Regional Rising

12/07/2024

We're really proud of this collaboration with Julian from Apostle Whey Cheese.

At the heart of our relationship are our monthly videos we film and produce to help Julian educate consumers about farm life and where the milk and cheese people buy comes from. We're particularly proud of this longer edition, our 8th, as it touches on animal welfare but also allowed us to get more creative in the editing (while having fun filming).

We also launched a new website for Apostle Whey Cheese in 2023, relaunched its social media presence and work on other growth initiatives to support this great regional family business to go from strength to strength.

10/07/2024

Inside our July newsletter: We have a few spaces left for our first ever online website building workshop series early next month.

We also include feature to newly discovered podcasts, grants, online courses and webinars relevant to regional entrepreneurs and businesses.

Inside our July newsletter: We have a few spaces left for our first ever online website building workshop series. We also include links to newly discovered podcasts, grants, online courses and webinars relevant to regional entrepreneurs and businesses.

26/04/2024

Facebook is a critically important marketing platform for small businesses. It's also a social network that shares the same login with business profiles.

We've put together 5 steps to avoid having your account compromised and having to contact Facebook support for help to recover your account:

💀Create a unique password for each and all of your online accounts (social media, banking, mygov etc) and DO NOT use the same password across accounts!
💀Use complex passphrases (ie. several random words that have no relationship with each other such as Lavish Wand Audible6) instead of a one word passwords. Add capital letters and numbers to add extra complexity.
💀Use a password manager (we use the paid version of Bitwarden but there are others) to security manage all of your unique passwords
💀Setup multi-factor authentication (MFA) also known as two factor authentication (2FA) by using an authenticator app (our preference) or SMS codes.
💀Invest in a physical security key which is a physical device providing an extra layer of security by requiring physical possession in addition to your password. We have two YubiKeys from Yubico (a main one and a backup) that we have to insert into our computer's USB port and physically touch the flashing light to activate.

If these 5 steps sound over the top (we have more tips but we'll stop at 5) it's more preferrable than apologising to friends for being hacked and being locked out of your own account, especially if your account is linked to your business page and any other pages you manage for a community group of sports club!

So there you have it - take precautions so you never have to contact Facebook for help. That's our advice. For more see Cyber Wardens by Council of Small Business Organisations Australia. You're welcome.

After months of back-and-forth with Facebook's customer support, Catherine Wilson now hates the platform and she's not alone. Complaints about scams targeting businesses on Facebook and Instagram are spiking and for many, it's a bigger fight to get the account back.

29/03/2024

Here's the latest video we have produced for a great regional family business and client.

It's a pleasure to be able to support Julian and Dianne from Apostle Whey Cheese and raise awareness of their inspirational business a short drive from the Great Ocean Road and the 12 Apostles.

This "agritourism" business bottles milk, makes 12 types of cheeses and gelato under its own brand - all from their own cows milk on their own farm. ie. "single origin". Everything is done onsite.

If that's not enough to keep a small business busy, they operate a farmgate café EVERY day of the year (except 25th December) with cheese tastings (try all 12 cheeses for only $1), cheese platters, coffee, milkshakes, gelato and toasties - all derived from milk from their farm!

Julian is probably typical of many dairy farmers aged in their 70s around Australia - there's no slowing him down. We're working with him to plan the launch of farm tours!

We continue to enjoy our consulting role to guide the digital transformation and growth of this fantastic regional Australian family business.

14/03/2024

The world of online gaming is a popular target for scammers and cybercriminals.

As a result the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) has updated its guidance to protect online gamers.

The ACSC urges people to protect accounts the same way you would protect your bank and email accounts.

Three key points from the long list of advice includes:
⚠️ make sure children’s accounts have multi-factor authentication (MFA) switched on
⚠️ make sure accounts are protected with unique passphrases.
⚠️ Avoid saving payment details on accounts or turn on settings that ask for a passphrase when making a purchase.

Here's an overview of their tips we've put together: https://www.regionalrising.com.au/regional-rising-news/security-tips-for-online-gaming

05/03/2024

A concise and well written article by Cyber Wardens explaining in simple language how a small business was the victim of a $35,000 invoice scam following an email hack.

This story puts a real world, human face on something many small businesses (and community groups) probably think will never happen to them.

Things you can do today to stay safe:
⚠️ update your business to complex passwords or passphrases (and don't use the same password across multiple accounts)
⚠️ use multi-factor authentication (MFA) also known as two factor authentication (2FA)
⚠️ invest in antiviral software
⚠️ never miss an automatic software update, especially Windows updates AND apps installed by your hardware manufacturer (eg. manually check Dell Command Update app, HP Support Assistant app and so on for available updates).

Recommendation:
✅ Talk to your local IT provider about migrating your email to a leading secure platform such as Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. If you don't have a provider feel free to reach out to Regional Rising.

Council of Small Business Organisations Australia

When Lisa and Brett Millwood took over the family plasterboard business in 2018, they set up and planned their dream lifestyle. An office by the beach, with a surf and café breakfast before work. Away from the city traffic, their kids could ride their bikes to school. It seemed idyllic and a very l...

03/03/2024

To celebrate our popular website building workshops launching online, save 4️⃣5️⃣% when you register for an autumn/winter class.

Price includes personalised 1:1 weekly follow up with your coach in addition to the six workshop dates.

No matter where you live you can learn to build a website under our guidance from the comfort of your own home!

Evening groups 7pm-9pm:
🚀 Six Mondays from 22nd April - 27th May
🚀 Six Mondays from 3rd June - 8th July
🚀 Six Mondays from 5th August - 9th Sept

Morning groups 10am - 12pm:
🚀 Six Tuesdays from 23rd April - 28th May
🚀 Six Tuesdays from 4th June - 9th July
🚀 Six Tuesdays from 6th August - 10th Sept

Whether you build a website for your business, side hustle or community group you'll meet new, likeminded people and boost your digital skills and confidence at the same time! Payment plans available upon request.

More information at www.websitebuildingworkshop.au

17/08/2022

Student Startup South West is less than four weeks away and Regional Rising is excited to be the local lead for this two-day introduction to program facilitated by Banyule Nillumbik Tech School and Whittlesea Tech School.

Hosted at the Deakin University campus on 13 & 14 September, Student Startup South West is tailored for students at years 9-12 and open to government secondary schools in South West Victoria.

Working in teams, up to 125 students will have the opportunity to bring their big ideas to tackle challenges and create opportunities in , and the !

We've also assembled mentors from 16 organisations to provide feedback to the student teams, from Rocket Seeder, South West Local Learning and Employment Network Inc., Warrnambool City Council, Corangamite Shire Council, Food & Fibre - Great South Coast, The Midfield Group, WestVic Dairy, DemoDairy Foundation, Glenelg Hopkins CMA, Wannon Water, Warrnambool Coastcare Landcare Network, South West TAFE, Brolga Co, Basalt to Bay Landcare Network and Recycling Victoria.

Learn more at www.studentstartup.org.au/regional

13/05/2022

It's a wrap! After many months of planning, the 2022 Dairy Innovation Challenge concluded on Wednesday with its awards event in Warrnambool.

Regional Rising loved co-designing and delivering the Challenge over the past 6 months for the DemoDairy Foundation and its partners Food & Fibre - Great South Coast, Elders Rural and Rocket Seeder.

Congratulations to the local and non-local winners of the on-farm and sustainability/environmental categories and the overall winner Nick Seymour (pictured front, centre) from Farmo.

Thanks to all the judges who assessed the applications which came from as far away as New Zealand and Georgina Gubbins from Food & Fibre Great South Coast for sharing the hosting duties with the amazing Maggie Leutton.

Super appreciative to the Cream of the Crop AU dairy conference team for allowing us to launch the Challenge on day two of their event in February and Julian and Dianne Benson for hosting the launch at the inspirational Apostle Whey Cheese. We're very grateful to South West TAFE for hosting the awards event and the mouth-watering catering from McMahon Family Catering.

It was also a real pleasure to work with Rick Bayne from Media Masters Vic and Sara Napier from GBM technology on all of the public relations and marketing, the chair of the DemoDAIRY Foundation Ralph Leutton who was a class act in our videos and last but not least Ian Teese, secretary of the Foundation who was an ever reliable presence from day one to keep the inaugural event on the rails.

The Dairy Innovation Challenge can only get bigger and better in 2023.

07/04/2022

Join this free online event by Rocket Seeder to find out what is happening in Australia to reduce food waste and food loss.

With support from Sustainability Victoria Woolworths AgriFutures Australia Monash University

16/03/2022

* 30 March deadline for innovation challenge fast approaching *

Less than two weeks till the deadline closes for the 2022 Dairy Innovation Challenge.

Interested to enter an idea or know someone who might be? Visit www.dairyinnovationchallenge.com.au

We're delighted to be delivering this project for the DemoDairy Foundation in partnership with Elders, Food & Fibre - Great South Coast and Rocket Seeder .

The Weekly Times ABC Landline Agriculture Victoria FarmOnline Stock & Land Dairy News Australia

16/03/2022

Regional Rising CEO Paul Dillon is interviewed on ABC Australia radio about a new report from federal parliament's committee on and which has recommended parental controls be made mandatory on all devices sold in Australia.

Seven minute interview starts at 1:15:07 -
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/vic-statewide-mornings/mornings/13789708

eSafety Commissioner

09/03/2022

We're delighted to have been appointed to the panel of local digital experts in the Be More Digital program (Resilience & Innovation - Grampians Project) that Commerce Ballarat has developed with funding from the Victorian Government.

If you have a tourism, hospitality, retail, beauty, charitable or fitness business and are located in the West , , Northern , , , , , , , or regions you could be eligible for 3 hours of free digital mentoring from us, Regional Rising.

Hurry. Offer ends once funding is exhausted. Click here to apply - http://www.commerceballarat.com.au/cb_pages/rigp_be_more_digital.php

08/03/2022

Delighted to be delivering this project for the DemoDairy Foundation. Should have positive economic development outcomes for the region and the sector.

Interested or know someone who might be? Entries close 30 March. Visit www.dairyinnovationchallenge.com.au

06/03/2022

* Apply by 18 March *

If your primary school or early learning centre (preschool, childcare centre and kindergarten) is ready to grow the next generation of environmental champions, you can apply for a Woolworths Junior Grant for:

- a habitat restoration project
- planting a bush tucker garden
- planting a vegetable garden
- running a composting or recycling project.

02/03/2022

Regional Rising is delighted to be project managing the Dairy Innovation Challenge for the DemoDairy Foundation with partners Food & Fibre - Great South Coast, Elders and Rocket Seeder!

So far Region Rising has designed the Challenge logo, developed and launched the website on www.dairyinnovationchallenge.com.au, created promotional videos for social media and project managed various aspects of the initiative.

If you know someone who may have ideas to solve problems in the dairy industry let them know they have until 30 March to submit their idea. They could win up to $4,000 in prizemoney!

09/02/2022

The next time you think about completing one of those "fun" quizzes online - don't! Just don't.

You're giving away clues to your passwords and security questions so people can hack your accounts.

Tell your friends to stop too.

08/02/2022

This Safer Internet Day - Tuesday 8 February 2022 - we are raising online safety awareness at home, school, work and in the community.

. eSafety Commissioner

Join us at esafety.gov.au/sid

17/01/2022

Many businesses "do" Facebook but fewer have taken the plunge to try to engage customers and grow their business reach using Instagram.

If you're starting out, here are some pointers from a recent Shopify blog post which also gleans comments from the Head of Instagram include:
- Instead of jumping into the deep end right away, you should focus on a consistent posting schedule that makes sense for you and your business where they are right now.
- Businesses publish, on average, 1.56 posts per day to their main feed, according to research from Hubspot
- The blog's author comes to the conclusion that posting one feed post and two Stories per day is a good approach if your goal is to grow engagement, reach and followers
- videos and use of hashtags are important

Where is your business with Instagram and how often do you publish?

With an ever-changing algorithm, this is our advice for how often to post on Instagram to build a following for your business.

13/01/2022

We're delighted that the DemoDairy Foundation has engaged Regional Rising to develop and deliver South West Victoria's first Dairy Innovation Challenge.

Really looking forward to working with the Foundation, Food & Fibre - Great South Coast and Rocket Seeder and other stakeholders to uncover and shine a light on that solves problems and improves productivity in the .

Can't wait to launch the Challenge logo and website we've been working on over the holiday season.

The search is on for innovations that will help the dairy industry in south-west Victoria.

27/12/2021

Many small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs we speak with express a desire to improve the way they use social media to promote and grow their business.

So here's your chance - why not tackle Canva's free social media course while/if you have some downtime over the holiday season and get your socials off to a good start in 2022?!

TODO description

23/12/2021

03/12/2021

Hot on the heels of delivering the innovation challenge involving year 9 students from four Mildura region secondary schools and four industry partners for SuniTAFE, Northern Mallee LLEN and Mildura Regional Development, we are pleased to share that Regional Rising has been engaged by the DemoDairy Foundation to deliver South West Victoria's first Dairy Innovation Challenge at the beginning of 2022.

It's been great to get to know Ralph Leutton, Maggie Leutton and Ian Teese (pictured) and the DemoDAIRY Foundation's mission throughout the year. We're delighted the Foundation has asked us to develop and deliver a dairy innovation challenge to uncover and nurture new and innovative ideas to support the growth of the dairy industry in South West Victoria.

Almost a quarter of Australia's national milk output comes from western Victoria and programs such as the innovation challenge will help the industry remain strong, innovative and sustainable now and into the future.

Get in touch if you'd like to know more or get involved. Contact Ian Teese via [email protected] if you'd like to know more about becoming a partner/sponsor.

15/11/2021

We're delighted to have been invited back to facilitate the 3rd annual STEM 4 Sunraysia youth challenge with SuniTAFE, Sunraysia Institute Of TAFE and Northern Mallee LLEN.

Each year 50+ year 9 students from across more than 6 secondary schools in and around come together in teams to ideate and solve a problem from one of a handful of local industry partners. The program culminates with an event where the student teams pitch their ideas to a panel of judges from industry.

This year's industry partners include Mildura Paddle Steamers, Christie Centre, Cooke Industries and the SuniTAFE SmartFarm.

Two years ago the whole program was condensed into two days at SuniTAFE. The world has changed a lot since then and this year the program is a blend of online presentations in-school activities in the lead up to a pitch event in three weeks.

This year's theme is adaptability and the dynamic Rebecca Tapp and Melissa Neighbour from Future Crunch kicked off proceedings with a very engaging talk and discussion about the - "the ability, innate or learned, to determine what is relevant, to unlearn obsolete knowledge, and flourish in an environment of fast and frequent change".

The industry problems were filmed and stitched together into short videos by the brilliant Mitchell Barkman Videography.

We wish the challenge teams luck over the coming weeks as they develop their ideas to local real-world problems. They have great support from their teachers and schools as well as mentors who have been assigned to each team.

It's a wonderful opportunity for these young digital natives to further develop important soft skills such as teamwork, communication, negotiation, problem solving and critical thinking that will set them up for the future.

Looking forward to sharing updates from the final event on 1 December.

07/09/2021

Are you a food or drinks producer with the goal of one day supplying your products to Woolworths?

If so, you may want to apply for the first round of the Seedlab Australia bootcamp which closes at 12 noon this Friday 10 September.

Funded by Woolworths Group, it is a new FREE program to support Australian producers of food and drinks and sustainably produced products, to start, scale and grow to supply national retailers.

Those ready for retail distribution will have the opportunity to pitch directly to the Woolworths buying team.

Seedlab provides practical training and hands-on support from experts. It's online. More info and registration form at www.seedlabaustralia.com.au

The accelerator will support businesses at different stages of maturity through its three stage program – start, scale and grow – at no cost to the businesses involved.

The pilot program helped dozens of small businesses strike supply deals for products including ice cream, olive oil, cheese, curry and kombucha.

5 days left to apply to be in the first round of Seedlab Australia

Martin from The Devil's Own Ice Creamery is not only a dad to 4 fab kids, but he's also a chef, and a man on a mission to create the best ice cream in Tasmania. He starts with milk from Jersey cows from Elgaar farm. And then the magic builds. Martin and Emma recently opened a new ice creamery in Launceston, where you can enjoy their allergen-free ice creams, gluten-free waffles cones and sorbets. Of their experience in our pilot program, SeedLab Tasmania Martin said: "It gave us an opportunity to network with like-minded people, and helped us understand trends around food and what we could do differently, especially in how we marketed ourselves". Emma said: "It was the best 6 months of my life!".

Seedlab helps you get there faster, safer, and bigger than you ever thought was possible. Simples!

Check out more info online at www.seedlabaustralia.com.au

BTW: participating in Seedlab Australia is FREE. Thanks to the support for the proven training and support program from Woolworths Supermarkets