Small Business Support Hub

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Unpredictable times are part of doing business, but being prepared makes all the difference.

Small businesses are the backbone of our shire - especially our rural, agricultural and family‑run operations.

This May, Queensland Small Business Month is shining a light on free, practical business support services designed to help small businesses navigate uncertainty and plan with confidence.

Whether you’re managing cash flow, planning for growth, or simply needing expert advice, help is available - before small challenges become bigger issues.

Learn more about the range of free support available by browsing the below.

 

 

Free Business Mentoring

Running a small business often means making big decisions on your own.

Through FREE business mentoring with Mentoring for Growth (M4G), connect with experienced mentors for practical guidance.

It’s confidential, tailored support - helping you explore options, solve challenges, and identify opportunities for your business, delivered in person, over the phone or virtually.

MG4

Topics include, but are not limited to:
  • Cash Flow
  • Growth Strategies
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Finance
  • Business Development
  • Workforce Management
  • Cybersecurity
  • Human Resources
  • Export & Investment

Register now for FREE business mentoring with Mentoring for Growth (M4G)

For quick and easily accessible information and tips, visit Ask a Mentor

 

Free Financial Counselling

Financial pressure can affect even the most established small businesses.

Licensed counsellors can support you in a confidential, non‑judgemental environment.

Early support can make a real difference.

Business Queensland, Small Business Support Network

Queensland Government provides a central hub for small business support, bringing together a wide range of information, tools and referral pathways.

Business Queensland, Small Business Support Network

For businesses requiring more tailored assistance, specialist services are available, including the Rural Financial Counselling Service (Southern Queensland) and the Small Business Financial Counselling Service (Southern Queensland).
 
Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Southern Queensland
Al Vickers is a Rural Financial Counsellor with RFCS, bringing extensive experience across rural accounting, finance, lending and financial planning.

This broad skill set enables him to support farmers through informed decision‑making, offering practical options and alternatives with a strong focus on costing, project planning, cash flow management and budgeting.

Contact Al

Small Business Financial Counselling Service (SBFCS) Southern Queensland

Nicholas Hess is a Small Business Financial Counsellor based in Toowoomba, supporting small business operators across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland through both in‑person and remote services.

With a strong background in financial planning and SME support, Nicholas brings a practical, confidential approach to improving financial literacy and resilience, helping businesses navigate change through clear strategies focused on cash flow, budgeting and long‑term sustainability.

Contact Nicholas

 

Mental Health & Wellbeing

Looking after your business starts with looking after yourself.

These services recognise the unique pressures faced by small, rural and agricultural businesses - especially during unpredictable times.

Mental Health Check-Up

Ahead for Business Check‑ups are free, confidential online tools designed to help small business owners better understand their mental health, wellbeing and business‑related pressures.

They provide tailored feedback, practical tips and pathways to support based on individual responses.

Visit Ahead for Business

 

Drug and Alcohol Support

ADIS (Alcohol and Drug Information Service) is a free, confidential, 24/7 Queensland Health service that provides counselling, information, and advice to people concerned about alcohol or other drug use, as well as their family, friends, and professionals supporting them.

You can seek advice and support via telephone, SMS and online chats. No referral is needed.

Visit ADIS

 

Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue is a leading Australian mental health organisation and registered charity that provides free, confidential 24/7 counselling via phone and online chat offering trusted practical tools, self-help resources and personal stories.

 

Supporting anyone in Australia from friends supporting someone else, to business owners, families and anyone wanting to just 'check in' early, Beyond Blue can help you to find the appropriate next steps, including referrals when needed.

Visit Beyond Blue

R U OK?

R U OK? is an Australian suicide‑prevention charity that encourages meaningful conversations, provides practical resources and training to help individuals, workplaces and communities recognise when someone may be struggling. Anyone can engage with or use its resources.

You can access R U OK? through its website to browse tools, campaigns, education and contact forms. 
 
R U OK ? does not provide crisis counselling itself, however it connects individuals to services like Lifeline and Beyond Blue for 24/7 mental health support.

Visit R U OK?

 

Black Dog Institute

The Black Dog Institute’s Workplace Wellbeing resources focus on helping organisations create mentally healthy, safe and productive work environments by promoting psychological wellbeing and preventing mental ill‑health at work.

Resources highlight key factors that influence mental health at work, including job design, leadership, culture, and social support and outline the benefits for both employees and businesses when workplace wellbeing is made a priority.

Businesses and organisations can seek evidence-based tools and programs as well as training and toolkits to support leaders and staff at all levels.

Visit Black Dog Institute

 

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO)

The ASBFEO is an independent Australian Government body that supports and advocates for small businesses and family enterprises, including helping with disputes and government processes.

Support on dispute resolution and mediation pathways can be found here, as well as a Tax Concierge Service.


The services are free and businesses can contact ASBFEO Australia‑wide by telephone or an online enquiry form found on the website.

Visit ASBFEO

Business Finance Essentials

Strong financial foundations help small businesses stay resilient through change.

Business Finance Essentials by Business Queensland provides free tools to learn the basics and even improve financial performance.

Essentials

  •  Planning and setting up your finances
  • Start up and ongoing costs
  • Using financial professionals
  • Business tax obligations
  • Record keeping
  • Funding your business
  • Managing money day-to-day
  • Financial statements
  • Budgets and forecasts
  • Performance monitoring
  • Tools and support

Visit Essentials

Improving Your Financial Performance

  • Profit growth
  • Revenue management
  • Cost management and reduction
  • Cash flow management
  • Funding business growth
  • Financial risk management
  • Measuring and monitoring finances
  • Benchmarking
  • Financial health check
  • Additional tools and resources

Visit Improving Your Financial Performance

List of Government and NGO Services for Small Business and Agribusiness

Balonne Shire

  1. Balonne Shire Council - https://www.balonne.qld.gov.au/Business-and-Development
  2. St George and District Chamber of Commerce - www.facebook.com/StGeorgeAndDistrictChamberOfCommerce/
  3. Rural Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland - https://rfcssq.org.au/
  4. Small Business Financial Counselling Service - https://sbfcssq.org.au/

Queensland Government 

  1. Business Assist - https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-services/programs-networks/business-assist
  2. Business Queensland – https://www.business.qld.gov.au/
  3. Department of Customer Service, Open Data and Small and Family Business - https://www.cdsb.qld.gov.au/
  4. Department of Primary Industries - www.dpi.qld.gov.au
  5. Department of Trade, Employment and Training – https://dtet.qld.gov.au/
  6. Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning - www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au
  7. Mentoring for Growth - https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/growing-business/business-mentoring/mentoring-growth
  8. Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority - www.qrida.qld.gov.au
  9. Queensland Small Business Commissioner and Small Business Friendly - https://qsbc.qld.gov.au/sbf-program/
  10. Trade and Investment Queensland - https://www.tiq.qld.gov.au/

Australian Government

  1. Australian Taxation Office – www.ato.gov.au
  2. Australian Business – www.business.gov.au
  3. Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - www.agriculture.gov.au
  4. Department of Employment and Workforce Relations - Darling Downs - Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Australian Government
  5. Self Employment Assistance - https://www.dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance
  6. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Austrade) -  www.dfat.gov.au
  7. Indigenous Business Australia - www.iba.gov.au
  8. Regional Development Australia (Darling Downs Southwest) - www.rda-ddsw.org.au

Other

  1. Business Chamber Queensland - https://businesschamberqld.com.au/
  2. Connect South West – www.connectsouthwest.com.au
  3. ecoBiz - https://businesschamberqld.com.au/ecobiz/
  4. Gov Ready - https://govready.com.au/
  5. Industry Capability Network - https://icn.org.au/
  6. Indigenous Business Supply Nation - https://supplynation.org.au/
  7. Local Buy - https://www.localbuy.net.au/Home
  8. VendorPanel - https://www.vendorpanel.com.au/publictenders.aspx
  9. Regional Tech Hub - https://regionaltechhub.org.au/