Launching the new Office for Small and Family Business (OSFB) at a local small
business in Kilkenny today, Minister Andrea Michaels said that this new specialised unit will coordinate State Government services to South Australia’s $40 billion small
and family business sector.
Hosted by the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS), the OSFB will provide a single destination for support and advice – a conduit to access relevant government information, support, services, and tailored assistance in one place. It
will collaborate with relevant service providers to curate an ever-evolving suite of resources and programs.
Foremost on the agenda for the OSFB will be a Small Business Strategy for South Australia – the first of its kind for over a decade. The Strategy will guide the Government’s policies and programs to support and empower small businesses for the next four years, and will be released in early 2023.
The Strategy will be developed through one of the most extensive engagement
processes ever undertaken with the business community. It will involve more than a dozen industry and regional roundtables, targeted in-depth interviews and a heavily promoted online survey over the next two months.
Visit survey.business.sa.gov.au to complete the Small Business Survey or find out more about upcoming engagement opportunities.
The full list of roundtable locations will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Small and Family Business, the Hon. Andrea Michaels MP
South Australia’s economy is driven by our small and family business community, with around 150,000 small and family businesses employing almost 40 per cent of our total workforce and contributing almost $40 billion to our economy annually.
Small and Family Business owners have told me that it has been difficult to find and access information, support and assistance across Government. That’s simply not good enough and the Malinauskas Labor Government is committed to increasing access and improving services to our local businesses.
That’s why I am delighted to launch the Office for Small and Family Business
(OSFB), which will be the new ‘front door’ for business owners looking for services, support and advice.
I am also excited to announce the development of a Small Business Strategy for South Australia, developed for and with our local small businesses.
I encourage small business owners across the state to embrace this opportunity to have your voice heard, and ensure you receive the right support from Government to
help you succeed.
All of this will be achieved in close collaboration with industry associations, chambers
of commerce and other key stakeholders.
Quotes attributable to Business SA Chair and Star of Greece Owner, Nikki Govan
Our local businesses have done it tough over the past couple of years and
continue to face extraordinary challenges.
They need to know the Government understands their needs and will be there to provide support and advice when times are good and when they aren’t.
That’s why I’m so pleased to support the establishment of the Office for Small and Family Business and the development of a Small Business Strategy for South
Australia.
The Office for Small and Family Business will be critical in ensuring relevant information and support can be easily accessed by business owners throughout South Australia.
Such comprehensive engagement will give business owners across the State the opportunity to be heard and help shape the Small Business Strategy.
I also welcome the collaborative approach being taken by the new State Government and Minister Michaels
Article and images supplied by SA GOV
