The Victorian Government's Banksia Working Group has announced a series of support measures aimed at providing immediate assistance to communities impacted by the recent collapse of the Banksia Finance Group.

 

Working Group Chairman Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said resources had been pooled from across government to provide additional community services and assistance.

Mr Ryan said the Government would trigger initiatives through existing government programs to help affected individuals and businesses, including: 

 

  • providing access to business mentoring by waiving the standard Small Business Mentoring Service fee of $400 for a series of four mentoring sessions;
  • providing immediate assistance through the Victorian Government Workers in Transition Program to Banksia employees who may lose their job to transition to other employment opportunities through re-skilling or up-skilling; and
  • providing on–the-ground help for businesses through Mobile Business Centre visits to affected communities over the coming weeks. 

 

“This assistance will include providing counsellors from outside the region to protect individual privacy and address concerns about sharing financial issues with locals.

 

“The government will also provide funding grants to other community organisations and hospitals who are providing psychological counselling services.”