Published on 10/02/2021 by Any Business.Com.Au

Mental Health Focus for Small Business Owners

With the dawn of 2021 comes with it new hope for small business and what most industries hope is a fresh start for businesses right across the country.

If 2020 taught us anything, it was that mental health is at the forefront of everything we do, not only as business owners but people within our communities.

As a result, the Australian Government is providing $4.3 million in funding to expand Beyond Blue's NewAccess program to deliver tailored, free mental health support to small business owners.

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.

After 10+ years of research and development including a three-year trial in Australia and independent evaluation, today the NewAccess program is giving thousands of people in Australia the practical tools to manage unhelpful thoughts and get back on track.

The program uses Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy practices and aims to help people break the cycle of negative or unhelpful thoughts.

Research has shown that millions of people in Australia, including a significant amount of small business owners, do not access support to manage the way they feel when they need it.

In addition, mental health services are swamped by demand and early support programs are limited. This is where NewAccess is filling a much needed gap.

NewAccess Coaches are trained in Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to help develop and guide participants through their tailored program.

Low-intensity Cognitive Based Therapy is a structured, evidence based psychological treatment. Put simply, it allows us to recognise the way we think, act and feel.

NewAccess Coaches work alongside participants on a problem, develop an understanding of what is causing distress, and guide the use of tools and strategies can be used in day-to-day life.

Coaches undertake twelve months of training, starting with a six-week intensive that then moves to practical learning. This involves managing clients and an ongoing curriculum under specialist supervision.

NewAccess is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health via Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across Australia, who commission service providers to deliver NewAccess in their region.

Available in parts of ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC, check out the postcode search to see if there's a suitable service near you.

JobKeeper Payment Extension

If your business continues to be affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19), you may be eligible to access the JobKeeper Payment to help you to continue paying your employees or yourself if you are a sole trader.

The JobKeeper Payment is a scheme to support businesses and not-for-profit organisations significantly affected by COVID-19. The JobKeeper Payment is administered by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and will be available to eligible businesses (including the self-employed) and not-for-profits until 28th March 2021.

Payment rates

The JobKeeper scheme has been extended from 28 September 2020 until 28 March 2021.

From 28 September 2020, there are two payment rates – a tier 1 (higher) rate and a tier 2 (lower) rate. The payment rate depends on the number of hours:

  • an eligible employee works, or
  • an eligible business participant is actively engaged in the business

From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021

The JobKeeper Payment rates for this extension period are:

  • Tier 1: $1,000 per fortnight (before tax)
  • Tier 2: $650 per fortnight (before tax)

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AnyBusiness.com.au

Curtis is a leading expert in the business-for-sale industry, serving as a senior content creator at anybusiness.com.au.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Curtis has accumulated extensive knowledge in the domain of business sales, acquisitions, and valuations. His deep understanding of market dynamics and his ability to translate complex industry jargon into accessible insights make him a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to buy or sell businesses.

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