Media releases

Federation University Australia’s Future Regions Research Centre in Horsham will launch a Small Business Revitalisation Report on Thursday, that reveals challenges and opportunities for future growth in small towns.  

The research is a pulse-check on small businesses in the Wimmera Southern Mallee funded by the Wimmera Development Association (WDA). 

It involved directly interviewing retail, tourism, and accommodation small business across 25 Wimmera towns between October 2021 and May 2022. 

Key findings include: 

• Businesses in the Wimmera Southern Mallee have a high level of independence and self-motivation 
• Many small businesses are looking to grow but are challenged by critical limitations primarily around availability of staff, housing and, to an extent, childcare. 
• Most small business jobs are not advertised, which is a problem as this data is often used by government to assess job needs for a region
• COVID-19 has contributed to staffing challenges in the region and has isolated businesses from each other – in many areas reducing collaborative effort 
• Most small businesses feel time poor and struggle to find time to work ‘on the business’ which is impacting on competitiveness and local engagement
• Skilled trades are spread thin in Wimmera Southern Mallee communities, and, in some places, towns and small business are reliant on a few skilled tradespeople to address local needs. This is a significant risk for the future.  

A highlight of the work was the independence and determination of so many small businesses at all ages and stages to make a home for themselves in the Wimmera, and this enthusiasm for the opportunities in their communities presents many exciting opportunities for the future. 

The WDA Small Business Revitalisation report is being released on Thursday, 11 August, with a presentation by the research team at Federation University Auditorium, Horsham at 12:15pm. Entry from 12. 

Quotes attributable to Team Lead and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Future Regions Research Centre Horsham, Dr Cathy Tischler 

“While small businesses have a lot of enthusiasm and determination, community and regional efforts are also critical to supporting small business address bigger problems that they cannot solve alone. 

“The conversations we have had with small businesses have helped identify areas they think are urgent and critical for their support.” 

Quote attributable to Chief Executive Officer, Wimmera Development Association, Chris Souness 

“There is a clear gap between what businesses are saying and data in this space, with real employment needs in the region underrepresented, because there is no value to businesses in advertising for staff in tight markets.  

“Policy makers often rely on the data to assess our region's needs - so this conversation must change"