive campaign twice a year, inviting local businesses to sit down with senior procurement team members to talk about ways they can get work with Council through the Doing Business with Council initiative. “These are just some of the many initiatives and strategies Council has implemented to support local businesses, particularly small to medium-sized ones. “Council’s investment in local businesses ensures they can grow with confidence and have the ability to hire more people and seize future opportunities.”
Supporting and helping businesses realise their potential is one of the core functions of Townsville City Council.
90% local procurement spend in the next 5 years. For more information on how Council is working with local businesses, head to townsville.qld.gov.au.
Do business with Council. townsville.qld.gov.au/tenders
Brenda Stone & Pamela Kerr
N F T NFTs are shaking up industries around the world - but what exactly are they? And will they be the key to retaining local talent in the North? We take a look to see what the buzz is all about. From celebrities to your next-door neighbour, everyone who is somebody is talking about NFTs. Non-Fungible Tokens (or NFTs as they are fondly known) are defined as unique digital tokens that serve as proof of ownership of an asset that cannot be replicated. So, what exactly does that mean? “Imagine them as digital files representing the official ownership of digital and tangible commodities,” explains Pamela Kerr, who is pioneering the NFT space in North Queensland through her business, Virtual Horizons. “You can’t hold an NFT in your hand. The digital token which is stored in a wallet shows who owns a unique digital image, artwork, an online game and various other assets.” Whilst NFTs can be anything digital, from music to concert tickets, much of the current excitement is around using the technology to sell digital art. This is something Pamela has leveraged off with her latest project The Corals, a unique NFT collection
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By Georgie Desailly
that blends digital art and blockchain technology in a carbon friendly framework to raise awareness about the dire state of The Great Barrier Reef. “Our aim is to increase awareness of the dangers facing the Great Barrier Reef and support the conservation by using NFTs to highlight its beauty whilst providing a platform for artists in this space,” says Pamela, whose first ‘wave’, Genesis, launched earlier this year in partnership with The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and supported by artists such as Brenda Stone. “The Corals Genesis Collection is a set of 3,000 AI powered art focused around the Great Barrier Reef, with the following six waves due to be released featuring different locations across North Queensland. “Thanks to this technology, every person who buys an NFT from any of the seven waves will automatically go in the draw to win an all-expenses paid two-week holiday to The Great Barrier Reef.”
A key initiative of The Corals project is its fundraising aspect, where The Great Barrier Reef Foundation receives a percentage of the revenue generated from each NFT sale.
The ability to reach an international audience whilst staying in her hometown is something Brenda finds extraordinary and says NFTs could be the answer to retaining local talent here in the North.
“Through this project, we are aiming to use NFTs to fundraise $1 million and also highlight everything our region has to offer,” continues Pamela.
“As a Townsville local, I love it here and I don’t want to leave but I am also at a point where I want to be expanding my customer base globally,” she continues.
“NFTs are changing the fundraising space for charities across the world. It’s opening up new possibilities and giving non-profits access to new sources of funding outside their established channels.” Abstract artist, Brenda Stone, entered the NFT space under the guidance of Pamela and sold out her first NFT collection in record time. As the first Townsville artist in this space, Brenda says it has been a game changer for her business, particularly since there is a built-in royalty feature which enables her to earn a commission on every future sale of her NFTs. “Entering the world of NFTs was exciting and scary; the whole creative process is completely different to making physical art,” says Brenda, who is also the featured artist for wave two of The Corals. “When I sell a physical piece of art, it could be resold numerous times and the only revenue I generate is from the original sale. Whereas with NFTs, I will forever receive payment for my work every single time it is sold. “It has opened the door to a global market, and I now have collectors all over the world through this digital medium.”
“NFTs now enable me, and a whole new generation of individuals, to live and work in North Queensland, while still accessing an entire market without having to move. It’s truly incredible for the region.” Yet it’s not just artists and charities who have the potential to benefit from this technology. “I am working with other Townsville people across various industries, including a blacksmith, a vocal coach, a photographer and a digital artist,” adds Pamela.
“For all businesses, NFTs open new markets and revenue-generating opportunities that weren't accessible beforehand. From lawyers to accountants, anyone can attach their services to an NFT and sell worldwide. The possibilities are endless.” In May, Pamela and Brenda both attended VeeCon in Minneapolis, a multi-day super-conference where they crossed paths with world leading NFT pioneers, such as renowned entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk. “To put North Queensland on the global NFT stage was an incredible experience,” says Pamela. “We are sitting on a gold-mine here at the moment and I can’t wait to see what happens once it explodes.” Image credit: Phil Copp Photography
What you should know NON-FUNGIBLE The item is not replaceable and cannot be substituted. E.g you can’t swap an economy plane ticket for business class as they do not have the same value.
TOKEN A crypto token that denotes ownership of a digital asset.
CRYPTOCURRENCY A digital currency which transactions are verified, and records maintained by a decentralised system rather than a centralised authority like a bank or accountant.
BLOCK CHAIN A system in which a record of transactions made in cryptocurrency are maintained across a series of computers that are linked in a peer-to-peer network.
SMART CONTRACT An agreement between two people in the form of computer code running on the blockchain. They are public and can’t be changed.
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Being in
Better
Business
PVW Partners is the leading Business Advisory firm in North Queensland who has the privilege of working with some of North Queensland’s most successful family-owned businesses. Business Advisory team leader, Colin Ryan together with Senior Manager, John Arnell share and discuss the common attributes they see when it comes to 'the best of business operators' with their own ‘fireside chat!’ Colin shares the intangible and conceptual attributes of successful business owners, while John talks about the practical day-to-day skills that are essential to operating a strong business.
Know Your Customers: Providing exceptional service to your customers is crucial to gaining their loyalty and retaining their business. Be there to serve, help and please them. If you are a business-to-business service provider, see yourself as a partner in their business. All great businesses, big or small, global or local get this right.
Know Your Market and Your Place In It: Successful business owners are not just present in their own business, they’re industry experts. They know the internal and external factors affecting their industry. They know their competitors and what is happening in every corner of their market. They readily articulate their unique selling proposition and what sets them above everyone else. The rest of the industry also knows and respects them.
Think, Plan and Act – Don’t Just Dream: While it’s okay to dream big, doing something, even if it’s small, is better. Thinking strategically is only the start. Plans should be specific with set timelines for action. Colin says “This is like the adage ‘working on your business, not in your business.’ But a bias to action is what drives business improvement. The biggest barrier to a growth strategy is a failure to launch. It’s better to do something small to improve the business than plan for big change and doing nothing meaningful.”
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John adds “Acting with confidence in every aspect of your business gives you the courage to tackle, head on, the business challenges you might have otherwise thought impossible to entertain. Embrace those challenges and go for the win. With every win, you value add to your business and your confidence grows for the next challenge. Trust yourself and your abilities.”
Use the Experts: Do not be afraid to consult with your external advisors on any aspect of your business. They provide objectivity, expertise, and a fresh set of eyes, to assist you reach your business goals.
Be Organised: If there is one personal attribute shared by the world’s top business leaders, it is they all have solid to great organisation skills. Simply put, organisational skills optimise results in the workplace. They enable you to be the best you can be at your job.
Stay Focused: Focus is so important because it is the gateway to all thinking: perception, memory, learning, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. It allows you to do a better quality of work, do it quicker, and your creative ideas flow easier. Also be prepared to delegate and learn to avoid micro-managing.
Know Your Numbers: Knowing the numbers behind your business is essential because it can help you make informed decisions that have the potential to make a significant impact on your business, your growth, and your bottom line. Focus on what the numbers are telling you and be aware when the business is underperforming – always act quickly.
Manage Your Employees: They are your most valuable asset. The key is to pay attention to the five pillars of People Management: motivation, communication, teamwork, knowledge, training, and development. Encourage an environment where they can express their ideas and issues free of judgement.
Be Confident and Creative: Never rest on your laurels. Leverage that industry know how and be innovative in your business. The new generation of successful business owners are embracing technology. They are continuously learning and seek out mentors.
Business Karma: Be good to your customers, suppliers, and people. Treat people with respect and give back to your community where you can. “What goes around, comes around,” Colin reminds us.
Colin Ryan & John Arnell
Regional Australians Growing Regional Australia Business Advisory Tax and Accounting SMSF Bookkeeping Agribusiness (07) 4721 8500 www.pvwpartners.com
John Arnell Senior Manager PVW Partners Business Advisory John Arnell is well known in the local Townsville business community and brings more than 25 years of experience and expertise to the Business Advisory team in corporate and financial leadership roles, consulting, financial modelling, business turnaround, business case studies and tax restructure for family businesses both within Australia and internationally. John’s previous role as a CFO not only incorporated the traditional responsibilities of fiscal management, security, and prosperousness of the businesses, but included responsibilities for human resources, health and safety, client relationships, software testing and implementation, tendering, and project management and cost reporting of the businesses’ various construction projects.
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By Georgie Desailly
Recycling.
As the sunniest city on Australia’s East Coast, Townsville will soon become home to a world-leading solar recycling and material recovery plant, following closely in the footsteps of Central Queensland. The facility will recover raw materials from end-of-life solar panels, that would otherwise go to landfill, and reinvigorate a new market of onshore solar panel manufacturing. The development comes after Victorian-based company, Solar Recovery Corporation (SRC), who provide circular economy solutions for solar panels, partnered with an Italian consortium, who has developed a recycling technology that is said to recover up to 99% of raw materials from end-of-life panels. The model has been successfully proven and utilised in the EU for over a decade, and the first two facilities in Australia were established in Townsville and Biloela in March this year, with both sites now accepting end-of-life panels in preparation for the technology’s arrival in the coming months. Director of Sustainability and Alliances, Rob Gell, says the facilities will aim to process 180,000 panels per annum, with the model intended to support the promotion of improved regional collaboration in areas of employment, procurement and supply chain. “The project offers an opportunity to capture and kickstart the market by receiving all end-of-life solar panels from the North Queensland region and recover
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approximately 3,600 tonnes of valuable resources for Australian industry,” he says. “The recovered materials will be repurposed into a range of manufacturing streams which will provide a circular economy solution for Australia’s growing panel problem, all the while reducing CO2 emissions.” The company is currently working with surrounding regional councils – including the Whitsundays, Charters Towers, Burdekin and Hinchinbrook – to develop collection sites for the panels. Unlike traditional processing methods that often utilise harmful chemicals or pyrolysis (a heat-based method that expels CO2), Rob says their technology uses a combination of mechanical, electrical and vacuum processes to sustainably recover materials such as aluminium, copper, glass and silicon, reducing the need for further mining of such materials in Australia. “With over 90% of every panel comprised of glass, plastics or metal, there are significant opportunities for these recycled materials to fuel growing requirements within the manufacturing industry,” continues Rob. “This includes the demand for quality glass in the manufacturing of glass containers, and solar panel
plastics, which are currently being reused to create new materials and products by Townsville producers.” Already, homes and businesses across North Queensland have turned to solar panels for the financial and environmental benefits they provide. However, this shift to a ‘clean economy’ has come with a cost. The current rate of solar panel recycling is less than 20% per panel Australia-wide, and the University of South Australia is forecasting more than 100,000 tonnes of solar panel waste will enter
Australia’s waste stream by 2035. “Townsville is a crucial link in the national roll out due to the high number of existing panels on the grid; both in terms of rooftops and solar farms,” adds Rob. “As countries around the world move towards a more circular economy, we hope this will be an example of how we can recover valuable materials from would-be waste.”
What can recycled material be used for? Plastics from solar panels
can be used to create new Aluminium, Copper,
materials and products by
all recyclable through
the Townsville region.
Electrical Cables -
producers located within
metal recyclers.
Silicon can be used Glass can be reused
for new PV panel
reproduction as
as other energy
and asphalt.
such as battery
in glass container
production as well
well as roadway
storage applications manufacturing.
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Poor management of workplace conflict costs Australian businesses billions every year in stress-related absenteeism. So isn’t it time we planned for conflict, and approached conflict collaboratively rather than combatively? Yes, it’s possible… If you’re like most people, just the thought of conflict makes you cringe. But with a little planning and skill development, it doesn’t have to. Claire Holland, who heads up James Cook University’s Conflict Management and Resolution (CMR) Program, says a shift in perspective can make all the difference. “While studying law, I recognised that lawyers are often trained to pick one side and fight, which can lead to a lose-lose outcome,” Claire says.
“Should you choose to dive further into CMR you may be surprised to discover that an undergraduate degree is not a pre-requisite to acceptance. If you’ve been working in business or managerial positions, we expect you’d have a solid foundation of knowledge and skills to build on and would grant entry.”
“By thinking about conflict in a collaborative, rather than combative, paradigm you can choose to engage with people in a win-win fashion.”
The Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management and Resolution takes a year to complete part-time and consists of four subjects.
A recent study by Google shows so-called ‘soft’ skills such as communication outweigh ‘technical’ or ‘hard’ skills as a measure of organisational success.
“We’ve recently moved into a trimester model, meaning you can do three subjects throughout the year, studying only one subject at a time. This is fantastic for those with extremely busy schedules, such as working parents,” Claire says.
“We’re actually seeing a change in terminology from ‘soft’ skills to ‘core’ skills to reflect their importance,” Claire says. “Google has found that investing in people who have those ‘core’ skills around communication, empathy, good listening and emotional intelligence is fundamental to their business success. “Especially considering the current workplace now looks very different to how it did pre-COVID. More than ever, employees who are able to cope with change and lead others through emotionally tiring times are prized.” People from a range of different backgrounds and organisations find conflict management training useful because it can be applied to any context, whether it be work or home relationships.
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“We’re seeing a rising trend in employers enrolling staff in the CMR Program as part of their professional development,” Claire says.
“Everything is available online for external students, who study our subjects from all over Australia or internationally. And we offer intensive workshops for students seeking that direct interaction, so students can tailor their learning experience.” Your credit for completion of a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Management and Resolution can also be counted toward a Master of Conflict and Management and Resolution (MCMR), a Master of Business Administration (MBA), or a combined MCMR-MBA. And, if a closer focus on technical skills is more what you’re eyeing, there’s the new Graduate Certificate of Project Management on offer. In this way, you can combine technical knowledge with the communication skills needed to action it effectively.
“We attract a mature-aged cohort, who are often returning to study to develop their leadership skills or are seeking a career change,” Claire says. For businesses, planning for conflict is also just smart business as it results in better employee health, productivity and retention. Being able to handle conflict effectively keeps teams engaged and empowered to make a positive difference. And, from a public perspective, it protects your business brand by reducing bad word of mouth. The bottom line… the ability to handle difficult situations constructively is critical to business success.
TOP 5 SOLUTIONS FOR WORK CONFLICT UNDERSTAND YOUR CONFLICT STYLE
1
Awareness of self, including your values, personal triggers and wellness levels is critical. If you experience an overload of adrenalin at work every day, and it’s not managed, it can lead to serious health consequences.
2 3
BE AWARE OF OTHERS It’s important to acknowledge that others have different triggers, conflict styles, and hierarchy of values. There are always at least two truths, your truth and the other party’s truth.
DEVELOP YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS The more well-honed your listening, empathy and emotional intelligence skills, the better able you’ll be to have difficult conversations.
4
HAVE A PLAN
5
REVIEW YOUR PROGRESS
Have a plan. Many people just want to avoid conflict and so choose to do nothing. Yet increasing communication during a time of conflict often leads to better outcomes. Conflict is inevitable – it’s best to be prepared and consider what avenues of communication are open to you ahead of time.
Reflecting on what’s happened in the past to make better decisions in the future is critical. This ties back into tips 1, 2, 3 and 4 – it’s a cyclical learning experience.
LOOKING TO EXPAND YOUR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES? Excited about conflict management and resolution? Email Claire Holland at claire.holland@jcu.edu.au to find out more about James Cook University’s post-graduate study options.
JCU College of Business, Law & Governance Progress your management career and develop advanced conflict management and resolution skills that you can implement immediately into your professional and personal life.
Graduate Certificate of Conflict Management & Resolution Master of Conflict Management & Resolution Master of Business Administration Graduate Certificate of Project Management jcu.edu.au
Riding for
By Julie Johnston
Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride Thursday 28th – Saturday 30th July 2022 Over 200 riders and 50 support volunteers will participate in the 22nd annual Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride (TCBR) this year with the goal of raising over $300,000 for the Children’s Cancer Institute (CCI). Riders depart from Mercure Townsville and ride 352kms to Cairns over three days. The event is one of the biggest fundraisers for the CCI to continue their vital research to cure childhood cancer and reduce the long term side effects from treatment. We caught up with some of our local business owners to find out more about their involvement in this iconic charity ride.
ductions
Image credit: Hello Blue Pro
To donate visit tcbr.org.au
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Patrick Sutton
Principal, Legalsense NQ & TCBR President
This will be my 12th ride, and this year my 16 year old sons, Liam and Ryan, will also be riding. I’m aiming to raise $2500 through my business network, family and friends. It’s just an amazing experience, the mateship along the way, helping others to achieve their goals as a group leader and now President, and the ultimate reward is raising funds for the kids. We have one little girl that 12 years ago turned up in Cairns to see us and thank us for the support we were giving to the CCI. She had no hair and looked pretty sick.
I was not sure we would see her the next year. Well 12 years later she has amazing flowing locks and is a brilliant young lady enjoying life as she should. That is what makes a sore bum and sore legs over three days worth putting up with! Professionally it is a time to catch up with like -minded people, enjoy some down time as it is pretty much technology free whilst riding and enjoying these three days doing something you love doing.
Ben Woodford
Owner of BNG Sports
I have ridden more than 10 times since the ride started and have sponsored the event for many years. In addition to our sponsorship, I’m aiming to crack the $1000 mark in fundraising by haggling my friends, family and our clients to dig deep.
Ben and Glenda Woodford
Tracey Osmond
In the lead up to the event, things get busy for us instore as we prepare everyone’s bikes to make sure they are fit and safe to ride come event weekend. Two of our staff members are also riding this year, and whilst the ride is on we will be busy with any minor repairs that may need doing to make sure
Participating in this event as a rider and a sponsor gives us personally and professionally something to be proud of. To see first-hand success stories of kids that have beat the disease is great as we know everyone’s combined efforts do make a difference to the lives of these children. Both Glenda and I are very proud to be a part of this event.
The Voice Singing School
I have ridden in the TCBR eight times and am riding for all children affected by cancer, in particular 18 year old Erin Peterson, who survived Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare cancer that affects muscle tissue in children and adolescents. Due to the ongoing research in children’s cancer, Erin’s story is one of victory and hope, and she is today living a healthy, happy life.
Deb and Matt Lye
we get all the riders to Cairns. My wife Glenda will be back at the store working hard to keep our customers back home happy while we’re away for the ride.
I am aiming to fundraise $5000 by hosting concerts with students from The Voice Singing School. As a business owner, it’s due to the incredible staff who understand what the ride means to me and rally around helping me to fundraise and manage my time away for the ride. Luckily the training starts at 5am so doesn't interfere with working hours in the lead up....just sleeping hours!
Tracey & Erin
Deb Lye Townsville Appliance Service This will be my first time riding to Cairns, however Matt has ridden in the TCBR for over 10 years. I have driven to Cairns for over 10 years now to meet them all at the end. To be totally honest I was never riding a bike on a road, I thought these guys were crazy. We had a rider from our group who we lost to Cancer not long after the 2019 ride, he was my inspiration to get on a bike and I fell in love with it. I am riding to help raise funds to find the cure, it feels good to be part of such a great cause. My fundraising goal is to achieve $500, so we are running a pie drive, selling chocolates and relying on donations from family and friends.
I am very lucky to have a supportive team of staff that take care of our business like it’s their own. We have our set training days and are up nice and early to get our training in so not to interfere with the day schedule of work. I feel bike riding, getting out in the fresh air and catching up with friends is very good for me. There is always a sense of achievement each ride, I always told myself I couldn’t and now I am finding my confidence is growing as I have shown myself I can. Exercising in general is good for the mind which I feel sets you up for your day of work and when running a busy business, it’s necessary.
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Creativity, AC T I O N ,
SERVICE.
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE Education for a Better World. On Sunday, 29 May, two Townsville Grammar School students, with a large support crew, staged a Colour Frenzy Run with more than 300 runners, raising more than $20,000 for the Black Dog Institute. The event was staged as part of the CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma, a two-year academic course that is available for Years 11 and 12 at Townsville Grammar School. Established in Geneva in 1968, the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a global leader in international education. Almost two million students in 5400 schools in 159 countries are enrolled in an IB programme, including 212 schools in Australia. Townsville Grammar School became an IB World School in 2011 and has been offering the IB Diploma Programme for more than a decade. The Mission of the International Baccalaureate is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through education that builds intercultural understanding and respect.” The IB programmes empower students to take ownership in their own learning and develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a fast-changing world (www.ib.org). Director of Curriculum at Townsville Grammar School, Dr Carolyn Moores, says the IB gives senior students an academic alternative to the QCE/ATAR system. “The IB is an extended academic program with an international education focus through which students
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develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics.” The main point of difference with the IB is that it is a global program of study. To deliver the IB Diploma, schools must register to be an IB World School, a community of schools worldwide who deliver the IB academic programs. Students around the world benefit from the global education approach, facing the same challenges, enjoying the same benefits, and connecting with each other through this international network.
Students who complete the program are awarded an IB score which is recognised and highly regarded by universities within Australia and throughout the world. IB graduates are regarded as having gained a well-rounded, global education. What is a global education? The IB course is designed to embed international perspectives. Studying a language is essential, and,
in addition to core subjects in the sciences, arts and humanities, students will engage in three extended projects – CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service), an Extended Essay, and Theory of Knowledge (TOK), over the two year period. Through these projects, students gain practical preparation for undergraduate research, and receive credit for artistic output, physical activity and voluntary community service. Dr Moores, says the IB program reflects the development of the 21st Century skill-set that this generation will need to thrive in the modern, globalised world. “The 21st Century skill-set comprises 12 key skills including the top-tier of communication, creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Secondary schools are increasingly working to embed the development of these core skills within their curriculum programs,” says Dr Moores. “By its very nature, the IB program develops these skills, with a global perspective.”
THE GRAMMAR DIFFERENCE
“The IB is considered a 'future-ready' program, focused on cross-cultural understandings. Today, more than ever, we face an increasingly globalized society and economy, and we are tasked with developing young learners who are eager to increase their capacity to contribute positively, with compassion and understanding, to create a better community and a better world.”
I N T E R N AT I O N A L B A C C A L A U R E AT E
According to Dylan and Daniel, the co-ordinators of the TGS Colour Frenzy Run, the event was more than they could have imagined. “We learned so much about the mechanics of running a community-based event and we were overwhelmed by the support we received, raising $20,000 for our chosen cause, the Black Dog Institute. This project was very challenging, it extended us beyond what we could learn in the classroom, and we are thrilled to be able to contribute meaningfully to the Black Dog Institute through an event that was all about community, physical activity, wellbeing and connection.”
Image credit: Ashleigh Dodson
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TGS.QLD.EDU.AU
Defence Feature
Manufacturing for our Aussie troops
By Kate Banville
With a mission to significantly boost defence industry in Queensland by 2028, one veteran owned business is leveraging its military experience to create fit for purpose tactical gear for troops. Specialising in military and tactical gear, Townsville based company Krieger Industries has been scaling its production to meet defence contract requirements domestically and internationally. Founded in 2019 by Army veterans Stewart Locke and Ben Holland, the business has rapidly grown to meet demand, particularly when the coronavirus pandemic highlighted supply chain vulnerabilities due to overseas reliance. With 13 major defence bases in Queensland alone, and the bulk of the Australian Army’s combat capability forces based in Townsville, Co-Director Stewart Locke says the goal was to see their products in every unit. “At the moment troops go overseas into hostile environments wearing gear made offshore, what's the sense in that?” he says. Having an understanding of how equipment is used and worn in the field is a point of difference not many other companies can claim, Ben says. After finding himself making alterations to service gear and that of his colleagues while serving as a Military Policeman, Ben is now the company’s lead designer.
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He said it's all in the detail. “Without quality materials, stitching, design and fittings like the clips you have serious injury, it’s as simple as that,” he says. “We work with the end user to design the pouch or vest, whatever it is to solve a problem, not just to look good.
“Having actually been in the military ourselves we can add that lived experience to offer suggestions as well.” Carving out a niche identity as a brand making bespoke military and law enforcement gear also caught the eye of the makers of the Netflix action thriller Interceptor, which featured Spanish actor and model Elsa Pataky, who wore a tailor made protection vest while playing US Army Captain JJ Collins. In a business success story to be proud of, Krieger Industries has gone from strength to strength after also securing a Queensland State Government grant earlier this year which allowed them to gain globally recognised certification needed to apply and be competitive for defence contracts.
Krieger Industries was one of 13 Townsville based small-to-medium sized businesses to be awarded as part of Queensland’s $1.5 million Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Fund. While acknowledging the grant has helped, Mr Locke said all levels of government need to do more to grow local manufacturing if Australia was going to meet its own demand. “The price point is the hardest thing to educate people on.
“When people are buying our product they’re paying for the entire process from initial fit for purpose design, local manufacturing and its supply chain.
Ben Holland
“That includes fair wages and paying our staff superannuation, so we can’t compete with Chinese manufacturing prices for example where none of this applies and it's just mass production. “It really does make it hard and it includes government contracts as well when the price point is already set and they won’t budge on that so we’ve had to drop items because we wouldn’t even break even.” Government at all levels has indicated ongoing investment for Australian made products and building reliable defence supply chains by making them domestic. With geopolitical focus having shifted to the IndoPacific region, Northern Australia is particularly well placed to grow local industry. Identifying the opportunity to grow economic outcomes, the Queensland Government in 2018 released a Defence Industries 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan in response to strategic and capability priorities identified in the Australian Government’s 2016 Defence White Paper (DWP). This was in addition to the development of Defence Jobs Queensland, which included the establishment of advisory boards of senior defence and industry personnel, and the commitment of $10 million to defence supply chain logistics hubs.
Stewart Locke
In an Australian first for local government, Townsville City Council also holds a position for a Defence Engagement Officer which is currently held by Colonel (Retd) David Burke. Under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the new federal government has indicated it would implement a new strategy aiming at “maximising local content, leveraging the defence capability investment pipeline to develop sovereign industrial and research capabilities, and build-up the skills and expertise of the Australian workforce.”
Image credit: Krieger Industries
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MAKE
JOELINE ELMES is a Chartered Accountant and manager at Coutts Redington’s Kirwan office with over 15 years experience in business advisory and taxation. To get in touch email: joelinee@couttsredington.com.au
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Many of us may make New Year resolutions for ourselves as we welcome in the next calendar year, but what about some resolutions for your business for the next financial year? Here are few areas you may consider making changes:
KEEP BETTER RECORDS
KEEP A LOG BOOK, KEEP A DIARY
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) requires you to keep most records for 5 years. But the records do not need to be a paper copies. Paper receipts also fade. One alternative option to keeping paper receipts is to use data capture software such as Hubdoc or Dext. Download the app on your phone, take pictures of your receipts and then upload them to be stored in the cloud-based software. Hubdoc and Dext can also be integrated into accounting software such as Xero to allow for more streamlined coding of transactions. Another option is to simply scan your receipts regularly and save them onto a USB or hard-drive. It is recommended you also keep a back-up of the original files.
UPGRADE YOUR ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE If you are still using excel spreadsheets to record your income and expenses, or manually entering your bank statements each month into your accounting program and struggling to reconcile the accounts, it may be time for a change. Utilising cloud-based software such as Xero could save you hours of data entry time that could be better spent working in your business. Your bank account is linked to the software so all transactions are downloaded rather than manually entered. All you have to do is code the transactions, which will take less and less time each month after you set up memorisations for regular transactions.
For each vehicle you or your employees use in your business, it is recommended you keep a logbook. You need to keep a logbook for a minimum of 12 continuous weeks and it is then valid for 5 years, unless your usage changes drastically in which case you would need to start a new logbook. If you have employees using your vehicles, you also need to record the odometer readings each year at 1 April and 31 March for fringe benefits calculation purposes. When it comes to phone, internet and electricity usage at home, if you are a sole trader, keep a diary to calculate your business-related percentage of use. The ATO recommends to keep a diary for a four week period to work out the percentage to claim over the 12 months of use. Record the number of hours you are working from home, time spent using phone and internet for the business versus time spent for private use.
GET ORGANISED, KEEP TRACK, BUDGET Have you ever been surprised by a tax bill or a deadline? Get to know what is due and when and start planning. Have regular meetings with your accountant so that they can help you monitor how your business is going, offer suggestions to improve your cashflow, and advise how much to put aside for tax, GST, PAYGW and superannuation guarantee. Most importantly, there is no such thing as a stupid question – don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Using cloud-based software will also allow your accountant to assist you whenever you are having issues, as they can log-in at the same time as you while on the phone to you. If you keep up to date with your coding, or utilise a bookkeeping service to do so, you will be able to track how your business is travelling at any point in the year which will aid in decision making.
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