Business bulletin: 11 October 2022

Congratulations to this year’s Territory businesses who won at the 29th Chief Ministers NT Export Awards, which were held in Darwin recently.

Acknowledged for their excellence in exporting, the 2022 winners are:

• Alana Kaye Group - Northern Territory Exporter of the Year 2022
• Australian Cattle Enterprises - Emerging Exporter
• Consolidated Pastoral Company - Agribusiness Food and Beverage
• Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage - Regional Exporter
• Australian Blue Cypress - Manufacturing and Advanced Materials
• North Australia Yacht Support - Professional Services
• Cycad Enterprises - Small Business
• Andrew Ping Lu, Plant Sensors - Sustainability
• Alana Kaye Group - International Education and Training
• Pak Fresh Handling - Export Supply Chain Award (NT judges recognition award)
• AusNorth Trading - New Exporter (NT judges recognition award).

The Territory is a significant contributor to Australia’s national trade and this year’s awards showcase Territory export businesses. International trade is an important driver of the Territory’s economy because it catalyses growth in investment, generates new business opportunities and creates local jobs. The Northern Territory (NT) Government’s international engagement strategy 2022 to 2026, which sets an ambitious but achievable targets to see services exported rebound to $800 million by 2026 and for goods exports to be 15% higher than forecast by 2026

Eligible winners of the NT Export Awards progress as finalists to the Australian Export Awards to compete against their peers and receive national recognition.

The national export awards ceremony is to be held in Canberra on 24 November 2022.

The Australian Export Awards is one of the longest running business awards programs in Australia. Now in its 60th year, it’s a national program that recognises and honours Australian exporters who have achieved sustainable growth through innovation and commitment.

This October Business Month will see an impressive line-up of speakers and events happening right across the Territory. There are over 120 events addressing a wide range of topics, for both business owners and employees to connect, learn and be inspired.

TIO Resilience in Business with Dan Pronk

Hear about resilience and how to apply it in both business and life, to face challenges head on from co-author of the best-selling book ‘The Resilience Shield’. Dan is a SAS veteran and resident medic 'Dr Dan' on SAS Australia and will share his experience and lessons learned throughout his career.

Tuesday 11 October, Nhulunbuy - Book here
Wednesday 12 October, Tennant Creek - Book here
Thursday 13 October, Darwin - Book here

The GID Mindset: ‘Get It Done’ Breakfast with Christian Boucousis - Alice Springs

Former Australian fighter pilot Christian (Boo) Boucousis will share lessons learned in an environment that pushes human physical and mental performance to the edge to empower you to look at your performance and the way you work within your organisation.

Tuesday 18 October, Alice Springs - Book here

Women in Business Lunch with Ita Buttrose AC, OBE - Darwin and live streamed to Alice Springs

Ita Buttrose AC, OBE, is a truly exceptional Australian: a legendary media trailblazer, businesswoman, best-selling author, committed community and welfare contributor and former Australian of the Year. Ita will speak on how to manage the ever-increasing pace of change, in both a business and personal landscape.

Thursday 20 October, Alice Springs (live streamed from Darwin) - Book here
Thursday 20 October, Darwin - Book here

To view the full OBM calendar and see more of what’s on in your region, and to avoid disappointment, book events on the OBM booking portal.

The Northern Territory’s (NT) advance manufacturing sector received a boost last month with the announcement of Alice Springs business, AirTip becoming the latest recipient of the NT Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF).

AirTip is a bespoke haulage trailer that can be used for bulk transport, pastoral and mining operations. It will reduce emissions and operating costs, while increasing fleet flexibility and payload capacities.

This recent announcement will see AirTip scale up its design, manufacture and commercialisation of the world-first, air powered, side-tipping haulage trailer in the Red Centre. This will accelerate advanced manufacturing capabilities and bolster local workforces in the region.

The company is partnering with local businesses, Ross Engineering and the Complete Group, to scale up manufacture of the trailers. This collaboration will not only improve local manufacturing efficiency and empower innovation, but it will remove the need to source similar services from interstate.

The co-investment will create an additional 10 jobs over 5 years and help build the regions capacity. AirTip is the fourth recipient of the AMEF, which is administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).

For more information, go to the AMGC website.

A new online application platform will speed up the Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement’s (NT DAMA) process, helping fill workforce vacancies with overseas workers.

The new NT DAMA platform will streamline the application and assessment process for the applicant and government, supporting Territory businesses experiencing critical skill shortages.

The NT DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program, allowing NT employers to sponsor overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local workers.

The NT DAMA makes it possible for local businesses to gain skilled and semi-skilled workers from overseas where they haven’t been able to fill vacancies locally.

Territory employers provide access to 124 skilled and semi-skilled occupations, that are identified to be in critical skill shortage, through the NT DAMA. These new occupations will help meet industry demand.

Employers and their migration agents/lawyers can lodge their applications with MigrationNT online from today.

To access the online lodgement system, and view more information about NT DAMA.

The 2022 WorldSkills Australia Regional Competition has commenced. The Northern Territory’s (NT) most talented apprentices, trainees and students are competing across a range of professions; including baking, cookery, hairdressing, beauty therapy, primary industries, carpentry and electrotechnology.

WorldSkills Australia is a national, not-for-profit organisation that enables students to showcase their trade and talents through skills-based competitions aligned to national training packages, Apprenticeships Australia and Jobs Australia schemes.

Category competitions will be held between now and November, with the winners shortlisted to compete in the national event in 2023.

The national championship is Australia's biggest vocational education and excellence competition. Last year Alice Springs local, Ella Adami, won the silver medal for beauty therapy at the national championships in Perth.

The NT regional competitions are coordinated by the Industry Skills Advisory Council with support from the NT Government.