Two local business facilitators have been appointed by the Australian Government to ensure bushfire-affected business have received all the assistance they are eligible for.

Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said while there has been 19,638 claims granted for Small Business Support Grants of $10,000 in New South Wales, these two facilitators would ensure no eligible business owner falls through the cracks.

“I welcome Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews allocating this investment in local business facilitators as it will help bushfire-affected businesses receive the help they deserve,” he said.

“Many local businesses of course already have with $196 million provided in $10,000 grants to businesses in New South Wales since November. Plus a further $96 million has been provided to primary producers in recovery grants in our State.

“But it’s never too late to have business coaches on the ground casting the net wide to ensure no one has missed out.”

Rod Barnaby is the facilitator appointed for the Port Macquarie and Kempsey regions and Peter Bastian has been appointed to assist businesses in the Nambucca Valley region.

Mr Barnaby is quite well known to the Macleay/Port Macquarie business community from his work with Biodiversity Solutions and his roles on regional boards with Destination North Coast, the Hastings Coop Ltd, Bundaleer Care Services and, until recently, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast.

Mr Bastian has an extensive business development background, more recently as Business Development Executive with Business Australia, Mid North Coast, for 14 years. He also has an extensive career in media in Australia and London and has owned his own media consultancy business in Nambucca for nine years.

Mr Barnaby and Mr Bastian will help bushfire-affected small and medium-sized enterprises recover and re-establish themselves and analyse if they have received all available Australian and NSW Government assistance. They can also work with business owners to develop a roadmap to navigate the challenges and opportunities for each business, plus connect owners with other services available through the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Program, led on the Mid North Coast by Growth Facilitator Jill Follington.

To book in a session with Mr Barnaby please call 0437 422 692 or email rod.barnaby@ep.industry.gov.au

Or to book in a session with Mr Bastian call 0409 861 805 or email peter.bastian@ep.industry.gov.au