Get the appFood and coffee chain Soul Origin has extended its partnership with charity Eat Up. It will fund an additional 68,000 sandwiches for children who might otherwise go without lunch, bringing the total to 136,000. Eat Up says it has delivered more than six million lunches since launching in 2013. The partnership will be marked around Sandwich Day on November 3, with branded Eat Up sandwich bags available at Soul Origin stores nationwide.
Grove Studios Academy, in partnership with the University of Canberra, will deliver a new Bachelor of Creative Industries in Contemporary Music Practice. The course will give students a direct pathway into the degree.
Corio batsmen Ben Strachan (108) and Bradley Jones (105 not out) led their side to 5/361 against Bannockburn on Saturday with a 136-run partnership. Anthony Grace added 88, leaving the Devils well placed in GCA Division 3. Rain shortened some games and washed out two others across the weekend's local cricket. North Geelong opener Ned Cooper will resume on 116 against St Peters in Division 1. Daniel Harrison took five wickets for Newcomb & District across the top grades.
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Get the appLEGO has announced a partnership with French electronic duo Daft Punk, covering sets, sounds and short films. The first confirmed product is a set based on the duo's 2007 Alive pyramid stage, which was used on their tour and recorded for their live album. The set idea came from a fan, Patrick Harboun, and his son, who developed it during COVID lockdown and submitted it to LEGO's Music to Our Ears challenge in 2020. It won the Grand Prize and will now officially go into development, with more information due next year.
The Hellenic Open University and Melbourne's Aetolian College of Hellenic Language and Culture are exploring a partnership to expand university and professional development opportunities for Greek Australians. Proposed distance learning programs would let Greek Australians study through the Greek university. A key priority is training Australian-born teachers of Greek heritage who teach Greek language, history and culture. The discussions have the blessing of Archbishop Makarios of Australia. The partnership remains at the planning stage.
Mitsubishi Australia says it will focus only on the ASX VR-e, its first electric vehicle in nearly 15 years, built with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxtron. Chief executive Shunichi Kihara said further work depends on how well the VR-e performs locally. The vehicle will come in LS, Aspire, Exceed and GSR grades. Rear-wheel drive versions produce 171kW and claim a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds, while the GSR's all-wheel drive system claims 3.9 seconds. Pricing is expected in the coming weeks.
The Victorian Farmers Federation has launched a new partnership aimed at helping landholders achieve outcomes for both farm productivity and the environment.
Daniel Beniston began making clothing for queer customers as a side project, offering statement tees that celebrated diverse sizes and styles. His Australian-made label, Kris Bee Bacon, has since grown into swimwear and leisurewear, and it has partnered with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Beniston said the brand's early success came from the Sydney bear community, and he chose local manufacturing despite higher costs, which he described as an ethical choice that supports jobs in Australia. The label has added related lines, including a fetish-inspired range called DOMINUS.
Replit chief executive Amjad Masad said the AI coding platform has stopped working with Anthropic and now favours OpenAI. He cited cost, performance and partnership as reasons. Users can still choose Anthropic's Claude models, but ChatGPT is now the default, which could sharply reduce Replit's spending with Anthropic. Insiders disputed that the partnership had ended, pointing to recent promotion of Anthropic products. Masad also said enterprise customers made up 15 per cent of revenue this year.
Replit chief executive Amjad Masad said the AI coding platform has stopped working with Anthropic and now favours OpenAI. He cited cost, performance and partnership as reasons. Users can still choose Anthropic's Claude models, but ChatGPT is now the default, which could sharply reduce Replit's spending with Anthropic. Insiders disputed that the partnership had ended, pointing to recent promotion of Anthropic products. Masad also said enterprise customers made up 15 per cent of revenue this year.
Commonwealth, state and territory Indigenous affairs ministers met by videoconference to reaffirm their commitment to working in partnership on outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. They discussed Closing the Gap priorities ahead of next month's Joint Council meeting in Canberra. Minister Malarndirri McCarthy gave an update on economic empowerment initiatives and on food security in remote communities. Ministers also acknowledged October as Indigenous Business Month. The Northern Territory minister was unable to attend because of parliamentary business.
The Inverloch Tourism Association and Bass Coast Shire Council have signed a three-year partnership covering 2027 to 2029 for the Inverloch Equinox Festival. The association says the agreement gives the volunteer-led event greater stability and certainty. Mayor Brett Tessari said council was proud to support the event. The autumn festival focuses on nature, wellbeing, food and wine, and keeps free elements open to the community. The 2027 program includes a Wellbeing Expo on Saturday, March 20, and free live music.
Local entrepreneurs and small businesses in Glen Innes will gain access to mentoring, training and industry connections. Glen Innes Severn Council and the University of New England have agreed to link the Glen Innes Highlands Hub with UNE's SMART Region Incubator network. Business owners can take part without leaving town. UNE will also host events and masterclasses at the hub, subject to demand and availability. Council and the university formally marked the agreement at the hub on Tuesday, 13 October, as part of NSW Small Business Month 2026.
VFS Global has launched a training academy in Sydney through a partnership with Wellington Education Group. The academy aims to prepare students, graduates and working professionals for careers in travel, tourism, hospitality and customer service. It was inaugurated at Sydney Town Hall, where both organisations signed a memorandum of understanding. Wellington Education Group will handle student recruitment, provide an online learning platform and promote the courses within Australia. Programmes will focus on practical workplace skills and technical and interpersonal skills for customer-facing roles. Both organisations said they intend to build a long-term partnership beyond the launch.
The CSIRO has partnered with Moderna for a five-year biosecurity accelerator program. The initiative will focus on infectious disease research and mRNA technology. Defence Minister Richard Marles said the collaboration would help Australian scientists respond to emerging threats and speed up laboratory work. Science Minister Tim Ayres noted the partnership would benefit Australian researchers and improve biosecurity safeguards in the agricultural industry across Australia and the Pacific region.
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Get the appMonash Council and Sustain: The Australian Food Network are collaborating to address food security through a stakeholder forum. Scheduled for 18 November at the Mulgrave Community Centre, the free event invites local organisations, community groups, and food relief providers to discuss challenges and solutions. Participants will share insights, map existing supports, and identify gaps to strengthen the local food system. The forum aims to foster connections and develop practical strategies for improving access to affordable, nutritious food in the community. This initiative seeks to build a collective understanding of food security in Monash and guide future collaborative efforts.
NexGen has joined Converge 2027 as an Association Partner, focusing on connecting emerging talent with industry leaders in construction. The event, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on 15–16 September 2027, brings together professionals from construction, infrastructure, engineering and manufacturing. NexGen aims to create opportunities for young professionals to engage with businesses and industry experts, aligning with Converge’s emphasis on industry collaboration and future workforce development.