Darebin Enterprise Centre

2011 has been big for the Darebin Enterprise Centre, and the festive excitement humming in the air lends itself to reflecting on the year that has been. While many of our client businesses received significant contracts, others broke into previously untapped markets, and some are readying to launch the fruit of their labour in the first half of next year. With such events already in-the-making, 2012 is set to be another strong year for our clients!

Now, with just four days until Christmas, the DECL team is starting to wrap things up. We will be closing our office doors on Friday 23^rd December for a two week summer break. We’ll be back on Monday 9^th of January 2012, reenergised and ready for the new year ahead.

We would like to wish all of our onsite, offsite, and prospective clients a safe and enjoyable festive season.

Best wishes,

The DECL team

The Ethnic Business Awards recognise Australians from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds who have achieved success in business. While the Awards comprise of two core categories—Small Business and Medium to Large Business—a third category of Indigenous Business exists for Indigenous Australians making their mark in business. This is the Indigenous Business Award and is regarded as the first nation-wide business award for Indigenous Australians.

The 2011 Gala Award presentation ceremony was held in Sydney yesterday, and announced the winner of the Indigenous Business Award as Complete Workwear Services Pty Ltd—one of DECL’s Indigenous client businesses! DECL has been supporting Complete Workwear through the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Employment Program for a number of years. The news that they won this prestigious award has caused a big buzz in the office, as we couldn’t imagine a more deserving winner.

Managing Director Robert Stewart started the business with no assets and serviced customers from the boot of his car. Supported by his daughter Nicole, Complete Workwear Services Pty Ltd has become Industrial Laundry specialists in the niche of the Airline Industry and has proven to be a business success.

The Awards founder Joseph Assaf believed that “The finalist nominations are real life examples of the great Australian story—hard work, enterprise and innovation overcoming hurdles and achieving business success”. Complete Workwear Services is a result of such strength and determination, and have earned the honour of the Indigenous Business Award.

Congratulations Robert and Nicole!

30^th October – 1^st November

Bondi Beach, Sydney

The theme of this year’s Small Business Development Conference was The Challenge of the Changing World. This aimed to explore a wide range of aspects that affect sustainable business development. The focus of the conference was on practitioner skills development; resource enhancement; management; industry outcomes; the entrepreneurial environment; the role of innovation and training; communications; government involvement and the knowledge economy in which we are working.

The Darebin Enterprise Centre was represented by George Jakowenko, David Williamson, and Sofia Dam. This was a fantastic opportunity to meet with other business incubator managers to discuss the future of business incubation in Australia. The conference was also a chance to share the many positive initiatives that are being developed at the Darebin Enterprise Centre, and how we are planning to put them into action.

There was an awards evening that revealed the winner of this year’s National Business Incubator Client of the Year award – DECL’s very own Koorie Night Market! What an exciting moment it was when one of our ArtDECL clients was announced.

We nominated Koorie Night Market for this award, believing that their efforts and achievements in the creative Indigenous community would put them in a strong position. It is a credit to their board, management, staff and their ongoing relationship with the Darebin Enterprise Centre that they were awarded incubator client of the year.

Overall, the conference was a success and our representatives are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Gollings the Florists is proud to present our series of six workshops designed to teach some of the skills you need to get professional results with your flower arrangements. What you always wanted to know!

Design skills include:

• Arranging flowers in a vase "Gollings Style"
• Making a professional gift posy
• Creating a pave design that will amaze your friends
• Fruit, Flowers and gel: "Find out our secret"
• Designing a table center for your next dinner party; and
• Creating an organic design using an armature.

Lessons will include all flowers and products needed to complete your designs, and you can take them home to show your family and friends (valued at approx $60 to $80).

You will be required to bring your tool box (tools needed will be explained when you enroll).

Lesson sessions are 1pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Tuesdays. 

Floristry lessons - the ideal present for a creative person!

Cost $99.00 plus GST per lesson.

Please note: even though you will be learning advanced floristry skills, this course is not designed to enable you to be qualified to gain employment in the floral industry.

About your Lecturer

Dot Humphreys AIFD FDA has been designing with flowers for approx 30 years, specialising in wedding and event work. She was inducted into the prestigious AIFD in America in 1996, as well as FDA in Australia  in 1996. Dot is Qualified Floral Judge, Judge for the International Flower and Garden show, International presenter of Floral Designing, having presented programs in USA, Japan and New Zealand on many occasions. She was a presenter for the finale program for the AIFD world symposium, and is a creator of a series of Photographic CD's on Floral Designs (available to purchase from Gollings the Florists @$39.50 each plus postage).

Enquiries or to enroll