A free workshop in Colac on Tuesday, October 27, will help farm businesses improve their office systems and make better use of accounting software. It runs from 8.30am to 2.30pm at the DEECA Office on Gellibrand Street. Participants are asked to bring a laptop and can work through examples using their own records or a demonstration program. Topics include emailing invoices, processing batch payments, reconciling accounts, tracking fuel, grain and livestock inventory, and creating custom reports. Attendees will also learn ways to manage emails, receipts, paper records and cloud-based storage.
Dongara beautician Jemma Woodmore has spearheaded a bushfire preparation day for women after friends called her, unsure what to do during a blaze. Ms Woodmore said women often miss out on firefighting advice in male-dominated spaces, and she has since joined the volunteer fire brigade. Irwin resident Freya Smyth attended the workshop after a 2024 fire came within 300 metres of her home. Local emergency services manager Mick Antony said the event covered evacuation plans, extinguisher use and keeping identification ready. He urged residents to plan escape routes and use the Emergency WA app during fires.
A free workshop on succession planning for farming families will be held in Longwood on Thursday, October 29, from 9.30am to 3pm. It is being run at the Longwood Community Centre and presented by Dr Kate Burke. The session will cover protecting family legacy, keeping a business viable, and transferring wealth across generations. Participants will develop a succession timeline and set practical goals. Morning tea and lunch are provided, and places are limited, so registration is required.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
The Healthy Landscapes Project is holding a practical workshop on Friday, October 30, from 10am to 12pm on Axedale-Goornong Road, Axedale. The interactive session will show how physically assessing soil can reveal its health and productivity. It is open to people new to soil assessment as well as those wanting to build their skills. Participants will gain practical knowledge to better understand the soils on their farms.
Stock Sense is holding a fencing workshop in Gisborne on Friday, November 20, from 9.30am to 3.30pm. Participants will learn how to install new fences using the right tools, materials and techniques. The day also covers how to inspect, maintain and repair existing fences to extend their working life. Stock Sense will lead a discussion on biosecurity and best-practice measures for protecting farms. The exact venue will be sent to participants closer to the date.
Logan business owners can learn how to start blogging in an online workshop on Thursday 5 November. The Blogging for Beginners session runs from 5pm to 5.45pm through the Beenleigh Yatala Chamber of Commerce. It covers choosing topics, structuring posts and improving search visibility. Participants will also look at how blog content can be reused in email and social media. Tickets cost $15 and are booked through the chamber.
Students from Moree Secondary College and Narrabri High School took part in a podcasting workshop at Social Co House in Moree on Friday, October 16. Guided by journalist and educator Stephanie Aceglav, they chose their own subjects, from fashion and football to American history. They planned episodes, wrote scripts, recorded and edited their work. The workshop was organised through the NSW Department of Education's Educational Pathways Program. Organisers say it aims to introduce regional students to careers they might not otherwise consider.
A full-day professional development workshop for creatives will run on Saturday 21 November from 10am to 4pm at the Civic Centre in Dandenong. Tickets cost $15 per person. The Build Your Creative Edge program aims to help participants build confidence in discussing their creative practice, align projects with organisational priorities, use AI to plan and write proposals, including budgets, and find funding opportunities. Industry consultant Gareth Hart will facilitate the workshop. The program is co-presented by five councils, including Monash Council and Greater Dandenong City Council.
A hands-on workshop called The Narrative Lab will run at the Brimbank Community and Civic Centre in Sunshine on Saturday 24 October, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Facilitated by the Beginning Project, it will teach young people storytelling skills and how to use digital media to shape how their communities are seen and heard. Topics include practical digital storytelling techniques and the role of storytelling in community representation. Tickets cost $10 and include lunch, with support available for those facing financial hardship.
Young people aged 14 to 17 can develop their photography skills in the Click, Capture, Create program at Ferntree Gully Library. The free program runs on Thursdays from 12 November to 3 December, from 4pm to 6pm. Participants learn simple photography techniques and take part in photo challenges. They also learn basic photo touch-up editing and create a final collage display. No experience is needed, but participants should bring their own phone or camera. Places are very limited and registration is essential.
A free Indigenous business workshop in Perth is almost fully booked, with only a few tickets remaining. The session is open to First Nations Peoples and will be held at the Waalitj Hub in Lathlain on Wednesday, October 15. It covers intellectual property issues that businesses face, including Indigenous cultural and intellectual property, copyright, trade marks, patents and the risks and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Participants will learn practical ways to protect their ideas, knowledge and brands.
Melbourne artist Belinda Wilson is hosting a four-week still-life masterclass series at Kingston Arts Centre. The program, starting on 7 November, explores Impressionism, Cubism, Abstraction and Pop Art through drawing and painting. Suitable for beginners and experienced artists, the sessions include materials, refreshments and expert instruction. Wilson, with over 20 years of experience, believes collaborative art-making can be rewarding and transformative.
