Commerce Ballarat

The Game: Team Building
2026-05-19 10:00 - 12:00 (Australia/Melbourne) | Commerce Ballarat, 119 Lydiard Street North, Ballarat Central, Victoria, 3350, Australia
An immersive, game-based experience that uses sport to explore what it really means to create a safe and inclusive workplace.
Using real-life scenarios, participants experience the barriers faced by LGBTQIA+ people firsthand, moving beyond theory to a genuine emotional understanding of exclusion. The session ends with a facilitated debrief to turn those insights into concrete action for your organisation.

Suitable for all fitness and ability levels. Wear comfortable clothing and active footwear, and bring a smartphone or tablet for interactive QR codes.
Delivered by Proud2Play

Lunch and Learn - NBN Connects with Microsoft
2026-05-12 08:30 - 11:00
For business owners, AI presents a valuable opportunity to boost productivity and streamline operations, but with so many platforms plugging AI capability, it’s hard to know where to start.
With 94% of SMB’s in Australia already using Microsoft Office 365, now is the time to discover the built-in tools that can enhance productivity and efficiency, and most importantly, give you your time back.
We are pleased to invite you to attend the nbn® connects with Microsoft event. As part of a national series, certified Microsoft Technology partners will guide you on Microsoft 365 Copilot and give you exclusive access to numerous tips and advice on enhancing productivity and efficiency in your business.
Copilot can assist various departments within an organization:

Finance: Creating detailed financial reports, tracking expenses, and budget planning.
Marketing: Drafting compelling marketing content and analysing customer feedback.
Sales: Generating sales reports and managing customer relationships.
Human Resources: Writing employee handbooks and managing recruitment processes.
Operations: Scheduling meetings, setting reminders, and organizing workflows

By automating routine tasks, you can free up time for strategic activities, enhancing your efficiency and giving you a competitive edge.
This 90-minute event is designed for the business owner and a staff member to attend together to learn and upskill on how this exciting new technology is already saving businesses time across the world.
After the event, you will be offered a customised copilot learning course.
By the end of this session, you will be equipped with practical skills and strategies to make Copilot a valuable partner in your everyday work, no matter your role or experience level.
Please note this session and ticket cost includes catering.
This event will be available to stream for VRCA members.

Return to Work - Early Intervention: Why the first 0-10 days matter
2026-05-05 12:00 - 13:30 | Ballarat Golf Club, 1800 Sturt Street, Alfredton, VIC, Australia
Tuesday May 5th BALLARAT Golf Club
Early Intervention: Why the First 0–10 Days Matter
Key Topics:
• Early Contact & Proactive Planning: Understanding how early engagement can speed up Return-to-Work (RTW) outcomes.
• Best Practice Checklists & RTW Toolkits: Practical, proven resources to guide supervisors and RTW coordinators from point of injury through claim submission and acceptance, driving successful RTW outcomes.
• Case Studies: Real-life examples of successful early intervention in RTW processes.
• Building RTW Plans: Step-by-step guidance on creating effective RTW plans, including sourcing suitable duties. We will also share a GOLD Standard RTW Plan to ensure best practice.
• Interpreting Certificates of Capacity (COCs): Learn how to engage with treaters for positive outcomes and obtain the necessary information to reduce barriers and ensure smoother RTW processes.
• Leadership Skills in Injury Management: Key leadership qualities for effectively managing RTW, and tools for managers to foster trust, engagement, and confidence.
• Nabenet’s Supervisor Training: Insights from Nabenet’s training program, with evidence that early engagement reduces time away from work.
Takeaways:
Participants will walk away with practical tools they can implement in their workplace to enhance RTW outcomes and streamline the process.

May Biznet Breakfast
2026-05-05 07:00 - 08:45
Social Cohesion: What Role Do We Play? Featuring Farid Abdul Hamid, presented by Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council
It’s been a confronting few months. Locally, we’ve seen incidents that have shaken members of our community. Nationally, the Bondi Beach terror attack in December reminded us how quickly trust between communities can be threatened. And globally, events continue to put pressure on the ties that hold diverse societies together.
But social cohesion isn’t just something that happens to us. It’s something we build, maintain, fracture, and repair. And all of us have a role in that.
At this BizNet breakfast, we’re delighted to welcome Farid Abdul Hamid from the Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council, who attended the inaugural Australian Social Cohesion Summit in Melbourne last October, a landmark national gathering of over 350 leaders from community, research, government and industry. Farid will share insights from the latest research and spark a conversation about what social cohesion looks like right here in Ballarat.
Come ready to listen, reflect, and leave with something practical you can act on.

Beyond the finish line Redefining Expectations in Work and Sport
2026-03-26 12:15 - 14:00
Beyond the finish line
Redefining expectations in work and sport.
Keynote presentation by Paralympian Lisa Chaffey.
• Hear about Lisa’s Paralympic journey and how expectations shaped her working life
• Network with other local business leaders
• Learn about inclusive hiring.
Thursday 26 March
12:15pm – 2:00pm
Federation University
T Building
106 – 110 Lydiard Street, Ballarat Central
Lunch provided
Reserve a seat – rsvp@gforce.org.au

Organisations, Employers, and Businesses Engagement Session Option 2 | City of Ballarat's Next Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2026-30)
2026-03-04 12:00 - 14:00
About the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan
We’re seeking feedback from you to help us create the next Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2026-2030). This is our 4-year Plan to make Ballarat a more inclusive and accessible community for everyone.
This Plan will drive Council’s work over the next four years through improvements to Ballarat City Council buildings and public spaces, services, employment, events, and programs.
Event Details
When: Wednesday 4 March at 12:00pm – 2:00pm
Where: Djila-tjarriu Community Hub, 18 Donegal Drive, Alfredton
What to expect
This session will be a 2-hour focused and interactive workshop focusing on the following:
Practical ideas for how the City of Ballarat can improve access and inclusion within it’s role and responsibilities
Barriers for people living with disability in the Ballarat
What is working well for people living with disability in Ballarat
Why your input matters
We’re seeking input from organisations, services, businesses, employers, and community groups to help us shape the next Plan.
You bring important perspectives and insights through your work, experience and relationships with people living with disability, carers, and the wider community. Hearing from you will ensure our Plan:
Reflects current and emerging community needs
Leverages current and future opportunities to improve access and inclusion across the City.
Aligns actions with services and organisations across the City.
Strengthens collaboration and shared goals across service , business and employment sectors.
Why do we need a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan?
1 in 6 people in the Ballarat community live with a disability, higher than the Regional Victorian average. Ballarat also has a higher rate of people living with profound or severe disability than Greater Victoria.
People with disability are more likely to experience discrimination and exclusion, leading to poorer individual health and social outcomes.
When communities are accessible and inclusive, everyone benefits from the diverse skills, talents, and contributions that people living with disability bring.

BSides Ballarat 2026
2026-02-28 - 2026-03-01
Cybersecurity is a fascinating and rapidly expanding field with a scope that includes enthusiasts, commercial security, and national security. While many conferences are held in the capital cities, regional areas often miss out. BSides Ballarat aims to build the cybersecurity community in Ballarat, especially in younger age groups. BSides Ballarat will focus on the following cybersecurity topics.
BSides Ballarat is a community-driven, non-profit cybersecurity conference held in Ballarat (by Federation University Australia). It’s designed for a wide audience —from students and newcomers to IT professionals and business owners—so it’s accessible even for people/businesses without deep prior security expertise.
Workshops and technical sessions demonstrate how to implement concrete security measures, including secure network architectures, patching practices, web-app/webserver security, incident response procedures, and secure configurations for IoT and supply-chain dependencies. This empowers business owners/staff to apply good security fundamentals themselves (or with their IT team), rather than just hoping “security will be fine.”

Industry Chat: Food and Fibre (Export, Growers and Producers)
2026-02-25 10:30 - 2026-04-28 12:00
Join us for our upcoming Industry Chat: Food and Fibre (Export, Growers and Producers) featuring Brian Kearns, Manager of the TradeStart network in Victoria.

With more than 35 years’ experience in the Victorian Government, including over two decades in international market development, Brian brings deep expertise in agrifood exports and global trade. Through his role delivering both Victorian Government and Austrade services to regional exporters, he works closely with businesses looking to grow beyond Australia.

Originally trained as a crop agronomist, Brian combines strong agricultural knowledge with qualifications in Agricultural Economics and Professional Accounting, offering both practical and strategic insight.

This is a valuable opportunity to hear from industry experts!

Gekko Systems Free Public Open Day
2026-02-20 13:30 - 15:30
Join us for the Gekko Systems Ballarat Open Day
Open to the general public and Ballarat community.
Gekko Systems is proud to celebrate three decades of customer-focused solutions that have changed and shaped the future of gold and mineral processing, demonstrated manufacturing excellence, and created a global impact.
Join us for a free Public Open Day at our Ballarat headquarters and manufacturing facility to see our technology in action and hear presentations from our technical specialists and guest speakers.
Born and bred in regional Victoria and now recognised worldwide, our technology, locally manufactured in the historic gold rush town of Ballarat, is used in over 50 countries. It delivers solutions that improve performance, reduce environmental impact, and create long-term value.
Together with our customers, we are shaping a smarter, more sustainable future for mining and organic waste processing.
This free public event is your chance to explore our Ballarat-made mineral processing equipment up close, featuring world-first innovations such as:
OnLine Gold Analyser (OLGA) developed in partnership with CSIRO
Carbon Scout
Low-water-consumption Wolff Concentrator
Gaia EnviroTech’s waste-to-value solutions for organics
Event details:
Date: 20 February 2026
Location: Gekko Systems & Gaia EnviroTech HQ, 321 Learmonth Road, Ballarat (Mitchell Park), VIC 3355
Time: 1:30 to 3:30pm
Cost: Free (RSVP essential)
What is happening on the day:
Live product demonstrations
Insightful guest speakers
Guided site tours
Light refreshments and networking opportunities
And much more!
We look forward to welcoming our community, students, partners, customers, and industry colleagues to celebrate 30 years of Australian solution led innovation and manufacturing, and the future we are building together.
Gekko Systems: 30 years of passionate people and global solutions.

Lifeline Ballarat ASIST 2-day Suicide Intervention Workshop
2025-12-02 09:00 - 2026-02-03 17:00
ASIST is a two-day interactive, skill-building workshop that prepares professionals and caregivers (of all kinds) to provide suicide first aid interventions.
Learn to:
• Recognise people who may be having thoughts of suicide
• Ask them about suicide, hear their story and understand their situation
• Help them keep safe and develop an effective personal safe plan
• Connect them to community supports and resources

December Biznet Breakfast 2025
2025-12-02 07:00 - 09:00
Join us this festive season for the final Biznet of the year, and to raise money for those struggling this Christmas with Ballarat Foundation.

Driving Productivity: Kickstarting AI in Business and Industry
2025-11-21 10:00 - 15:00
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Grampians, in partnership with Delos Delta, the National AI Centre, Australian Regional AI Network (ARAIN), and the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Hub, invite you to an upcoming forum exploring opportunities and practical applications for AI in the region.
Driving Productivity: Kickstarting AI in Business and Industry
Friday 21 November 2025
The Goods Shed, Ballarat
Free event but registration essential
This forum is designed for the AI-curious and offers a hands on opportunity to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming business, and how regional SMEs can safely and effectively harness emerging technologies to drive productivity and growth.
The Forum will connect SMEs with free, specialist one-on-one support to deploy and manage AI systems via the AI Adopt Centres, ARM Hub, and ARAIN so businesses can access tailored guidance, practical tools, and expert advice to support their AI journey.
Led by industry experts, the event will deliver practical insights. Hear from leading voices across industry and academia, including the National AI Centre, ARAIN, and ARM Hub, alongside regional businesses showcasing how they are using AI and automation to innovate and enhance operations.
This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with experts, explore practical AI tools and resources, and discover what’s possible for your business and for the future of our region.
Tickets are free but limited so register now to secure your place.

NextGen? Next Bar
2025-11-19 17:15 - 19:30
To round out a year of learning, hard work, and growth, NextGen Collective is hosting an end-of-year bar crawl! The journey will feature Hop Temple, Aunty Jacks, and Grainery Lane with a free drink at each venue included in your ticket.

Starting Your Small Business - Workshop
2025-11-18 17:30 - 20:30
Have a great business idea, but not sure where to start?
Turn your entrepreneurial dream into a reality at this free beginner-level
workshop. Learn how to:
Define your product or service
Plan your launch step-by-step
Choose and register a business name
Pick the right location or platform
Protect your business with insurance
Walk away with practical tools, confidence, and resources to start building the business you’ve been dreaming of.

Western Bulldogs Women in Business Luncheon
2025-11-14 12:00 - 15:30 | Ballarat Goods Shed, 200 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, 3350, Australia
You Belong Here!
Recognising and Overcoming Self-Doubt
Join us for an empowering event focused on building confidence and embracing your place in every space. Through honest conversation and inspiring stories, we’ll explore how to recognise self-doubt and overcome the barriers it creates.
Our two inspiring speakers — Preet Bains, who led the charge for over a decade at Aesop, one of Australia’s leading luxury brands, and Carol Fox, a Confident Communication Expert and former President of Women Sport Australia—will not only share their personal stories but also equip you with practical strategies and tools to overcome self-doubt and build lasting self-confidence.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, reflect, and grow in a supportive community.
Your experience includes:
• Inspiring one-on-one conversation with Preet Bains
• Interactive workshop led by communications expert Carol Fox
• Welcome canapés followed by a gourmet two-course meal
• Premium beverages served throughout the event
• Professional LinkedIn profile photo opportunity

Cyber Warden Training
2025-11-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Online
The Cyber Wardens Foundations webinar is an interactive way to learn the cyber security essentials you need to help protect your small business.
This format is designed for small business owners and employees who prefer learning through live engagement with a Cyber Wardens educator.
Cyber Wardens Foundations is a short introduction to cyber security that helps you identify the seven cyber security red flags that pose a risk or threat to your small business.
In this free webinar, you will learn:

The biggest cyber security risks targeting small businesses
Red flags and warning signs your business is at risk
Everyday habits that make you more vulnerable to cyber crime
How to identify cyber security red flags​

Forage & Feast Launch
2025-11-11 17:00 - 19:30 | Ballarat Goods Shed, 200 Lydiard Street North, Soldiers Hill, Victoria, 3350, Australia
Join us at the Forage & Feast Launch Event November 11th!
This evening event marks the official unveiling of the 2026 Forage & Feast Festival Program—a curated celebration of regional dining, storytelling, and seasonal experiences across the Central Highlands running from Jan 12 – Feb 15. You’ll get a first look at the venues, producers, and events featured in the campaign, alongside a showcase of food and drink from across the region and members of the Central Highlands Growers & Producers Hub. We look forward to welcoming you both to our event and to new discoveries.

Meet the Makers
2025-11-11 14:00 - 16:00
Feel the flavour, Meet the Maker at an Industry-Only Session with Forage & Feast.
On November 11th, the festival program will officially launch. Beforehand, we are offering an exclusive NEW industry-only session to connect chefs, venue owners, and sommeliers with more than 30 of our region’s finest artisan producers.
This trade fair is a one-of-a-kind chance to set the tone for what regional sourcing can look like – authentic, exciting, and commercially powerful. Hosted by acclaimed food writer Richard Cornish, this event offers menu inspiration, strategic networking, and a special preview of brand-new, unreleased, high-end product.

Guided Date Night
2025-11-09 17:00 - 20:00 | SIP Champagne Bar, 428A Sturt St, Ballarat, VIC, 3350, Australia
Looking for a date night with a difference? Join Kelly and Kim from Fairground Psychology & Wellbeing at SIP Champagne Bar for a special evening created just for couples. Set in an intimate and welcoming space, you’ll enjoy delicious food and drinks while being guided through fun, practical tips and valuable insights — backed by evidence-based research — that are designed to bring you closer together.
Tickets are priced per couple and include a two-course meal and drink on arrival.

NextGen Collective NextSteps: The Power of High Performing Teams
2025-10-16 12:00 - 14:00
Join us at the Next Gen Collective Professional Development Session as we explore what it takes to build and sustain high-performing teams — from trust and agility to clear goals, accountability, and authentic collaboration. This session will be facilitated by Inspire HQ Director and feature the insights of Business of the Year 2025 Winner LeRoy Hand from The Turret Cafe.
Whether you’re looking to join, strengthen, or lead a high-performing team, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to help teams not just perform — but truly excel. You’ll also gain real-world perspective from a local leader who’s successfully built and led a high-performing team, sharing practical lessons and proven strategies you can apply right away.
Let’s build the future of teamwork — together. Lunch is included!

Drug and Alcohol Testing Course
2025-10-14 09:00 - 15:30 | First Aid Training Group, 3/311 Gilles St N, Wendouree, VIC, 3355, Australia
Want to become a drug and alcohol tester at your workplace? Join us for our nationally accredited HLTPAT005 Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing course!
First Aid Training Group’s Nationally Accredited Drug & Alcohol Screening Officer training course (HLTPAT005 – Collect specimens for drugs of abuse testing) has been developed to address new legislative requirements for drug & alcohol testing. It follows Australian Standards AS/NZS 4308:2008 (Urine Collection), AS/NZ 4760:2019 (Oral fluid collections), and AS 3547:2019 (Breath Alcohol).
– Covers urine, oral and breath testing.
– Nationally accredited course.
– Hands-on practical training.
– On completion, all participants are certified as drug and alcohol testers.
– The course covers the entire chain of custody process.
– We provide all testing kits and resources.

Farmer Resilience and Community Connection Days
2025-10-13 07:30 - 2025-10-14 16:30
Ever wanted to upskill your working dog? Or chat with CFA, SES, or VicPol about how to keep your farm safe?
Join the City of Ballarat for Farmer Resilience and Community Connection Days hosted by the City of Ballarat.
Breakfast from 7:30am, followed by presentations and a Q&A on Farm Safety.
Working Dog School: 12 lucky dog and handler pairs will train with Gary White, internationally renowned for his working dog expertise!
All sessions are FREE!

Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance - Catch Up
2025-10-09 17:00 - 2025-10-10 16:00 | Ballarat GovHub, 101 Armstrong St N, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
Join us for the annual Victorian Regional Chamber Alliance (VRCA) catch up.
Not a member? It’s free to join – Homepage – VRCA

October Biznet Breakfast
2025-10-07 07:00 - 09:00 | Ballarat Turf Club, 72 Midas Road, Miners Rest, Victoria, 3352, Australia
Don’t miss this chance to rub shoulders with some of racing’s biggest names!
Join Ballarat’s own Breakfast with the Stars event, where you’ll enjoy a delightful breakfast while engaging in a lively discussion with high-profile jockeys and trainers about their Spring racing prospects.
Whether flying solo or with friends, secure your spot or book a table for 8 now! This is the perfect way to connect, learn, and enjoy a thrilling morning immersed in the racing world.
✨ Special Guest panel offering exclusive insights and predictions:

🏇 McEvoy Mitchell Racing
🏇 Mitch Freedman
🏇 Rob Hickmott- Melbourne Cup winning trainer
🏇 Johnny Allan– Jockey
🏇 Declan Bates– Jockey

Labour Hire Authority Information Session
2025-09-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Ballarat GovHub, 101 Armstrong St N, Ballarat, Victoria, 3350, Australia
Attend a free information session delivered by the Labour Hire Authority (LHA) to understand your obligations under Victorian labour hire law.
This one-hour session will cover:
• Businesses’ obligations under Victorian labour hire law
• LHA’s current focus of labour hire licensing, compliance and enforcement
• LHA’s tools and resources to support businesses
• Questions and answers

September Biznet Breakfast
2025-09-02 07:00 - 09:00
Join us this September to hear from a powerhouse marketing panel made up of the brilliant minds behind the Western Bulldogs, Haymes Paint, and Worrells. Facilitated by Commerce Ballarat Board Member Lucy Ibrahim, this will be a sharp-witted morning as the panel dive into their specialised marketing niche.

Danielle Wooley, Head of Marketing & Brand for the Western Bulldogs, the expert in marketing when you don’t have control of the product
Andrew Senyard, Head of Marketing at Haymes Paint, the expert in keeping marketing fresh whilst simultaneously keeping tradition alive with a long-established company
Jordan McPhan, Senior Marketing Manager at Worrells, specialising in relationship-driven marketing strategies

Industry Tour at Kilderkin Distillery
2025-08-29 15:30 - 16:30
Enjoy an exclusive and informative industry tour of Kilderkin Distillery, including the production area where the globally awarded Larrikin gins and Goldfields Single Malt Whisky are crafted.
Enjoy sample tastings drawn from different stages during production, followed by samples of the final gin, liqueur and whisky products. At the conclusion all participants are welcome to stay and soak up the warm, welcoming atmosphere of Kilderkin Distillery’s bar, housed in a refurbished warehouse. Drinks and light meals available at bar prices.

Bush Summit
2025-08-29 08:00 - 17:00
The National Bush Summit spans across six regional locations in Australia, including Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and for the first time, Northern Territory. Returning in 2025, regional and rural business owners, community leaders and industry heads are encouraged to register for a series of Bush Summit events in August.
Join us as we address the challenges and find the solutions to improve the lives of all those living in regional Australia.

Building Better Business
2025-08-27 12:00 - 13:00
Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for years, the decisions you make around structure, cash flow, compliance, and risk can have long-lasting consequences — good or bad.
This practical session is designed to highlight the avoidable traps that increase the financial risks to being in business, like risking the family home in the event a business is not ultimately successful. From their experience as insolvency experts at Worrells will draw on real case studies to explore how business structures impacts liability, why financial risk can expose personal and family assets, and what to do when the warning signs start to appear.
This practical session is ideal for business owners, advisors, and anyone looking to strengthen the foundations of a business at any stage of the journey.
The session includes a complimentary light lunch, and a 1 hour CPD Certificate.

Mental Health First Aid Training
2025-08-27 09:30 - 2025-08-28 16:00
Mental Health First Aid training takes a similar approach to physical First Aid training. This course teaches participants about the different types of mental illness and through the practical action plan they learn the skills to respond to someone experiencing a mental health problem.
Learning outcomes:
-Recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems
-Initiate a first aid conversation
-Assess for a range of crisis situations
-Provide initial support
-Understand mental illness, risk factors, treatments and supports available
