RCCIWA Regional Visits
The past few weeks have been busy with regional visits, which we love doing. It has been inspiring to see the activities, events and benefits our members are delivering for their members and their wider community:

• Donnybrook-Balingup CCI – spent time offering guidance and support with their team and their committee. So much happening and an exciting time for the DBCCI.
• Bridgetown-Greenbushes CCI – attending their reboot AGM, with a full committee elected and fantastic business support for the re-establishment of this Chamber.
• Wheatbelt Business Network and the Northam CCI – travelled to the Muresk Institute to MC the Inaugural CBH Group Wheatbelt Futures Forum – a brilliant event.
• Esperance CCI – caught up with Bronwyn McLeod, ECCI executive Officer to talk all things Esperance businesses. A great deal happening here too.
• Fitzgerald Business Network – MC’d the FBN’s inaugural Business Celebration Evening. A fantastic event that connected, rewarded and celebrated local business and community achievements in the beautiful town of Hopetoun.

RCCIWA Members Forum– June 22^nd and 23^rd 2023
We are so happy and encouraged with how our first RCCIWA Members Forum for 2023 is shaping up and the interest from our members to attend has been very strong. That you to those who have already registered.  A reminder that this is an RCCIWA member event – however any representative can attend on behalf of their organisation. It is a great way for new committee members to learn more about how all of the Chambers around regional WA operate and to be on the forefront of advocacy and representation. Please talk to your committee and staff (for those who have employees) about who might attend on behalf of your organisation and represent them.

I am very pleased to inform you that the Hon Jackie Jarvis MLC, Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry and Small Business is confirmed to host day one of our Forum at Hale House. We are so appreciative of her support and look forward to meeting with her on the day and talking about the issues and priorities that matter for regional businesses.

Thursday June 22^nd – Advocacy Day at Hale House

Thursday June 22^nd – Business After Hours at the Novotel on Murray Street co hosted by Accor Hotels WA and Buy West Eat Best

Friday June 23^rd – Operational and strategic day – at the Novotel on Murray Street

You can find out more about the Forum here in our Info sheet and our Why you Should attend

Also below is an update on our RCCIWA Members Forum Program as to who we have invited. Please be aware that we usually do not receive confirmation from our parliamentary invitees until about 4 weeks out from the event and we will keep you updated when we do receive confirmations. These also can change at the last minute, which is something that is out of our control (and theirs).  Day one is our Parliamentary advocacy day, and we expect to hear from 6 to 8 speakers. Day two is  workshops and group discussions with 1 or 2 member requested speakers.

We have invited the following:

• Hon Jackie Jarvis MLA  Minister for Agriculture and Food; Forestry; Small Business - Confirmed and generously hosting us for Day One at Hale House
• Hon Mark McGowan MLA Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations
• Hon Roger Cook MLA Deputy Premier; Minister for State Development; Jobs and Trade; Hydrogen Industry; Tourism; Science
• Hon Don Punch MLA Minister for Regional Development; Disability Services; Fisheries; Seniors and Aging
• Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA Minister for Police; Road Safety; Defence Industry; Veterans Issues
• Hon Rita Saffioti MLA Minister for Transport; Planning; Ports
• Hon Stephen Dawson MLC Minister for Emergency Services; Innovation and the Digital Economy; Medical Research; Volunteering
• Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA Minister for Education; Aboriginal Affairs; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
• Hon Simone McGurk MLA Minister for Training; Water; Youth
• Hon John Carey MLA Minister for Housing; Lands; Homelessness; Local Government
• Ms Libby Mettam MLA Leader of the WA Liberal Party; Shadow Minister for Health; Mental Health; Disability Services; Prevention of Family & Domestic Violence; Child Protection
• Mr Shane Love MLA Leader of the Opposition; Leader of The Nationals WA; Shadow Minister for Regional Development; Transport; Jobs & Trade; Climate Action; Finance; Federal-State Relations; Public Sector Management; Government Accountability
• Mr Aaron Morey CCIWA Chief Economist; Director Membership; Campaigns; Strategy - Confirmed to present an economic briefing on Day Two

Members, please book you place here RCCIWA Members Forum June 2023

Accommodation Details
We are thrilled to let you know that we will be holding our Business After Hours (Thursday pm) on day one of the Forum at the fabulous Novotel Perth Murray Street. It is a beautiful property in a great location. Our friends at Accor Hotels WA are looking forward to looking after us all once again. They have generously offered a special discount rate for all of our delegates who will be staying with them. All RCCIWA delegates will receive the conference discounted accommodation rate of the day when booking. Please ensure you use the reference RCCIWA and mention the conference dates (June 22nd and June 23rd) when making your booking so you can receive your discount.  Probably booking by phone or direct email is best (08) 6371 6371 hb6h3@accor.com  novotelperthmurraystreet.com.au

The Ibis Perth, another Accor Hotels WA property which is close by, are also offering this fantastic rate:
$149 per room per night, Standard Room. (Breakfast discounted to $20 Full Buffet Per Person)
If anyone would like to book please email: sandy.lombardi@accor.com and she will look after you.

RCCIWA supporting Business Foundations - ASBAS Digital Solutions Program for Small Businesses
As you may be aware Business Foundations were successful with their bid for ASBAS Digital Solutions Round 2, in which they will partner with our members to deliver digital workshops and advisory services to regional small businesses. 

Attached is the program flyer that the our members can share with their members that outlines the services provided through the Digital Solutions Program.

With regards to how the Chambers can get involved, Business Foundations are inviting them to host workshops for their members. The workshop will be delivered free of charge to members and the Chambers will receive a fee for service for each person who attends the workshop. This payment is intended to cover the cost of any room hire and catering as well as the administration and promotion of the workshops.

The list of the workshops that are part on the Digital Solutions program are listed on their website
Please note that Business Foundations  will be adding more workshops in the coming weeks. Also, this is a temporary page, as the full website for the program is still under development.

To book a workshop the Chambers need to email Sarah Williams with the workshop they would like to run and possible dates. Sarah will then coordinate with the workshop presenter to schedule the workshop. They are suggesting that the chambers provide 2 or 3 possible dates to avoid going back and forward regarding availability. Business Foundations will provide the booking link for the workshop which the members will need to use to register their attendance. Business Foundations will also set up the zoom meeting and provide the chambers with the link to join the workshop. On the day of the workshop, the chamber will be required to take attendance and provide Business Foundations with the list of businesses that attended. The attendee report will need to be provided with the invoice from each Chamber for the fee for service.
Please contact Sarah for all information.
Sarah Williams
Program Manager
P: (08) 9336 8000           M: 0408 769 510          
E:  sarah.williams@businessfoundations.com.au 
W: www.businessfoundations.com.au                       

#regionalvoice
This year we have started delivering #regionalvoice  -  our brief monthly update for our members to include in their newsletter and communications to their members. The aim of this update is that it provides an update for our members’ members as to how RCCIWA has been working for them (and our members). It also raises the awareness of RCCIWA in that there is a state-wide voice working for all regional businesses.  It is a brief overview, and focuses on representation and advocacy, stakeholder engagement and one-on-one members support given. You can read the April #regionalvoice here if you have not come across it. If you would like these sent in a different format to suit your communications methods, please email Emmi at admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au and she will gladly help you out.

RCCIWA Monthly Online Members Meeting
On the second Tuesday of each month at 10am we hold an online members’ meeting which usually runs for an hour to 90 minutes. We usually see around 12 of our member organisations represented each month to give member updates, discuss common issues & possible solutions to these, as well as the opportunity to share and learn from each other. We also hear from experts from the SBDC and CCIWA, as well as others as requested. The monthly meetings are a great way of connecting with our members with each other, as well as working through common issues or activities. Calendar Invites for the year were sent to our members in January. If you do not have a calendar invite, please let me know and I will send you one. The agenda and a reminder will be sent out a few days before the meeting each month. Our second meeting for 2023 will be held tomorrow on Tuesday May 9^th at 10am via MS Teams – we would love you to join us.

RCCIWA Website Members Only Resource Portal
Just a reminder that as a RCCIWA Member you have access our resource library that contains a wide variety of documents from all of our members. This is a great reference point to refer to when planning events, setting up polices or updating your own collateral. Please email Emmi if you need access to the portal. We are regularly uploading documents however to keep it current, could you please email Emmi at  admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au any documents that you are happy to share with your fellow members. We will assume if you send it to us that you are happy for us to upload this on the members only access section of our website. Please send in pdf format (and in the smallest size you can), documents such as:

• Your Constitution
• Your Strategic or Operational Plans
• Membership Forms, Membership prospectus
• Member Benefits flyer
• BAH information
• Sponsorship information
• Directory information
• Business Awards Information
• Job and Position Descriptions, HR documents
• Events information
• Policies and Procedures
• Committee Induction pack 

RCCIWA Administrative Items

• We are constantly updating our membership contact list. If you have any changes to your contacts or would like to add any people, please email Emmi at admin@regionalchamberswa.com.au The information we need is name, position/role, email address and mobile number.
• Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and share our page with your members, and in particular your elected committee or board members.