The latest ASBFEO update, with special guest Kate Carnell the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman

By Alexi Boyd | Thursday November 19

Small Biz Matters – #188 Providing the small business community with educational content and advocacy since 2014
with Alexi Boyd, broadcaster, advocate and small business owner.
Date: 19 November 2020

Small Biz Matters is proud to announce our ongoing collaboration with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterpris­­e Ombudsman through regular updates from Kate Carnell about all ASBFEO is doing to advocate and support small businesses.

In the third of the series Kate Carnell will update us about ASBFEO’s response to the crisis facing small business. This week we’re updating you on:

  • Insolvency changes and access to funding for small business
  • Access to funding
  • What’s the Australian Business Growth fund and how can small businesses access this resource?
  • The latest update on the Business Funding Guide - further improvements thanks to the learnings from COVID; the changes to trading conditions and a practical HOW TO pathway to becoming financially fit

Kate Carnell, as an independent advocate for small business owners, has the legislative power to influence our nation’s lawmakers, ensuring legislation and regulations are put in place to help small businesses grow and in these times, survive.

Welcome back to the show Kate Carnell.

  • Insolvency changes and access to funding for small business
    • Why is it so important that small businesses are aware of these changes and the associated timelines?
    • What do the reforms mean to the way you structure debt when you are restructuring or winding up a business
    • Who is at risk of failure?
  • Access to funding
    • How has ASBFEO assisted with encouraging Federal policy makers to make it easier for small business to access finance?
    • What’s often at risk when increasing funding
  • What’s the Australian Business Growth fund and how can small businesses access this resource?
    • Why was this established and who is eligible?
    • Where has this model come from?
  • The latest update on the Business Funding Guide - further improvements thanks to the learnings from COVID; the changes to trading conditions and a practical HOW TO pathway to becoming financially fit
  • Commercial tenancies - who’s helping who here?
  • Insolvency laws and what it means to be trading insolvent right now

To find out more go to their website: https://www.asbfeo.gov.au/

About our Guest:

The Ombudsman - Kate Carnell

"In this role I will seek to bring together the many voices within the small business community in a way that promotes growth in this vital sector."

Kate Carnell is the inaugural Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO).

As the ASBFEO, she is an independent advocate for small business owners.  Her office has the legislative powers needed to effectively influence our nation’s lawmakers, ensuring legislation and regulations are put in place to help small businesses grow.

The ASBFEO office also provides small businesses and family enterprises with assistance should they find themselves involved in a business dispute.

Small businesses are the engine room of the economy; it’s a big reputation to live up to, so we need to do all we can to ensure they have the freedom to innovate, employ and thrive well into the future.

About ASBFEO

Australia is a nation of small businesses and family enterprises.  It’s a dynamic and exciting sector that allows people with an entrepreneurial spirit to pursue their dreams.

One of the fastest growing in the economy, the sector presents many opportunities – and challenges – for those who dedicate themselves to pursing a small business venture.

The ASBFEO's role is to support small businesses and family enterprises to enable them to grow and thrive.

The ASBFEO was launched on 11 March 2016 and has two key functions: to assist and to advocate for small businesses and family enterprises.

ASSIST:

We understand the challenges facing small business owners. We provide access to dispute resolution services for those who may be involved in a disagreement, so they can try and find a solution to their problem without having to go to court.

ADVOCATE:

There are a number of different activities the Ombudsman may conduct in fulfilling the role of small business advocate. Broadly these include:

Conduct inquiries and research

Work with other arms of government

Contribute to other inquiries

Promote good business practice.