Small Business Development Corporation of NSW

Objectives
Membership
Functions and Activities
Contact

The Small Business Development Corporation of New South Wales (Corporation) is a statutory body constituted under the Small Business Development Corporation Act 1984.

The Small Business Development Corporation is part of the Government's overall assistance strategy for small business operators aimed at contributing to the capacity of small business to achieve profitability and to grow jobs.

It was established to provide advice to the NSW Minister for Small Business on the special needs of the small business sector. The Corporation is part of the Government's strategy to assist small business, which includes attention to innovation, export support and high-quality information services to increase the skills and knowledge of business owners and managers. The Department of State and Regional Development hosts the Secretariat of the Corporation.

The Corporation was reconstituted on 5 September 2007 for a period of three years. The Corporation comprises of up to 13 members and members are chosen for their knowledge of matters relating to the small business sector of the economy.

News: Two new members were appointed to the Corporation on 3 March 2008; Mr Barry Buffier, Director General of DSRD, and Ms Leigh Bryant, Director of Scorpion International Freight Services Pty Ltd.

Top of Page

Objectives

The primary objectives of the Corporation are to:

develop policy objectives for Government programs of assistance to the small business sector of the economy;
evaluate such Government programs in the light of those objectives;
make recommendations for the improvement of such Government programs; and
assist the Government generally in matters relating to the development of the small business sector of the economy.
Top of Page

Membership

Members
Michele Greig (Chair)	Director, MBC Employment Services	Wollongong
Roger Bailey	Managing Director, Bailey Interiors	Mortdale
Dr Lisa Barnes	Lecturer, University of Newcastle	Ourimbah
Andrew Boog	Partner, Austen Brown, Boog Solicitors	Dubbo
Leigh Bryant	Director, Scorpion International Freight Services Pty Ltd	Merewether
Barry Buffier	Director General, Department of State and Regional Development	Sydney
David Caruso	Managing Director, Alert Rental Centre	Blacktown
Alan Eldridge	Managing Director, Eldridge Group of Companies	Wagga Wagga
Gregory Farmilo	Managing Director, Beyond Financial Group	North Parramatta
Robert McCotter	Commercial Director, New Macey Pty Ltd	Tomago
Frank Oliveri	Director, Home & Kitchen	Smithfield
Julie Staples	Partner, Tamworth Tax Team	Tamworth
Frank Zumbo	Associate Professor, University of NSW	Kensington

Top of Page

Functions and Activities

The Corporation meets about four times a year to discuss and action a range of policy issues. Previous policy development work of the Corporation has included:

a submission to WorkCover's "Review of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000";
participation on Minister Della Bosca's Panel for “Definition of a Worker” which was formed to provide clarity on who is a "worker" and to improve the wage audit system;
contribution to WorkCover’s review of the Workers Compensation Premium Scheme;
briefing to the Minister for Small Business about the Australian Taxation Office Tax Debt Collection process and its impact on small business;
providing comment to the Australian Taxation Office on the value and future use of the Small Business Services Gben government services guide;
development of business improvement workshops for Small Business September 2007 including the:
- "Maximise the value of your business" succession planning workshop;
- "Become a great place to work" workshop. This workshop highlights the seven main engagement drivers to assist in staff retention;
- "How to win in business in a confused world" business forums which explored how businesses can become and remain resilient in a turbulent and changing world;
- "Are you business coach ready" forum which focused on whether a business is business coach ready.
  Top of Page

Contact

The Corporation encourages small business owners/operators to contact it with issues or suggestions in relation to the small business sector.

For further information about the Corporation, please contact the Executive Officer, Small Business Development Corporation – phone: 9338 6691; fax: 9338 6705; email: sbdc@business.nsw.gov.au.

Top of Page