Big Brothers Big Sisters Ballarat proudly supports our local community by connecting young people with caring adult mentors to help them thrive. We’re honoured to have secured funding through the Respect Ballarat Grants Program, strengthening our Safe Futures Mentoring work alongside local workplaces and partners. With Kerry Nelson joining as Program Coordinator, we continue to grow a strong, connected Ballarat—where young people are supported, relationships are respectful, and community comes together to create lasting positive change.
The VRCA has conducted their first 2026 Business Health Survey for regional and rural Victoria. Regional Victorian businesses are not in a “soft patch”. Many operators are now in survival mode. Our concerns are not just cost pressures; it is that businesses are working harder than ever while increasingly questioning whether the effort is sustainable. 44% of business owners say they are not drawing a living wage. 65% of business owners say they sometimes or never have work life balance. Business owners are exhausted not entitled.
We sat down with HR expert and Commerce Ballarat Board Member Fiona Murphy and lawyer James Remington of Nevetts Lawyers to answer some questions to help shape your understanding of these new laws and what you need to do.
This free, practical resource helps small and medium businesses break into government contracts. Packed with checklists, cheat sheets, AI prompts, and real-world examples, the Tender Toolkit is built to get you from “where do I start?” to “submission complete.”
Commerce Ballarat is the largest independent business group in Ballarat, creating a united voice for all business sectors.
When you join Commerce Ballarat, you gain a partner is business.
When you join Commerce Ballarat, you gain a partner is business.
Big Brothers Big Sisters has been operating in Australia for over 40 years and proudly part of a recognised mentoring organisation in 13 countries around the world who regularly meet to share updates, outcomes and learnings.BBBS is founded on a long-term mentoring model; young people aged 7-17 years in need of a positive role model are matched with a screened and trained volunteer mentor and meet at least weekly for a minimum of 12 months (though many matches continue on for many years, even for life). This model equips young people with the tools they need to build resilience and strengthen their emotional wellbeing.By matching young people with positive role models, our mentoring programs provide a safe and supportive space for our next generation to foster a sense of belonging and self-worth. The stability offered over the mentoring relationship enables young people to develop the skills, abilities, attitudes and confidence they need to help them plan for and adapt to their external environment, overcome adverse experiences, and practically manage their own mental health.
Commerce Ballarat hosts vibrant events fostering networking, education, and growth.
Commerce Ballarat is the largest independent business group in Ballarat, creating a united voice for all business sectors.
With over 650 members, our business directory is the most comphrehensive list of businesses in Ballarat.
Haymes Paint was honoured to welcome more than 100 guests from the architecture and design community to experience their new colour system – Colour Planet – at a launch event […]
The scholarship proudly honours the legacy of Cyril Callister, the brilliant Australian scientist born in Chute, Victoria, who went on to invent Vegemite and contribute to Australia’s food science story in […]
Haymes Paint was honoured to welcome more than 100 guests from the architecture and design community to experience their new colour system – Colour Planet – at a launch event […]
The scholarship proudly honours the legacy of Cyril Callister, the brilliant Australian scientist born in Chute, Victoria, who went on to invent Vegemite and contribute to Australia’s food science story in […]