Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program

The Victorian State Government have launched the Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program which provides $2,000 grants to employing small businesses to access professional advice and services to help them make informed business decisions and plan for the future.

The program supports businesses that have faced disruptive change, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors, by improving their capability and preparedness to plan for their future or adapt their business model.

Please read the program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs) before submitting an application.

Applications for this program will close at 4:00pm on Friday 30 September 2022 or when funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.

Eligibility Criteria

This program is for employing small businesses that are established and have been operating since at least 1 July 2020.

To be eligible for a grant under the Small Business Specialist Advice Pathways Program, a business must meet the following requirements:

• Be a legally structured business registered in Victoria with an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN on and from 1 July 2020
• Be registered with WorkSafe Victoria
• Employ 1-19 full-time equivalent staff.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria and agree to the conditions outlined in the program guidelines to be successful under the program.

Businesses will be ineligible for a grant if any information in their application is found to be deliberately false or misleading.

How does the program and application process work?

1. Read the program guidelines and frequently asked questions (FAQs), then use the ABN Checker to check whether your ABN has been registered since 1 July 2020.
2. Grant funding of $2,000 per ABN is available for eligible expenses on relevant professional advice and services under the program, where the minimum expenditure cost is $2,000 (ex GST)
3. The applicant will receive an upfront payment of $1,000 to engage with their preferred qualified service provider.
4. The applicant will receive the final grant instalment of $1,000 on the satisfactory conclusion of the service activity. Approved businesses will be asked to complete a claim form to confirm that the project has concluded and;
   1. Provide a statutory declaration stating that the activity has been completed and the Qualified Service Provider has been paid. A statutory declaration form is available here.
   2. Complete the online claim form by 5pm on 31 January 2023.
5. Businesses will be required to respond to a short survey six months after they submit their application.

Program Guidelines

Specialist Advice Pathways Program Guidelines (PDF 323.11 KB)

Specialist Advice Pathways Program Guidelines (DOCX 1612.44 KB)

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Read the full list of FAQs.

What happens next?

If you intend to apply for this grant and select CS Accounting & Taxation Pty Ltd as your advisor, you must first advise us of your intention and the advice you will be seeking to ensure it is eligible under the grant.
This also allows us to plan how best we can assist you in the limited time we have to provide the advice.

Please contact our office to discuss this further on 03 9974 8333.