Latest Victorian business and individual support
Last updated Thursday 14 October
Financial assistance continues to be available for businesses who are impacted by the Victorian public health restrictions. Whilst a number of funding packages are closed for applications, business who applied for these in the May, July, or August lockdowns will continue to receive automatic top up payments, as outlined below. This includes regional Victoria.
The payments will support businesses through the next six weeks to mid November (where eligible) at which point Victoria is expected to reach 80% vaccination.
Different funding options include:
- Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
- Business Costs Assistance Program
- Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund
- COVID-19 Disaster Payment
- Live Performance Support Program
- Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme and Landlord Hardship Fund
- Small Business Digital Adaptation Program Round Two.
Support packages are administered by the Victorian Government but some jointly funded 50/50 with the Commonwealth Government.
Below we have simplified the support available to help you understand what you may be eligible for.
If you have any questions, would like assistance with applying for funding or are after a second opinion please contact us. We are here to help and have helped thousands of businesses in the last 18 months to receive funding they are eligible for. Call us on 03 5443 0344 or email afs@afsbendigo.com.au
Funding currently available
COVIDSafe Deep Cleaning Rebate
A rebate of up to 80% of deep cleaning costs capped to $10,000 ($12,500 cost total).
The rebate cover the cost of hiring professional cleaning services to conduct a ‘deep clean’ or ‘decontamination clean’ of their premises or worksite where it has been an exposure site. This will help businesses prevent further transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19), and reduce their out-of-pocket cleaning expenses.
Eligibility:
To be eligible businesses must:
- operate from a worksite or premises in Victoria where a person suspected or was confirmed to have COVID-19
- have undertaken a ‘deep clean’ or ‘decontamination clean’ of the affected worksite
- have evidence of the expenditure
- hold an ABN
- have an annual payroll of less than $3 million
- be registered with WorkSafe if employing people.
This rebate is ongoing with no end date currently. For more details and to apply click the button for more:
Doing it Tough grant program for micro-businesses and sole traders
Victorian micro businesses and sole traders who missed out on state government support payments during the latest COVID-19 lockdowns will be able to apply for $3,000 grants in a program administered by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA).
COSBOA has partnered with GoFundMe, Commonwealth Bank, and Transurban to create the Doing it Tough grant program, which aims to support businesses that have ‘fallen through the cracks’ to qualify for government support.
Eligibility:
To be eligible businesses must:
- Be a sole trader or micro business, defined as:
- Having 3 or fewer employees
- A turnover of less than $75,000
- Have a valid ABN
- Be based in Victoria
- Not have received any government funding related to COVID-19 neither as a business nor an individual since 1 June 2021.
Applications opened 27 September 2021 and closed on October 2021. Click the button for more:
Business Costs Assistance Program
Businesses in Victoria will automatically receive weekly payments if they have previously received grants under this program.
Applications have closed but top ups continue to be applied automatically to those recipients. We have included the original program requirements at the bottom of this page.
The automatic weekly payments depend on payroll size:
- $2,800 a week (annual payroll below $650,000)
- $5,600 a week (payroll of $650,000 to $3 million)
- $8,400 (payroll of $3 million to $10 million)
Businesses will remain eligible while they are unable to operate due to public health restrictions.
See the full list of eligible ANZSIC codes for the 1–29 October period and the 29 October – 13 November period for the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Five.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021
UPDATE: As Victoria achieves between 70 and 80% double dose, the payments for licensed premises in metropolitan Melbourne will be reduced by 25%, and in regional Victoria by 50% as the economy continue to progress to greater levels of freedom.
Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week will be made to eligible hospitality premises including cafes, bars and restaurants that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 program.
Payment amounts will be tiered according to premises capacity:
- $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons or where patron capacity is not specified
- $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons
- $20,000 for a capacity of 500 patrons or more.
Applications for the extension closed on 13 August but top ups continue to be applied automatically to those recipients. We have included the original program requirements at the bottom of this page.
Small Business COVID Hardship Fund
** FURTHER FUNDING HAS BEEN ADDED TO THIS PROGRAM. WE WILL UPDATE THIS PAGE WHEN FURTHER INFORMATION IS RELEASED **
The Small Business COVID Hardship fund will allow businesses who have previously not received support under other programs, to receive a $20,000 grant.
Eligibility:
To be eligible, businesses must:
- be located in Victoria
- as a direct consequence of COVID-19 restrictions since 27 May 2021 have experience a reduction in turnover of at least 70% for a minimum consecutive two-week period comparable to a benchmark period in 2019
- have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
- have been registered for GST on and from 28 July 2021
- hold an ABN and have held that ABN on and from 28 July 2021
- be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator (ASIC).
Employing businesses must also:
- be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the restrictions, and support their casual workers, where possible.
Applying
You may choose to apply for this program in one of three ways:
- A qualified tax agent (such as AFS) can apply on your behalf and verify the 70% drop in business turnover as part of your application.
- You can apply directly as a business owner and have the application verified by a qualified tax agent using the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund – Letter from the Qualified Agent template
- Business owners who do not have access to a qualified tax agent can register their interest for the program. Applicants may receive an invitation to apply email from Business Victoria.
Businesses should compare their best consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2019, with their worst consecutive two-week trading period between 27 May and 10 September 2021.
Applications are now closed. For more details visit:
Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund 3
The Commercial Landlord Hardship Fund 3 provides grants to landlords who waive rent for their tenant(s) between 28 July 2021 and 15 January 2022 under the Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme.
WHAT: Commercial landlords can receive grants of up to $6000 per tenancy, and up to $10,000 for those experiencing acute hardship.
ELIGIBILITY:
Landlords must:
- have total taxable landholdings of less than $3 million
- waive at least 50% of the agreed rent relief for tenants between 28 July 2021 and 15 January 2022
- be the landlord of property subject to a Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme
- be able to confirm property ownership
- attest that commercial rent represents more than 50% of their total gross income for the 2019-20 financial year.
HOW: This fund will run until 15 January 2022. Applications are now open. For program guidelines and to apply click the button below
Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme
The reintroduced Commercial Tenancy Relief Scheme will provide rent relief for eligible tenants with an annual turnover of less than $50 million that have suffered a decline in turnover of at least 30% due to COVID-19.
The Scheme is to help support tenants and landlords negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement on rent relief in a timely manner.
Tenants and landlords are encouraged to enter negotiations directly, with The Victorian Small Business Commission (VSBC) who are able to provide support through a free mediation service to assist parties in reaching a fair and satisfactory agreement.
Landlords will be required to provide proportional rent relief in line with a business’s reduction in turnover. For example, a business with a turnover of 40% of pre-pandemic levels can only be charged 40% of its rent. Of the balance, at least half must be waived, with the remainder to be deferred. Rent relief for eligible tenants will be calculated by comparing their turnover for the final quarter of the 2020/21 financial year with turnover from the final quarter of 2018/19. Special arrangements will be in place to assess the turnover impacts for new businesses which were not operating in 2019.
The protections are backdated from 28 July 2021 to ensure rent relief can start immediately, and will run until 15 January 2022.
Landlords who provide rent relief will also receive land tax relief up to 20%.
Commerical landlords and tenants can contact the Victorian Small Business Commission for further information on 13 87 22 or visit vsbc.vic.gov.au
COVID-19 Disaster Payment
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment is available for eligible workers who lose hours due to the lockdown. This includes businesses that do not qualify for other support programs because they are not registered for GST.
People who have lost more than 20 hours a week will receive $750 and the payment for people who have lost less than 20 hours of work is $450 a week.
People on welfare who have lost more than eight hours of work a week will get a special disaster supplement of $200 a week.
The COVID-19 Disaster Payment payments will be administered through Services Australia.
Additional support for the following areas
Newly announced: COVID-19 Rent Relief Grant
A new rental assistance fund will provide rent relief grants of up to $1,500 to Victorians experiencing rental hardship as a result of the pandemic.
The one-off grant will be paid directly to the renter’s agent, lessor or landlord to contribute to their rental payments under their new agreement for reduced rent. Renters must have had a rent reduction for a period after 27 May 2021.
Other eligibility includes:
- Have lost income as a result of the pandemic on or after 27 May 2021
- Have less than $2,000 in savings (excluding superannuation)
- Have a single income of less than $1,208.85 per week, or $1,813.46 as a couple, aligning to an annual income limit of $62,860 for singles, and $94,300 for couples
- Provide proof of a rent reduction agreement for a period after 27 May 2021
- Be paying more than 30% of your income in rent.
Full details and questions and answers about the grant can be found via the button below:
Live Performance Support Program Round Two
WHAT:
Presenters: Grants of either $7000 or $5000 for one event, depending on losses or unrecoverable costs, and a further $5000 for a second event. There is a cap of $12,000 per applicant across the two rounds of the program.
Suppliers: Grants of either $200 or $500 per event, depending on the level of loss or unrecoverable costs incurred. They can apply for support for up to 20 events through Round One and Round Two of the program. There is a cap of $4000 in total support per applicant across the two rounds of the program.
WHO: Eligible event presenters and suppliers affected by COVID-19 lockdowns and health restrictions between 11:59pm on 27 May 2021 and 11:59pm on 2 September 2021.
ELIGIBILITY:
Presenters must:
- be in Victoria
- hold an ABN registered in Victoria and have held that ABN from 27 May 2021
- meet the definition in the guidelines of a ‘Presenter’ of a ‘Live Performance Event’
- have scheduled an event to take place between 11:59pm on 27 May 2021 and 11:59pm on 2 September 2021 that was unable to proceed due to lockdown or COVID-19 health restrictions that commenced at 11:59pm on 27 May 2021
- have incurred losses or unrecoverable costs equal to or greater than the amount applied for (either $7000 or $5000 for one event and an additional $5000 for a second event, if applicable)
- be registered for GST on 27 May 2021
- be trading solvently at the time of application
- be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator (eg ASIC)
- gain consent from the key Contracted Suppliers for the affected event to give the following business details in the application: business name and ABN.
And if it is an employing business, it must also:
- be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2020-21 on an ungrouped basis
- attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or to work from home during the COVID-19 lockdown or health restrictions, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.
If you have received funding through the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021, the amount you can receive through the Live Performance Support Program will be reduced.
Suppliers must:
- be in Victoria
- hold an ABN registered in Victoria and have held that ABN from 27 May 2021
- be registered as operating in an industry sector in the List of Eligible ANZSIC classes (as defined by the ANZSIC class linked to the business’s ABN)
- have as its principal activity the supply of goods and services to Live Performance Events
- be trading solvently at the time of application
- gain consent from the relevant event’s presenter to share their business and contact details in the application.
If you have received funding through the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021, you will not be eligible for support under this program.
HOW: Applications close 11:59pm Wednesday 8 September 2021.
For full program guidelines and to apply follow the below:
Small Business Digital Adaptation Program Round Two
WHAT: A rebate of $1200 to access selected digital business management tools for 12 months.
WHO: Sole traders, micro businesses and small businesses. To be eligible for the program an applicant must:
- operate a business located in Victoria that has been in operation since or before 13 September 2019
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have continuously held the ABN since or before 13 September 2019.
HOW: Choose one or more of the digital products, purchase and start using it, apply for the rebate and claim $1,200.
The program will be open until 11:59pm on 5 December 2021, or until the program’s funds are exhausted. For more information visit:
Alpine businesses
Alpine Businesses will receive a further grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 in recognition of restricted inter and intra-state travel during the peak winter season.
The funding also includes additional support to alpine resort operators and management boards.
Applications are now open until 17 Sep 2021.
For more details see: business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/alpine-resorts-winter-support-program
Sports clubs
A new round of the Sporting Clubs Grants Program will provide $2,000 grants for community sport and active recreation organisations for events that have been unable to proceed or will have to be cancelled or postponed.
Details of how to apply for each of these funding rounds is yet to be released, we will update this page as information is released.
Funding previously announced
Business Continuity Fund
The Business Continuity Fund provides an automatic payment of $5,000 to businesses in 24 sectors that were affected by additional capacity limits when reopening in late July 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions.
There are 24 eligible sectors covered by the fund which can be found here.
The payment is for recipients of the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two and the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension who are in 24 sectors affected by capacity limits when reopening in late July 2021 under COVID-19 restrictions.
Recipients should have been contacted from mid-August to confirm they received a payment. Business Continuity Fund payments will be processed automatically.
For further information visit the program page:
Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two August Extension
**APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED AND FURTHER PAYMENTS TO RECEIPENTS WILL BE AUTOMATIC. ORIGINAL PROGRAM DETAILS ARE BELOW**
WHAT: $4,800 in grants for eligible businesses that had not previously applied for the Program in June, or have since become eligible.
WHO: To be eligible a business must:
- Be located within Victoria
- Be operating in an eligible industry sector identified in the List of Eligible ANZSIC classes
- Have incurred direct costs as a result of the July COVID-19 restrictions and the business cannot predominantly operate remotely
- Have an annual Victorian payroll of up to $10 million in 2019-20 on an ungrouped basis
- Be registered for GST on 15 July 2021
- Hold an ABN and have held that ABN on and from 15 July 2021
- Be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator (eg ASIC)
For employing businesses only:
- Be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
- Attest that the business is supporting its workers to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the July COVID-19 restrictions, and supporting their casual workers, where possible.
Businesses that have received a grant under the Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two or the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 are not eligible for a grant under this program.
HOW: Applications closed on 13 August 2021.
Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 July Extension
*APPLICATIONS FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE NOW CLOSED AND FURTHER PAYMENTS TO RECEIPENTS WILL BE AUTOMATIC. ORIGINAL PROGRAM DETAILS ARE BELOW**
Automatic payments of $5,000, $10,000 and $20,000 per week will be made to more than 2,000 licensed hospitality premises in regional Victoria that have previously received grants under the Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 or July Extension programs.
Payment amounts will be tiered according to premises capacity:
- $5,000 for a capacity of up to 99 patrons
- $10,000 for a capacity of 100 to 499 patrons
- $20,000 for a capacity of 500 patrons or more.
WHAT: $7,200 in grants for eligible businesses that did not apply for the program in June 2021.
Liquor licensees who have received their application form link from Business Victoria are eligible to apply.
WHO: To be eligible for a grant, businesses must:
- Operate a licensed bar, restaurant, pub, club, hotel, café or reception centre that is registered to serve food and alcohol (Premises) in Victoria on 15 July 2021
- Hold a general or late night (general), full club, restaurant and cafe, producer’s or on-premises, or late night (on-premises) liquor licence on 15 July 2021
- Provide a Class 2 or 3 Service Sector Certificate of Registration under the Food Act 1984 that is valid in 2020 or 2021 for serving food on the same premises
- Be registered for GST on 15 July 2021
- Hold an ABN and have held that ABN on 15 July 2021
- Be registered with the responsible Australian or Victorian regulator.
Businesses will not be eligible to receive a Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund July Extension grant if they have received support under any of the following programs:
- Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund 2021 for the same premises
- Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two
- Business Costs Assistance Program Round Two July Extension.
Businesses who hold a food certificate but do not hold a liquor licence are not eligible for a grant under this program. Businesses who hold a liquor licence but cannot provide a food certificate for the same premises are also not eligible for a grant under this program.
For employing businesses only, the applicant must confirm that the business is supporting its workers (including casual workers, where possible) to access any paid leave entitlements, or that if a person can work from home, to work from home during the Victorian lockdown restrictions.
HOW: Applications closed on Friday 13 August 2021.
If you have any questions or would like assistance please don’t hesitate to contact our team.
AFS & Associates Chartered Accountants
T: 03 5443 0344 • E: afs@afsbendigo.com.au • 61 Bull St, Bendigo VIC 3550
