Support for local businesses

Supporting Rockingham Business

We are committed to supporting our local business community and recognise the key role they play in linking, sustaining and strengthening our community and the local economy.

Business Innovation Grants

We're offering a Business Innovation Grants Program to support small local businesses to grow and prosper through the adoption of innovative business ideas, digital tools, and skillsets. The BIG program is being offered for a period of two years, commencing in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Two eligible streams are available:

  • Technology and Digital Enhancement
  • Business Innovation and Growth

Applicants can apply for matched funding of up to 50% of the total project cost, to the maximum grant value of $2,000. The remaining project costs are to be self-funded by the applicant. 

Read the application form below for more information.

 

Business workshops

The City of Rockingham is partnering with the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) to deliver fully subsidised workshops for local businesses.

Workshop topics are suitable for every level of business including start-ups, and are drawn from the following areas:

  • business skills
  • digital skills
  • financial management
  • interpersonal skills
  • sales and marketing
  • strategy and risk
  • tendering and contracts.

You can view the SBDC's workshop schedule to find more workshops of interest taking place both online and in-person.

 

Digital Solutions Program

Funded by the Australian Government, the City of Rockingham is partnering with Business Foundations and the City of Kwinana to offer a series of free Digital Solutions workshops designed to provide practical advice to help local businesses better understand all things digital. Through these workshops, you will improve your digital knowledge, and help you adopt the right digital tools to transform your business. Places are limited to 20 participants per workshop so please register early to secure your spot.

  • SEO Basics: 5 Things You Can Do to Boosty your Google Ranking (Free) - Wednesday 5 March 2025 (10am - 12pm).

Register for workshop

 

Digital Expert Support Program

Choosing the best digital tools for your business can be challenging but with a Digital Action Plan and the support of a digital experts, Business Foundations can help you to grow your business with the right digital tools, and develop the confidence to embrace new technology. 

You can view the Business Foundations' Digital Expert Support program to find out more. 

 

Other Local Business Support Initiatives

  • The Australian Government’s new Small Business Cyber Resilience Service provides free, tailored person-to-person support to help small businesses build their cyber resilience and recover from a cyber incident.

For more information

 

Useful links

Whether you are a new business looking to establish in Rockingham, or an existing business, the information and links below are intended to provide some guidance and assistance to help you with your business decisions.

As part of Western Australia's Plan for Plastics, the State Government is helping reduce plastic pollution from 1 January 2022 by phasing out single-use plastic items in two phases. To support local businesses in complying with these changes, the WA Plastics Ban website has been created by the National Retail Association, with support from the WA Government, to provide key information and resources.

Businesses can enquire with any related questions through a toll-free hotline (1800 817 723 - 9am to 5pm AWST weekdays) or email the team at sustainability@nra.net.au.

Small Business Development Corporation

For over 35 years, the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) has been helping Western Australians commence and grow their small business. 

Whether you’re starting out as an independent contractor, setting up a small business from scratch, buying a franchise or developing an existing business, the SBDC provides free, expert advice – directly and through referrals to their partner organisations on a wide range of business topics.

Services the SBDC provides include:

AusTrade has a variety of tools and information guides for Australian businesses (including education providers and tourism operators) to learn the basics of exporting, assess if they're ready to export, understand market nuances and build a list of resources including 3,500 export market profiles and market laws and regulations.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics is the national statistical collection agency in Australia.

Website provided by the Australian Government which aggregates information, tools, apps and resources from numerous government offices, departments, agencies, and regulatory bodies across all levels of government.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) is Australia's corporate, markets and financial services regulator and provides information, guides and resources in relation to starting, operating and stopping a company or business.

Information and resources provided by the Australian Tax Office relating to small business support and advisory, tools, forms, super, taxation, concessions and regulatory reporting, record keeping, e-invoicing, atoTV guides and videos, small business assist portal and web-chat.

The Business Licence Finder is an information service provided by the Small Business Development Corporation to assist with identifying licences, permits, codes of practice, regulatory obligations and advisory material that may assist or be required in registering and operating your business.

business.gov.au is an online government resource for the Australian business community. business.gov.au offers you simple and convenient access to all of the government information, assistance, forms and services you need. It's a whole-of-government service providing essential information on planning, starting and growing your business.

Business Foundations is a commercially focused, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to encouraging entrepreneurial activity in Western Australia.  They have helped thousands of successful new businesses and supported many more existing businesses in their sustainable growth over the past 20 years, and currently partner in providing the City of Rockingham's Enterprise Development Program.

Business support

The Rockingham Kwinana Chamber of Commerce (RKCC) is the peak industry body representing the interests of the business community in the South-West Metropolitan corridor. It is located at the Gary Holland Centre, 19 Kent Street, Rockingham.

The Penguin Island Visitor Centre is engaged by the City to support local tourism businesses within the Rockingham region of Western Australia. This includes marketing the region, providing support to local businesses and streamlining communications to maximise outcomes for all of Rockingham.

The Penguin Island Visitor Centre can be contacted on 08 9592 6100 or email bookings@penguinislandvisitorcentre.com.au.

Tourism WA is the State Government agency responsible for promoting Western Australia as an extraordinary holiday and event destination. This includes marketing the State; developing, attracting and promoting major sporting, arts, cultural and business events; and supporting major projects that will draw visitors to particular destinations.

Contact our Economic Development and Tourism team on 9528 0333 if you require any further information.

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