Like many businesses on the Peninsula, Netfocus IT is preparing for the summer migration to the seaside suburbs. With sunshine comes crowds strolling past HQ with beach towels and, no doubt, iPhones in hand.

As we’ve all come to realise, 'free time' no longer means ‘screen-free time’, and Netfocus IT’s Remote Access solutions have expanded the boundaries of work beyond the office. This flexibility is a key factor in striving for the elusive work-life balance, but it raises an interesting question: beyond the networked office environment, who is managing your home IT? How secure is the data you’ve accumulated over time?

If you’re lucky, Santa may deliver a new iPad, and the festive celebrations that follow, along with holiday travels or beach time, are sure to result in an abundance of photos, uploads and Insta posts. With that comes an opportunity to consider your family IT network, ensuring valuable data such as photos, contacts and apps are protected from device damage, loss or theft.  

The team at Netfocus IT HQ are instore to assist you with genuine care and trusted support. As Authorised Apple Service Providers and Resellers, they're fully qualified to assess, repair and service your Apple and PC devices.  Beyond that, data management and retrieval, network integration and general IT guidance are their expertise.

Visit their Facebook page at Netfocus IT HQ for tips on data management, phone the team, or visit instore.

NETFOCUS IT HQ

A: 7/459 Nepean Highway, Frankston

T: 1300 731 170

Open: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm; Saturday 9am-1pm

Have you stopped to consider how 24/7 exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is affecting you and your family?

Experts tell us we are being bombarded by EMR from Wi-Fi and digital TVs, smart meters, microwave ovens, laptops and tablets, smart phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors and more. Did you know there are devices that can help neutralise EMR and Earth Radiation and its potentially harmful effects?

Orgone Effects Australia, based in Frankston South, has been developing EMR harmonising products since its inception in 2000. Its extensive range of Orgonium™ products are in demand world-wide.

For protection on the go, Orgone Effects has a ‘Mobile Phone and Wi-Fi Radiation Harmonizer’, a ‘Car EMR Harmonizer’ and even an ‘Aircraft Cabin Harmonizer’!  For your home and workplace, the ‘Geoclense Home and Workplace Harmonizer’ offers the ultimate protection. There are pendants, bands, shoe insoles, yoga mats, an ‘Ener-Bear’ for children, an ionic wand and more.

Orgone Effects says its EMR harmonising products may help with headaches, fatigue, sleeping issues, negative emotional energy, discomfort and nausea, lethargy and more. Founder and Intuitive Building Biologist Gerard Bini also offers comprehensive on-site consultations and a short remote phone consultation using Google Earth to detect exactly what harmful EMF energies may be present in your home or workplace.

Choose Orgone Effects for yourself and your family or as a special gift for someone who deserves a healthier home and a healthier life.

ORGONE EFFECTS

W: orgoneeffects.com

Logo Logix has evolved from Priscilla Cutter’s experience in the creative and advertising industry, fuelled by her passion for striking and strategic design. Logo Logix provides clients with an identity that is the perfect combination of visual appeal and marketing nous.

Working in unison with some of the best local embroidery, web design and print firms, Logo Logix provides a comprehensive design service to include business stationery, brochures, signage, websites, packaging and apparel.

As a Frankston resident, Priscilla has situated Logo Logix in two convenient bayside locations - in Sandringham Village just opposite Sandringham station, and closer to home in the new Seaford office.

If you would like to have a logo to truly call your own and get some attention through great business cards, apparel or a website, make an appointment to see Logo Logix today.

LOGO LOGIX

T: 9598 6995

E:

W: logologix.com.au

From embroidery on shirts to printing on stubby holders, to cooler bags and diaries, Promocorp is ready to create anything you desire.

The one-stop shop for promotional merchandise and custom apparel service is Promocorp in Carrum Downs. If your organisation is ready to invest in its corporate image, visit Promocorp as it is committed to providing a quality, comprehensive and customer focused service.

All work is completed in house - Promocorp even has its own graphic artists (including a cartoonist) who can transform your rough ideas into a perfect promotion. Embroidery and screen printing departments in house means the team can control the quality and speed of orders. They guarantee to dispatch your order within 10 working days on approval of artwork.

Promocorp Australia provides promotional products and branded business gifts ranging from T-shirts to clocks, glassware to golf balls, to watches and stress toys. The team also provides custom manufactured and screen printed embroidered clothing (think caps, business shirts, sportswear, uniforms, workwear and vests). With access to over 20,000 products, they are bound to have what you’re after and at the best price.

With state-of-the-art digital printers and the ability to complete about 5000 stubby holders a week, no job is too big for Promocorp, so sprint in for a no-obligation free quote today.

PROMOCORP
T: 9775 0619
A: 1/34 Access Way, Carrum Downs
W: promocorp.com.au

A Seaford woman is coming to the aid of homeless and disadvantaged Australian women who are struggling to buy underwear, personal hygiene products and toiletries.

Claire Regan, an independent bra fit specialist for Intimo, is holding a fundraiser and collecting good secondhand bras, new undies, sanitary items and toiletries for Support The Girls Australia to distribute to women in need.

“Through the Intimo Aware program I have seen the amazing work Support The Girls does and I'm working to do my bit to help them in their efforts,” Claire said.  “Ten per cent of all sales from the fundraiser will go to Support The Girls, plus proceeds of entry (gold coin donation) and prize draws.  I will also be collecting donations of bras, undies, sanitary items and toiletries leading up to and on the night.”

The fundraiser is on Wednesday, August 30, from 6-9pm at Bear and Cub, 37 Armstrongs Rd, Seaford.  If you’re unable to attend but would like to help, contact Claire on 0419 876 178, email  or visit the Facebook page 'Fashion, Frivolity and Fun(draising)’. 

A South Frankston-based businesswoman has been named a finalist in the 2017 AusMumpreneur Awards.

Kelly McDonald owns Garden Babies Fairy Art, a whimsical fantasy photography studio specialising in artistic children’s portraits, and has been selected as a finalist in the awards’ Handmade Business category.

Kelly has based her career on magic, faeries, art and a love of working with children. She has a diploma in child care, worked in many kinders around Victoria before starting Garden Babies, and was quite well known around Melbourne as the Magical Faerie Crystal, providing magic and storytelling at kindergartens, corporate events and birthday parties for the past 20 years.

“When I was gifted a beautiful baby girl at 40 and had to go back to work, I said to my husband, ‘I have an idea, I just don’t know if people will like it - I want to mix my magic and storytelling with my art but make it as much about the process as the final artwork’. People liked it. That was almost exactly three years ago and I can only see my business growing from here.”

The AusMumpreneur Awards celebrate and recognise Australian mums in business achieving outstanding success in areas such as business excellence, product development, customer service and digital innovation. The 2017 award-winners will be announced in Sydney on August 25.  Read more about the awards at ausmumpreneur.com

GARDEN BABIES FAIRY ART
T: 0420 646 244
W: gardenbabiesfairyart.com

Let’s talk small business and how you can take yours from initial concept right through to financial and satisfaction guaranteed success.

The VA Group is a family owned and run accountancy service whose feet are firmly planted within the community and small business sector. With more than 50 years’ experience in all areas of accountancy and financial advisory applications, this forward-thinking group of experts is constantly striving to become the go-to company for progressive and motivated business owners.

Real financial planning is the key to longevity-based small business triumph. The VA Group forms solid partnerships with individuals to develop financial strategies for long-term success. It also has a proven track record of effective grassroots financial administration capabilities, which has led it to become a leader in small business financial management. 

You work hard. Contact the VA Group today so you can be guided through all aspects of small business financial planning and get your money working as hard as you do. 

It’s time.

VA GROUP
A: 38/1 Hartnett Drive, Seaford
T: 1300 196 465
W: vagroup.com.au

Have you ever thought about how you can support your staff when they have a non-work-related issue affecting their ongoing employability? This could be a sporting injury, relationship breakdown, physical disability or psychological concern. There is a solution and it’s provided at no cost to you by the Federal Government’s Help@work or Work Assist program.

Help@Work provides immediate and appropriate support to people at risk of losing their job due to the impact of their non-work-related injury, health condition or disability. This includes physical injury or illness, mental illness and severe emotional issues. It is funded through the Disability Employment Services Job in Jeopardy Program. Services are confidential and you can decide whether or not to involve your employer.

If you are an employer, you can offer this service to your staff where they may need assistance and their ongoing employment may be in jeopardy if not addressed.

In addition to providing supportive case management and linking with other health professionals and support organisations, there are a range of specific services that can be included in your employment assistance program.  These will depend on your individual circumstances and needs, and may include workplace assessments and advice, workplace modifications and adjustments, provision of assistive equipment, short-term counselling, and education and awareness training for managers and colleagues relating to managing disabilities and health conditions in the workplace.

For more details, phone the ORS Group on 1800 000 677 or email [email protected]

THE ORS GROUP
A: 20 Davey St, Frankston
T: 1800 000 677
W: www.orsgroup.com.au
 

What would you do if your phones stopped ringing, your emails went missing, you couldn’t pay your staff or your clients went to your competitor?

You’d panic.

This is where Telco Independent Consulting comes in.  TIC can help by finding the best telco service for your business with 100 per cent independent advice on telecommunication products and services, contract clauses, fault restoration times, multi-carrier benefits, loss of revenue from no connectivity and more.

Servicing the southeastern suburbs, Bryan has more than 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry.  He’s also a fully qualified communications consultant and cable installer and a financial member of the Australian Information Security Association – so you know you’re in good hands.

Consider TIC your personal telco navigator, negotiating a better deal for your business and helping you understand complicated bills, hidden fees, long lock-in contracts, complex pricing and industry jargon.

Or if talk of the NBN has you stumped, give TIC a call for a comprehensive understanding of what it all means without all the conflicting information.

TELCO INDEPENDENT CONSULTING
T: 0419 632 098
W: www.telcoindependent.com.au

Paris Porter, a SkillsPlus Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) student, talks about the impact that the VCAL program has had on her life.

“Skills Plus has opened so many doors for me, and I’ve been here for over two years. I have achieved a Certificate II in Business (BSB20115), and I am now in my last year of VCAL. When I first heard about SkillsPlus, I was going through a really difficult time. However, as soon as I met the beautiful and spirited Fiona Fisher, I knew I was where I needed and wanted to be.

“I struggled with self-harm and depression, and I felt hopeless, lost and scared. As soon as the team noticed this, they took action. My teacher, Fiona, introduced me to the wonderful Julia Kogan, and they both helped me work out strategies to deal with my problems. SkillsPlus has given me independence, leadership, organisational skills, and patience and stability. 

“This place is not only an education centre – it’s a home. I am eternally grateful that SkillsPlus has given me a family, and I would have never gotten where I am today without their help.”

SKILLSPLUS
A: 31 Playne St, Frankston
T: 9784 0400
W: www.skillsplus.com.au

RTO Code: 4087

Rod is taking the headache out of tax returns.  A tax agent since 1988 and with 25 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, Rod can see you after hours and charges just $99 for a simple individual tax return.

“I’m very passionate about tax and small business,” he says. “I enjoy getting directly involved with business owners allowing them to do what they do well and letting me concentrate on the paperwork”.

Stop concerning yourself with piles of paperwork and bring it instead to Rod’s home office, where he’ll personally handle not only your tax but also your compliance work and review your business structure.

He is a specialist at improving the bottom line, he’ll make your business prosper by taking that weight off your shoulders. Rod is adamant that your precious time should be spent improving the worth of your business.

See for yourself how Rod can help your business.

SEACOMBE SERVICES
A: 9 Rylston Court, Mount Eliza
W: seacombeservices.com.au
T: 0417 492 620

Logo Logix has evolved from Priscilla Carter’s many years in the creative and advertising industry. Her breadth of experience includes illustrating and designing stamps for Australia Post, serving as a creative director in some of Melbourne’s largest advertising agencies and designing some of Australia’s most iconic packaging and logos. As a result, Logo Logix provides clients with an identity that is a combination of visual appeal and marketing nous.

In addition to logos, Logo Logix provides a comprehensive design service that includes business stationery, brochures, signage, websites, packaging and apparel, and subsequent print management catering to single operators through to large corporate clients.

As a Frankston resident, Priscilla has situated Logo Logix in two convenient bayside locations - in Sandringham Village just opposite Sandringham station, and closer to home in the new Seaford office.

Make an appointment today.

LOGO LOGIX
T: 9598 6995
W: logologix.com.au

As a Frankston resident, Kelvin Oldridge has situated his legal practice in two convenient locations to provide accessibility for clients from the city, bayside and the Peninsula.

With qualifications in building and law - B.Build (RMIT) and LL.B (Hons University of London) - Kelvin’s advice is complemented by his building experience and his understanding of the needs of clients from the building and construction industry.

Kelvin is a key part of Melbourne’s projects and dispute resolution fraternity, a member of the Building Dispute Practitioners Society and editor of its newsletter for more than seven years and a regular judge for the Master Builders Association’s annual Excellence in Construction Awards.

Kelvin regularly provides a legal and advisory service to construction and project management businesses, property developers, contractors and insurance companies, including drafting and amending contracts, standard forms of construction and development contracts in Australia and including the Australia Standards suite of contracts. He also provides commercial adviceand support to clients in arbitration, litigation and the defence of insurance claims. 

KO CONSTRUCTION LAW
T: 9598 6444
W: www.kolaw.com.au

Growing up in Mount Eliza, Vickie Saunders enjoyed a privileged life that included ponies, a private school education and a loving family.  At 18 and with high hopes of a career in fashion design, she couldn’t wait to make her mark on the world.

But then things started falling apart pretty quickly, and any dreams she had were quickly forgotten. Over the next decade she was to find herself in situations only imagined in her worst nightmares. Her battles with alcohol, debt and an abusive relationship became the catalysts for Vickie’s decision to completely change her life and get in touch with the person she always knew she could be, the person her family had raised her to be.

Now a successful business owner, the author of two business books and travelling the world consulting and lecturing on the topic of athlete sponsorship, Vickie cites her colourful past as vital to the value she now offers her clients. Her progression through a career in marketing in the corporate sector, and the launch of her company in 2014, has allowed Vickie to share her insights and expertise on how each of us can connect with the abundant opportunities that surround us when we know what we are looking for.

Her clients include the US Olympic Committee, Sport England and brands such as Asics, Shimano and Deloitte. Vickie says it’s all about empowering others to identify their own value and it’s the difference she believes she was born to make.

Vickie Saunders will be the guest speaker at Frankston Business Network’s WomenConnect Luncheon on Wednesday, September 6, from 11.30am-2.30pm at Frankston RSL, 183 Cranbourne Rd. Tickets: $69 (FBN members $65) or $625 for a table of 10.  Bookings: frankstonbusinessnetwork.com.au or 9781 1422.

Did you know that you can apply now for BRACE’s mid-year intake? Some courses can even lead to a qualification before the end of the year.

The local training organisation partners with major employers like Peninsula Health and Regis Aged Care to deliver nationally recognised training. This ensures that the students are able to complete their practical placement in a hands-on environment, and that the training delivered responds well to industry demand.

BRACE works closely alongside other like-minded partners to enhance its capacity to seek out and respond to new opportunities. It embraces collaborative approaches as the basis of building partnerships to improve the services and outcomes for its students.

The organisation adopts a whole of community approach, with an aim to creating definable pathways and improving students’ educational and employment outcomes. BRACE is so much more than an RTO, offering a range of employment and transition services through partner organisation SkillsPlus, specialising in community connections and providing non-vocational assistance.

Contact BRACE now to find out what’s on offer.

BRACE
A: Level 2, 54-58 Wells St, Frankston
T: 9781 3388
W: www.brace.com.au

RTO Code: 3621

A partnership between training provider BRACE and disability service provider Marillac is assisting young people with disabilities develop skills for life.

Jesslyn Penglase is glad to be one of the students taking part in foundation skills training with BRACE. Her confidence, self-esteem and independence have improved since starting the course in February.

The course not only enables Jesslyn and the other students to learn in class, they also get hands-on experience through work placement.  In preparation for her job interview, Jesslyn went to Dress For Success to find suitable clothing.  She looked great and felt confident and happy.

Jesslyn is completing her work placement at Crafty Cakes in Somerville, and after only a few weeks she built up the confidence to catch public transport independently. You can see by her smile that she is thoroughly enjoying her work there.

“At the start of the course I was very nervous, but as time went on my confidence grew and now I am really enjoying the course,” said Jesslyn. “I love the work placement as I am doing something I really love. I have learnt a lot. Debbie and Trish are good trainers.”

Her trainer, Debbie Rogan, can see the difference in Jesslyn since she started the course. “Jesslyn recently led her group (in class) to successfully complete a team building activity that was based on time constraints, limited resources and thinking outside the square for concept and design,” Debbie said.

BRACE
A: 1 Playne St, Frankston
T: 9781 3388
W: www.brace.com.au

From embroidery on shirts to printing on stubby holders, to cooler bags and diaries, Promocorp is ready to create anything you desire.

The one-stop shop for promotional merchandise and custom apparel service is Promocorp in Carrum Downs. If your organisation is ready to invest in its corporate image, visit Promocorp as it is committed to providing a quality, comprehensive and customer focused service.

Boasting that all work is completed in house, Promocorp even has its own graphic artists (including a cartoonist) who can transform your rough ideas into a perfect promotion. Embroidery and screen printing departments in house means the team can control the quality and speed of orders. They guarantee to dispatch your order within 10 working days upon approval of artwork.

Promocorp Australia provides promotional products and branded business gifts ranging from t-shirts to clocks, glassware to golf balls, to watches and stress toys. The team also provides custom manufactured and screen printed embroidered clothing (think caps, business shirts, sportswear, uniforms, workwear and vests). With access to over 20,000 products, they are bound to have what you’re after and at the best price.

With state-of-the-art digital printers and the ability to complete about 5000 stubby holders a week, no job is too big for Promocorp, so sprint in for a no-obligation free quote today.

PROMOCORP
T: 9775 0619
A: 1/34 Access Way, Carrum Downs
W: promocorp.com.au

It’s moved, and business is set to thrive for Century 21 Wentworth Real Estate.

Together with its new location, Century 21 Wentworth has a new interior design that’s inviting, eye-catching, strong and modern to visually represent its values and move to stay in the modern market.  “We’ve decided to match our look with our competency,” says department manager Megan Harris.

The new office has placed Megan and the team closer to other agents, but they aren’t the new kids on the block.  For 10 years they worked tirelessly in the old office, and when the business was known as Crowders Real Estate they’d been there for more than 20 years.

The team thrives on new business, and they have a special offer for our readers to celebrate their spanking new office. Receive two months of free management for any new landlord listing.

Hurry, this offer is only available until the end of June.

CENTURY 21 WENTWORTH REAL ESTATE
A: 9 Playne Street, Frankston
T: 8781 4888
W: century21.com.au/frankstonresidential/

Heidi Alyari used her new skills and increased confidence to find rewarding employment after completing a job readiness course with BRACE.

Having tried once before to complete similar training with another provider, Heidi found it hard to complete the course.

“I had a different experience with BRACE. I was able to establish a positive relationship with my trainer. She is the most patient person I have ever met in my life,” Heidi said.

The foundation skills training course helped Heidi improve her English language and numeracy skills and prepared her for further study. Heidi has now secured a job she loves with a major hardware store.

BRACE
A: Level 2, 54 – 58 Wells Street, Frankston
T: 9781 3388
W: www.brace.com.au