Update
From 11:59pm 17 February 2021 Victoria returns to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions – with some revised conditions.
Find out more information by visiting the Victorian Government's coronavirus website.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Support
Advice, updates and support to help your workplace plan and respond to coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found by visiting the Business Victoria website. You can also call the Business Victoria coronavirus hotline on 13 22 15.
Mental health support for businesses
Worried about your business? Call Partners in Wellbeing on 1300 375 330 to get confidential support and advice. The service is free and available until 10pm weekdays.
To assist Victorian exporters impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19), we’re providing information that may be helpful to them.
We’re also working to support exporters who have been impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus. Help us determine how we can best support your business by taking our short survey.
On this page
- Export Recovery Package
- Summary of government assistance to businesses impacted by coronavirus
- Help us to support you - take our coronavirus survey
- The International Freight Assistance Mechanism
- Permitted worker scheme
- Port of Melbourne Response to coronavirus - Update 8
- Business and Industry - coronavirus (COVID-19)
- Increased funding for the Export Market Development Grants
- Useful links and resources
- Media releases and statements from Victorian Government
Victorian Export Recovery Package
On 13 September, the Victorian Government announced a $15.7 million export recovery package to address logistics and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, and establish new export channels. Businesses will be connected to international markets through virtual trade missions as well as assistance to adapt their export strategies to respond to the rapidly changing global market.
Initiatives under the Export Recovery Package
Global Gateway Program
The Global Gateway program will support established Victorian exporters to help them stabilise their business and adapt their export strategies in response to the challenges created by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Grant applications are now open and will close at 11.59 pm on Sunday 17 January 2021. Find out more.
Virtual Trade Missions
Global Victoria will be delivering a suite of Virtual Trade Missions (VTMs) in 2020/21 to connect businesses to global opportunities and help them conduct their international business across digital platforms. Find a Virtual Trade Mission to help your business go global.
eCommerce Program
The eCommerce program will provide Victorian businesses with opportunities to increase their export potential by engaging an eCommerce platform within a designated international market and through other eCommerce channels. Learn more.
Summary of government assistance to businesses impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19)
We've created a live document that summarises the Victorian and Commonwealth Government support (including both job and economic packages) for businesses impacted by coronavirus. We've also included a dedicated page on specific assistance for exporters, as well as useful resources.
Keep checking in with us - Global Victoria will review and update the document as new annoucements are made
Help us to support you
We're working to support Victorian exporters who have been impacted by the outbreak of coronavirus.
Help us determine how we can best support your business by taking our short survey.
The International Freight Assistance Mechanism
On 6 October, the Federal Government announced it is committing an additional $317.1 million in funding for the International Freight Assistance Mechanism (IFAM). With $95 million to directly address upcoming seasonal demand and $222.1 million to extend IFAM to the middle of 2021, the funding injection will help keep international supply chains open.
Exporters have an increasing range of options available to them. Find out what the other options are by downloading and reading the IFAM Fact Sheet PDF, 824.7 KB
Exporters should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to access IFAM flights. Further information on how IFAM works is available by visiting the IFAM website.
Sign up to Austrade's mailing list to stay up to date on all things IFAM.
Increased funding for the Export Market Development Grants
The Commonwealth Government has increased funding for the Export Market Development Grant (EMDG). Funding for the scheme has been increased by $49.8 million in the 2019-20 financial year, allowing exporters and tourism businesses to get additional reimbursements for costs incurred in marketing their products and services around the world.
This increase supplements the additional $60 million already committed by the Government and brings EMDG funding to its highest level in more than 20 years at $207.7 million for the 2019-20 financial year. More information.
The Commonwealth Government has announced that the EMDG scheme will be simplified and reoriented in 2021-22 from a scheme providing assistance through reimbursement after expenditure to an upfront grant agreement. This will give eligible exporters funding certainty before they embark on their marketing and promotion activities. In the reoriented EMDG program, multi-year grants will be available for eligible SMEs at three stages of their export journey and assistance to industry bodies and alliances will be expanded to provide help for members who are new to export to become export-ready. Current EMDG arrangements remain in place for 2020-21.
More informationCOVID-19 Export Capital Facility
The Commonwealth Government has established a $500 million COVID-19 Export Capital Facility to assist previously profitable Australian exporters whose businesses have been impacted by COVID-19.
Exporters will be able to access loans from $250,000 to $50 million under the Facility. The Facility will complement other measures announced by the Government which enable banks to support new and existing clients. Exporters should contact their banks in the first instance to determine what assistance may be available to them.
For further information visit the Export Finance Australia website or call 1800 093 724.
Port of Melbourne Response to coronavirus Update 8
Download and read the Port of Melbourne Response to coronavirus Update 8 PDF, 760.7 KB
Business and Industry
The Department of Health and Human Services provides up-to-date information for business and industry:
- Preventing infection in the workplace
- Planning and responding to coronavirus for business and industry
- Working from home
- Record keeping and contact tracing
- Information about restrictions - business and industry
- Face coverings at work
- Advice on access to childcare for permitted workers
Hotline help for businesses dealing with COVID-19 impacts
The Victorian Government has launched a hotline for businesses dealing with the significant challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.
The pandemic is creating issues for businesses large and small who are facing a downturn in trade, bans on events and restrictions on indoor gatherings, as well as challenges in dealing with employee safety and entitlements.
Given the rapidly changing nature of the crisis, businesses need quick access to accurate information on how to keep their workplace safe, and advice on how to plan to deal with the current situation and anticipate likely developments.
Businesses across the state can now access information on dealing with COVID-19 by calling the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15.
Operators calling the hotline will be able to get information about support services, including those available through Business Victoria, which offers mentoring to help operators develop business continuity and recovery plans.
The hotline will provide the latest information on the response to COVID-19 and how this affects businesses, including how to access financial support available through the national stimulus package.
Statements from Victorian Government
- For all media releases from the Victorian Government about coronavirus (COVID-19), visit the media release website
Links to other resources
- For the latest information, updates and advice about the outbreak of COVID-19, visit Victoria's Department of Health and Health Services website.
- Information for businesses is available on the Business Victoria website.
- Information for international students is available on the Study Melbourne website.
- Information for the creative industries is available on the Creative Victoria website.
- Information for the sport and recreation industries is available on the Sport and Recreation Victoria website.
- Information for tourism and events industries is available on the Visit Victoria website.
- Information about travel is available on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) website.
- Information for exporters is available on Austrade's website
- The World Health Organisation have health focussed information with Chinese language options.
- Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses by visiting business.gov.au
Page last updated on 21 February 2021
