Business performance, sustainability and energy efficiency

• ATO masterclass webinar: supporting small businesses in Queensland free online session for businesses to speak with experienced tax officers from the ATO about all things taxation, online 26 September 2025.
• Business Queensland provides information on starting, growing and operating a business in Queensland.
• Business events calendar lists events (online and in-person) that provide advice and assistance to Queensland businesses.
• Mentoring for Growth provides free mentoring sessions with experienced business mentors.
• Female Founders Co-Investment Fund provides funding to female founded businesses to help them scale and build business capacity.
• Workforce Evolve Program assists employers in developing a recruitment strategy to attract and retain a new segment of jobseekers. Workforce Evolve Workshop Series 3 is providing 7 free weekly workshops to support businesses with workforce planning and managing change, from 18 August- 29 September 2025.
• Free Apprenticeships for Under 25s provides fee-free apprenticeships to businesses when they employ an existing or new apprentice or trainee who is under 25. Program extended until 30 June 2027.
• Back to Work Program provides businesses with support to employ eligible unemployed jobseekers.
• Local Jobs Program - Local Jobs, Local People Grant The Australian Government is inviting organisations through an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Local Jobs Program over 2 years. Applications close 24 September 2025.
• Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding applications are now open, closing 9 October 2025.
• Real Jobs Real Wages offers up to $15,000 for employers to hire an eligible employee into a permanent job on a part-time or full-time basis. The program gives tailored support to help businesses support people with greater challenges into secure work, open to small, medium and large employers across any industry.
• Small Business Wellness Coaches help small business owners with unique and personal business challenges, needs and opportunities in a free one-on-one, supportive environment.
• NewAccess for Small Business Owners provides free and confidential mental health coaching for small business owners. Closes 30 June 2026.
• Business performance assessment tools provide interactive tools to analyse current business processes and find opportunities to improve business performance.
• Private Sector Pathways Program provides funding to Queensland small to medium enterprises and scaleups to help them find solutions to corporate challenges.
• CSIRO Kick-Start provides matched funding for start-ups and small to medium enterprises to support: research of a new idea with commercial potential; development of a novel or improved product or process; testing for a novel product or material.
• Industry Growth Program and Advisory Service supports innovative small and medium enterprises undertaking commercialisation and/or growth projects within priority areas of value-add in resources; value-add in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; transport; medical science; renewables and low emissions technologies; defence capability; enabling capabilities. National Reconstruction Fund provides debt finance, equity finance and guarantees for businesses with compelling proposals in these priority areas.
• ecoBiz assists small to medium sized businesses develop an action plan to improve their resource efficiency and environmental sustainability and reduce operational costs. Free sustainability sessions are available under the program, in Goondiwindi on 15-16 September, Toowoomba on 17 September, the Gympie region on 24 September, the Daintree and Cape Tribulation region from October 21-22 October and Rockhampton on 21-23 October.
• Sustainability sells – how to position your business for work free online webinar on 24 September 2025 outlining how to get your sustainability achievements in front of decision makers, to better position your business to win work including having your sustainability achievements independently verified and communicating them to potential customers.
• Industry Capability Network (ICN) has launched a Net Zero Readiness Assessment online tool to support Australian manufacturers and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) climate efforts and readiness for the net zero economy.
• Cheaper Home Batteries Program provides households and small businesses with a discount on the upfront cost of installing a small-scale solar battery.
• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices provides information on what ESG is and how it can help attract customers and investors.
• Climate Change Risk Management Tool for Small Businesses contains information on climate change, the related risks, and checklists to assess these risks.
• Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme provides benefits for households and small businesses to help with purchase costs of small-scale renewable energy system (solar, wind or hydro) or eligible hot water system.
• Energy Efficiency Council's tax incentives guide outlines tax incentives available to Australian businesses that can be leveraged to improve energy performance.
• Becoming an environmentally friendly business guide outlines the benefits and process for ensuring your business is environmentally friendly, including opportunities to reduce waste and tips for saving energy and lowering energy costs.
• Fuel Tax Credits provide businesses who have purchased fuel for their business with a credit for the tax that is included in the price of fuel.