Want to Start Your Own Business

Are you interested in starting your own business?

Workforce Australia – Self-Employment Assistance, delivered by ETC, is a new service that replaces the New Business Assistance with NEIS program.

Self-Employment Assistance is catered to support aspiring small business owners to create a thriving and successful business.

Self-Employment Assistance offers approved participants:

• Exploring Self-Employment Workshops – A one-week workshop designed at assisting you to understand what’s involved in starting a business.
• Business Plan Development – Tailored, expert, one-on-one advice to help you develop a business plan and decide if self employment is right for you.
• Small Business Training – Accredited qualifications in Business
• Small Business Coaching
• Business Advice Sessions
• Business Health Checks
• Income Support for up to 39 weeks (Eligibility Criteria applies)
• Rental Assistance for up to 26 weeks (Eligibility Criteria applies)

To participate in Self-Employment Assistance to start up your own business you must:

• be at least 15 years of age (a person must be 18 years of age to access Small Business Coaching)
• be:
  • an Australian citizen, or
  • the holder of a permanent visa, or a nominated visa holder
• not be an undischarged bankrupt
• not have participated in the Self-Employment Assistance or the Small Business Assistance with NEIS program in the previous year
• meet any additional eligibility criteria specific to the service(s) which you have chosen.

Some services available through Self-Employment Assistance will also have additional eligibility criteria. For example, to access Small Business Coaching you must have an eligible business idea or existing business. This means your business idea must:

• be either a new business or a micro-business (up to 4 employees) at risk of not operating commercially.
• be assessed as viable by your Self-Employment Assistance provide
• have an independent business structure
• be lawful and capable of withstanding public scrutiny
• be established, located and operated solely within Australia
• be structured so you will maintain a controlling interest over the business through your time accessing the services.

ETC will assess your business idea to ensure it meets the eligibility requirements.

What are the benefits of Self-Employment Assistance with ETC?

ETC has been helping people start their own business for more than 30 years and our passionate staff enjoy supporting entrepreneurs in their journey to self-employment. Our focus is to support and develop your vision, turning it into a viable and thriving small business.

The service you can expect to receive from ETC:

• Support and guidance from Business Trainers/Advisors who have both formal qualifications and experience in running successful businesses.
• Our Trainers/Advisors have local knowledge, empathy and understanding of the ups and downs associated with starting your own business.
• We care about your success and will support you through each step of the program
• We offer small group settings with flexible delivery models available

ETC currently provides Self-Employment Assistance along the East Coast of Australia from the NSW Hunter region all the way up to Bundaberg Queensland, as well as inland New South Wales around the New England North West region. You can find a list of our addresses and contact information on our Locations Page.

If you live outside of these locations, then you will need to contact another provider for this program. You can find a list of providers on the find a provider page.

Small Business Success Stories

• 
  Brewing a thriving small business: Bronnie’s Specialty Coffee
  How Bronnie’s Speciality Coffee became a thriving small business with the support of ETC In the picturesque Mount Mee area, Bronnie’s Speciality Coffee isn’t just a coffee van; it’s a symbol of resilience, community spirit and a thriving small business community. Known for its delicious hot and cold beverages and homemade treats like cookies and… Read more: Brewing a thriving small business: Bronnie’s Specialty Coffee
• 
  How to start a coffee shop (on wheels)
  Billy Button Eats: Brewing success with Newcastle coffee van Are you a coffee aficionado with dreams of owning your own café? Look no further than Billy Button Eats for a dose of inspiration! Learn how Marion and co-owner Grace, the duo behind this charming coffee van, turned their passion into a thriving business. Nestled against the… Read more: How to start a coffee shop (on wheels)
• 
  Could your innovative business idea be the solution to a community problem?
  Mobile hearing clinic transforming health services in the Hunter region Passionate about the Hunter’s hearing health, Simone Jolly, a local audiologist, has hit the road to help the Hunter community hear better. After noticing long wait times of up to a year for hearing tests in the public system, she developed an innovative business model… Read more: Could your innovative business idea be the solution to a community problem?
• 
  How to start a picture framing business and nail the framing game
  ETC helps entrepreneur start a bustling picture framing business Debra Atkinson, from Maitland framing company Picture This Custom Framing, is nailing the framing game across the Hunter region! With a background in custom framing and a passion for the local art scene, picture framer Deb has been able to create a thriving small business in… Read more: How to start a picture framing business and nail the framing game
• 
  Florist follows her dream to launch a boutique floristry business
  ETC’s New Business Assistance with NEIS Program gives creative florist the tools to start her own successful small business With a lifelong passion for creativity, Kim began working as a florist when she was only 16 years old. “I’m someone who needs to do a job where I can be creative, I couldn’t do one… Read more: Florist follows her dream to launch a boutique floristry business
• 
  NEIS Program helps architect follow his passion to start creative business
  NEIS Program participant learns the fundamental skills of small business After graduating from university with a Master’s Degree in Architecture, Mark had no idea how unready he was to tackle the challenges of starting his own small business. “I felt that there was a cone of silence around the business insights needed to run a… Read more: NEIS Program helps architect follow his passion to start creative business