Free support for small business owners and their employees.
The Business Resilience Project is a fully-subsidised workplace wellbeing service, providing small business operators with the tools and guidance needed to support resilience and mental fitness for both themselves and their workforce.
Strength-based service to support resilience in bushfire affected communities.
The Black Summer Bushfires of 2019 and disasters that came in rapid succession afterwards have had long lasting impact on communities and business. Guidance and support to improve resilience will offer protective strategies to manage future experiences and maintain balance during challenging times.
Is your small business eligible?
Free mental wellbeing support for small businesses and their employees is available to business operators in the following areas:
- Mid Coast, Greater Taree Region
- Hastings Valley, Port Macquarie Region
- Macleay Valley, Kempsey Region
- Clarence Valley, Grafton Region
- Richmond Valley, Lismore Region
Joanne has been an amazing resource for our staff in the past few months following what has been a tumultuous couple of years where we have experienced multiple bushfire threats, the impact of COVID-19 on our small business, and most recently, the floods. It has been exhausting keeping up with all the added responsibility, rebuilding and navigating available resources. Joanne has helped us navigate this ‘new world’ with understanding and kindness. She’s kept our spirits high and motivated, while also assisting with identifying appropriate supports for our small business and residents.
Your pathway to improved resilience and mental fitness.
Proudly funded by the Bushfire Community Recovery & Resilience Fund, the Business Resilience Project offers supports and resources to small business operators in bushfire effected communities who want to build their individual and workplace wellbeing.
CONNECT
Connect with a dedicated Business Resilience Mentor who can assess individual and workplace wellbeing and tailor an action plan to suit your individual and workplace needs
ACCESS
Access custom Business Resilience resources on wellbeing, resilience, mentally healthy workplaces, self-care, workforce transition and trauma informed practice
REFERRAL
Connection and coordination with existing business and mental health services to help support resilience for you and your business
NETWORK
Engagement with peer business support networks within your local area to facilitate shared experience and knowledge
WORKPLACE
Referral to custom workplace wellbeing workshops or consults provided by CHESS Connect as required
*numbers are limited
CHECK-IN
Regular communication and check-ins between small business owners and the Business Resilience Mentors throughout the project
Our team
Meet our dedicated Business Resilience Mentors
Joanne Facey
Business resilience mentor
taree, portmacquarie, kempsey
With over a decade of experience operating a small business in Regional NSW, and her recent community involvement during the Black Summer fires and recent flood disasters, Joanne has a genuine appreciation of the emotional, mental and financial strains effecting small business owners.
Holding Cert IV in both Community Services and Peer Work, Jo has extensive experience in mental health and suicide prevention, with specialised accreditation in Intentional Peer Support Practice.
Passionate about recovery and trauma informed practice, Jo is committed to the development and representation of small business in regional areas and creating and nurturing mentally healthy workplaces and resilience.
Emily Lyndon
BUSINESS RESILIENCE MENTOR
GRAFTON, YAMBA, MACLEAN, LISMORE
A local of Evans Head, Emily has close family ties to the region and a deep understanding of the impacts of poor health and wellbeing.
Holding a Graduate Diploma in Education, Emily has worked in the Trauma Informed space for the past 6 years, in a variety of roles including case management and group facilitation for a leading non-government organisation in Southern NSW.
Emily is passionate about upskilling others in trauma informed practice and mental wellbeing, walking alongside her customers and supporting them on their journey towards improved resilience.
get in touch with a business resilience mentor today
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SUPPORTING WELLBEING IN THE WORKPLACE
A bit about CHESS Connect
CHESS Connect is a for purpose, not for profit human service organisation, supporting Mid North Coast and North Coast Communities for over 25 years.
We collaborate with business, councils, Government Departments and their employees to educate and promote a culture of positive wellness in the workplace. Leveraging our extensive experience in both mental health recovery and employment, we have developed strategic workplace services that offer holistic, strength-based frameworks to improve wellbeing, productivity, effective service delivery and customer satisfaction.
The Business Resilience Project is proudly funded by the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund, through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding
Arrangements. Although funding for this product has been provided by both the Australian and NSW Governments, the material contained
herein does not necessarily represent the views of either government.