Registrations have opened for South Australia’s Small Business Week, set to run from 22 to 26 September, with a full calendar of in-person and online events tailored to the daily challenges and ambitions of business owners across the state.
The initiative, now in its third year under the Malinauskas Government’s Small Business Strategy, kicks off with a free expo at Adelaide Oval. Monday’s opening session includes a keynote from demographer Bernard Salt and a panel featuring five business owners whose names will ring familiar to many in the South Australian community. From food to design to sustainability, the speakers—Nick Palousis (2XE), Tyson Gunderson (Bureau Booths), Brandon Reynolds (The Yoghurt Shop), Alison Milisits (Vili’s Family Bakery), and Rebecca Wessells (Ochre Dawn)—will share lessons from the ground floor.
The emphasis this year is on capability. Events span mentoring, peer networking and skills workshops across topics such as digital readiness, team building and cyber resilience. Programs specifically tailored to women entrepreneurs will also feature, as will new offerings for business owners based in regional parts of the state.
South Australia’s Minister for Small and Family Business, Andrea Michaels, said the event series was not just about information but about applying it in ways that matter day to day.
“The Malinauskas Government’s Small Business Strategy has supported more than 14,200 businesses over the past two years,” Michaels said. “I’m absolutely committed to helping small and family businesses adjust to an ever-changing business environment with practical and meaningful support at low or no cost.”
She added that Small Business Week offers owners a reason to pause from daily operations and reflect on how to build for the future. “As we mark this two-year milestone, we celebrate not just the success of our strategy, but the determination and innovation of our state’s small business owners.”
Holly Stratton, who runs A Taste of the Hills Festival, said the Women in Business Program had a direct impact on her ability to promote and grow her events.
“Sometimes you need to receive support, guidance and help from people that have more experience,” she said. “I thought it was a fantastic opportunity to try mentorship in areas where I needed guidance.”
Stratton said targeted help with marketing tools made a clear difference. “They helped me increase my online presence from 600 to 6,000 followers on Instagram, and with my Meta Business Suite ads to gain more reach specific to attendees I was trying to target.”
Small Business Week is delivered in partnership with the Office for Small and Family Business, the Small Business Commission SA, the Industry Advocate, and Consumer and Business Services. Regional events are set to run in parallel, and a suite of online resources will be available covering everything from tax planning to mental wellbeing.
The broader Small Business Strategy, launched two years ago, includes a range of tailored programs:
- Women in Business Program – 3,966 participants
- Small Business Fundamentals Program – 5,425 participants
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Program – 4,474 participants
- Small Business Sustainability Support Program – 154 participants
- Cyber Uplift Step Program – 96 participants
- Australian Centre for Business Growth – 164 participants
Business owners can register for Small Business Week events at: business.sa.gov.au/week
The registration portal is live, with sessions expected to fill quickly. As many operators face mounting challenges around digital transformation, workforce management and access to capital, the events provide a space for regrouping and rethinking.
Register for Small Business Week events at business.sa.gov.au/week
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