Support for bushfire impacted businesses

Monday, 13 January 2020

South Australians have seen bushfires wreak havoc across the state, particularly in the Adelaide Hills and on Kangaroo Island. Although the fire danger threat isn’t over, the South Australian Business Chamber is seeking to help local businesses in impacted areas assess, repair and recover as quickly as possible.

Recognising the impact of these bushfires will be felt for a long time to come, the South Australian Business Chamber has created a number of initiatives. In direct response to these bushfires, for any business located in a South Australian Declared Disaster Area, the South Australian Business Chamber will at no cost to the business: 

• Provide access to training and business mentoring, with a focus on health, safety and wellbeing courses and business restoration
• Access to a Workplace Relations Advice Line
• Membership fee waiver for the South Australian Business Chamber members for the next 12 months for impacted businesses
• A dedicated resource toolbox containing details of ​“go to” and recovery checklists to help business owners and their staff, whether it be finding bank phone numbers, insurance assessors, availability of grants, removal of stock and mental health and counselling services
• A register for businesses wanting to help on a pro bono basis by offering services, products, trades and labour

“The South Australian Business Chamber knows the business community well, and we know there are many businesses — small, medium or large – wanting to help those impacted by the bushfires, but don’t know how,” the South Australian Business Chamber Chief Executive Martin Haese said.

​“You might be a financial services organisation willing to offer recovery advice, a painter or electrician wanting to volunteer, or a transport operator that can help with moving livestock or equipment. By offering your services and your expertise to people in times of need, your business could make a significant difference.”

Mr Haese said it was important to encourage people to support businesses in fire-impacted areas.

​“Longer term we want to see as many people as possible visiting and holidaying on Kangaroo Island but for the time being we would ask that you support local businesses by buying products from those regions most impacted,” he said.

​“With the Tour Down Under about to start, we’d encourage people to fill those restaurants and cafes and support those local businesses in the Adelaide Hills and surrounding areas.”