Business Resources

Need to find a vital business resource quickly? This page contains links to other business related sites that provide free information.

Each link has a summary outlining the important feature of the site being linked to, giving the reader a chance to make a decision about the relevance of the site without having to leave the Chatswood Chamber website.

As time goes by, these lists will be archived to form a detailed set of information links for all businesses. If you have a site you'd like us to look at for inclusion on a later list, email us.

Meanwhile, the first set of links we have developed are of interest to small business:

Willoughby City Council - Fees, Forms & Checklists
www.willoughby.nsw.gov.au/Fees-Forms---Checklists.html 
Go here for a collection of documents that will help you lodge a development application or apply for a certificate, as well as providing details of fees and charges. More information on these processes can be found using the navigation on the left of the page.

Austrade
www.austrade.gov.au
Austrade is the export promotion arm of the Australian government, with more than 30 offices located around the world. They provide a wide range of export services and resources, advice and research information for companies seeking to open up export markets around the world.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics
www.abs.gov.au
offers general statistics on Australia gathered in surveys and census as well as specifically small business oriented information - the characteristics of small business operators; small business statistics in the travel, telecommunications and cinema industries; summary of growth in the small business sector since 1983-84; women in small business and abandoned innovation projects to name but a few examples.

WorkCover Authority of NSW
www.workcover.nsw.gov.au
Get the low-down on the State's workplace safety, injury management and worker's compensation systems and your responsibilities as an employer. View draft occupational health and safety regulations, find out the pitfalls of insurance and whether your employees are adequately covered in the event of injury, check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions received by the WorkCover Information Centre and review the Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998.

There is also a comprehensive guide to obtaining certification for operators of industrial equipment, information on safety and chemical testing through Testsafe Australia and Thornleigh Laboratory, WorkCover media releases and publications.

ASIC - Australian Securities and Investments Commission
www.asic.gov.au
As part of their Small Business Program, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) maintains a section specifically for small businesses, with information to help you and your company, like how to avoid getting burned by dodgy operators, getting your money back from companies who default, the importance of making a will and what is expected of company directors.

If you want to check out the people you're dealing with, ASIC has a National Names Index with basic company details and information brokers who will do live searches of company and historical extracts as well as DOCIMAGE documents if you need more in-depth information. Other identity checks offered are company search, a national names index, and a list of banned directors.

The Australian Stock Exchange
www.asx.com.au
The Australian Stock Exchange has a wealth of information for the would-be investor or indeed company directors who are considering floating their company.

Chambers of Commerce
www.worldchambers.com
The World Chambers of Commerce site maintains a list of world Chambers of Commerce, including Australian chambers. Links to web pages are provided where available.

Are you a business person with Asian heritage?

If your background is from Asia and you either own or want to start a business in the Chatswood-Willoughby areas, the Chamber of Commerce can help you. We can provide you with contacts, advice, opportunities to promote you business, products and services in the area.

To help you, here is information about the Chamber membership and services in Mandarin and Cantonese.

Asian Assistance To Do Better Business

Speaking better English language can be of enormous benefit to the performance and profitability of your business. Imagine if an Australian went to live and work in Korea, China or Japan. Your first advice would be to learn the local language.

Here are some places which provide English as a second language course.

These courses cater for various levels of ability with English – from starting out to refining and improving your English so you can understand better the often complex government and legal regulations, contract details and other business problems that will confront you.

(Chinese and Korean language information to be inserted here.)