COVID-19 National: Business – Business Balance Initiative

This program aims to support small businesses who are under increased financial and emotional pressure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It forms part of the Australian Government’s $74 billion JobMaker Plan which is designed to support a stronger economic recovery and bring more Australians back to work.

The program seeks to support small business owners take proactive steps to improve their mental health and will be implemented early in 2021.

The program includes:
1. New Access for small business (Beyond Blue)
- Developed by Beyond Blue, NewAccess is a free and confidential mental health coaching program for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness.
- Through the BusinessBalance initiative, the Australian Government is providing funding to expand the NewAccess program to deliver tailored, free mental health support to small business owners.
- A total funding of $4.3 million is allocated for this program.

2. Supporting small business advisers for better mental health (Deakin University)
- The Australian Government is providing funding to Deakin University to deliver a professional development program for small business advisers.
- The program, run in partnership with the Institute of Public Accountants, CPA Australia, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, integrates mental health first aid training with relationship-centred, business mentoring that will empower small business advisers to better support the mental wellbeing of their small business clients.
- A total funding $2.2 million is allocated for this program.

A total funding pool of $7 million is available in 2020-21.

Please refer to the website for more information.