Connecting you with information on the financial assistance and government grants available to support your practice through COVID-19.
There is a wide range of grants and financial help available from both the State and Federal Governments for small businesses who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19 and resulting restrictions. However, knowing what you are eligible for and how to apply can be a confusing process.
To help navigate this, see a summary below of the common support packages that may be applicable to medical professionals and private practioners in Victoria and New South Wales.
Where are you located?
Victorian support available
Following recent announcements, applications are currently open for the following programs and grants
(up-to-date as of 24 February 2022)
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment to help you during the time you can’t work and earn income because you have to:
- self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19
- you’re caring for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19
For each 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, you may get:
- $450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
- $750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work
Eligibility
- You’ve lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work; and
- you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for; and
- you have coronavirus (COVID-19); or
- you’re a close contact of a person who has COVID-19; or
- a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact of a person who has COVID-19; or
- you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19; or
- you’re caring for someone with disability or a severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine because they’re a close contact of a person with COVID-19.
More details and how to apply
Applications are accepted online.
For full eligibility details and to start the application visit
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment
Victorian Government is providing a payment to support Victorian workers, including guardians or carers, who are required to self-isolate or care for someone self-isolating while waiting for the results of a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test.
Eligibility
- Be 17 years or over; and
- live in Victoria and been tested for COVID-19, or be the guardian or carer of someone who has been tested, within the last two weeks and be likely to have undertaken paid work during the self-isolation period and unable to
work due to:
– a requirement to self-isolate after the test; or
– a requirement to care for someone who must self-isolate after a test; and - not receive any income or earnings during the self-isolation period; and
- have exhausted or not have entitlement or access to sick leave or carers leave (including any special pandemic leave) during the self-isolation period; and
- not receive Australian Government income support such as the JobSeeker payment during the self-isolation period; and
- not receive another worker support payment, including the Pandemic Leave DisasterPayment, for the same self-isolation period.
More details and how to apply
Applications are accepted online.
For full eligibility details and to start the application visit
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/covid-19-test-isolation-payment
The program required commercial landlords to provide proportional rent relief in line with the business’s reduction in turnover. At least half of the rent relief has to be in a form of a waiver unless the parties agree otherwise.
Small landlords experiencing acute hardship will be eligible to apply for payment from the hardship fund. Details are yet to be released.
Eligibility
- Business annual turnover of less than $10 million and
- Demonstrated decline in turnover of at least 30% due to impact of coronavirus.
More details and how to apply
Tenants can access the rent relief by negotiating in good faith with their landlords. If unable to reach an agreement, free mediation support can be provided by the Victorian Small Business Commission.
To find out more visit
https://www.vsbc.vic.gov.au/fact-sheets-and-resources/faqs/
The program provides wage subsidies of up to $20,000 for eligible employers who hire eligible jobseekers. Wage subsidies can be used to meet the costs of taking on new employees for the first 12 months of employment.
Eligibility
To qualify for the subsidy, the business must employ someone from at least one of the priority groups outlined below.
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- jobseekers registered with a Jobs Victoria Mentor service
- people unemployed for six months or more
- newly arrived migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds
- women aged 45 years and over
- people seeking asylum/refugees
- people with disability
- single parents
- veterans
- men and people who do not identify as a woman aged 45 years and over
- young people aged under 25
- people previously or currently employed under the Working for Victoria initiative.
The business must hire employees from these priority groups before applying to the fund. There are further extensive requirements on employment conditions and entitlements. The funding is provided in stages.
More details and how to apply
To access the full eligibility criteria and apply for the subsidy visit:
https://jobs.vic.gov.au/help-for-employers/jobs-victoria-fund
Eligible businesses could save up to up to 85% of the full installation price by making the switch to more efficient equipment and up to 15% in annual energy operational costs.
Eligibility
Small businesses must:
- Have 1 to 19 employees
- Have a commercial (non-residential) premises
All equipment upgrades need to go through a registered Accredited Provider who can discuss how they can deliver a discounted energy-efficiency upgrade for the business.
More details and how to apply
For more details and to register your interest visit
https://business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/small-business-energy-saver-program
To access the full list of financial assistance available, click on the button below.
NSW Support Available
Following recent announcements, applications are currently open for the following programs and grants:
If your practice has been impacted by the Omicron wave of COVID-19, you may be eligible for a payment under the 2022 Small Business Support Program.
The program provides cash flow support to help eligible businesses survive the impacts of COVID-19 and maintain their NSW employee headcount.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the 2022 Small Business Support Program, your business or not-for-profit organisation must:
- have an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
- have been operating in NSW on 1 January 2021
- have had an aggregated annual turnover between $75,000 and $50 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020
- have experienced a decline in turnover of 40% or more due to the impacts of COVID-19:
– during January 2022, compared to January 2021 or January 2020
– from 1 to 14 February 2022, compared to the same fortnight in February 2021 or February 2020 - for employing businesses, maintain your employee headcount from 30 January to 28 February 2022
- for non-employing businesses, such as sole traders, show that your business is your primary income source (50% or more of your total income). If you have more than one non-employing business, you can only claim payments for one business.
How much can you get?
Eligible businesses will receive one payment covering the 4-week period of February 2022.
If you’re an employing business, the payment will be equivalent to 20% of weekly payroll for work performed in NSW:
- minimum payment will be $750 per week
- maximum payment will be $5,000 per week
If you’re a non-employing business, such as a sole trader, you may be eligible to receive a payment of $500 per week.
More details and how to apply
You can apply for the 2022 Small Business Support Program online here.
For further details on eligibility and the evidence needed to support eligibility, visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-2022-small-business-support-program
If you are a sole trader, the owner of a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in NSW, you may be eligible for a small business fees and charges rebate of $2,000.
This rebate helps businesses recover from the impacts of COVID-19 and encourages growth by reducing the cost of running a business. Eligible businesses or not-for-profits only need to apply for the rebate once, but can submit multiple claims until the full value of $2,000 is reached.
Funds can be used to offset the costs of eligible NSW and local government fees and charges due and paid from 1 March 2021. These include, but are not limited to:
- food authority licences
- liquor licences
- tradesperson licences
- event fees
- outdoor seating fees
- council rates.
View the full list of eligible fees and charges.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this rebate, small businesses (including non-employing sole traders) and not-for-profit organisations must:
- have total Australian wages below the NSW Government 2020-2021 payroll tax threshold of $1.2 million
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in NSW and/or have business premises physically located and operating in NSW.
Note: Only one $2,000 rebate is available for each ABN.
More details and how to apply
To apply for the rebate, you’ll need:
- a MyServiceNSW Account
- your proof of identity
- your valid ABN/ACN
- your business banking details for payment.
You will need to supply supporting documentation when applying for the rebate and each time you make a claim. For each claim you make, you will need to provide invoices and receipts showing payment of eligible fees or charges. Note: Each claim must be made separately, and you can only upload one receipt per claim.
For full eligibility details and to apply online visit: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/small-business-fees-and-charges-rebate
Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment is a lump sum payment to help you during the time you can’t work and earn income because you have to:
- self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19
- you’re caring for someone who has to self-isolate or quarantine due to COVID-19
You have to self-isolate or quarantine for one of the following reasons:
- you have coronavirus (COVID-19)
- you’re a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
- a child you care for who is 16 years or under, is a close contact of a person who has COVID-19
- you’re caring for someone who has COVID-19
- you’re caring for someone with disability or a severe medical condition who must self-isolate or quarantine because they’re a close contact of a person with COVID-19
You’re a close contact if you either:
- usually live with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19
- have stayed in the same household for more than 4 hours with the person who has tested positive with COVID-19 during their infectious period
Eligibility
You must also meet both of the following requirements to be eligible:
- you’ve lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work
- you have liquid assets of less than $10,000 on the first day of the period you’re claiming for
Liquid assets are any funds readily available to you in cash or savings, or assets that can easily be changed into cash.
Both Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) results are accepted. You’ll need to have either:
- advice of a positive test from a testing clinic or health professional
- evidence you’ve registered a positive result from a home-administered RAT with your state health authority.
If you’re a member of a couple, you can both claim this payment. You and your partner will need to complete separate claims.
How much can you get?
For each 7 day period of self-isolation, quarantine or caring, eligible recipients can recieve the following:
- $450 if you lost at least 8 hours or a full day’s work, and less than 20 hours of work
- $750 if you lost 20 hours or more of work
More details and how to apply
Instructions to make an online claim can be found here.
For full eligibility details visit: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/pandemic-leave-disaster-payment
To access the full list of financial assistance available, click on the button below.
If you have questions about the announced support or would like to discuss whether you or your practice are eligible, please contact your DPM Tax Consultant or book a phone or web appointment.
