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IOR Petroleum: The Best Australian Fuel Solutions & Services

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If you have come into contact with IOR Petroleum, then you know that it is not an exaggeration when the business is named as the best in the oil and gas industry in Australia. The family-owned business has proven its dedication to the community making sure that their customers are able to refill their gas from most parts of the country as they journey forward.

History and Ownership of IOR Petroleum

The business is a partnership between Stewart Morland and Ross Mackenzie whose passion for customer service and industrial innovation has led them to be the best in fuel transport services. In 1984, they came together to construct the Eromanga Oil Refinery in Eromanga, Queensland. Later on, they expanded it to the now known business which is a 24-hour diesel stop, with over 70 diesel stops currently across Australia.

Their Customer and Community Focus

A good business is one that can relate with its customers, and IOR does it quite well. The locals run Their diesel stops in the towns which the diesel stops are located. This helps the people around feel a sense of belonging when relating to the business. The depots serve customers with various needs such as farming, transport, mining, local councils, and oil and gas.

Some of these customers have signed as partners of the business, giving IOR the chance to offer cost friendly fuel for the advancement of the communities. Because of their knowledge and skills, they have partnered with companies in the oil and gas industry, helping them to come up with drilling solutions that are not only convenient but also safe.

Fuel Services

The business not only offers 24-hour diesel refills in their stops; they also do fuel delivery, pumping, and fuel management. They are also relevant in aviation fuels, supplying jet A1 and high-quality Avgas fuels. IOR takes the responsibility of storing and managing such fuels to make their client’s work easier. The clients only need to order the quantity they want, and it is conveniently delivered to them.

For those who supply bulk fuels, the business is kind enough to help them find qualified drivers for fuel transport solutions. As part of the bulk transport services, there is a client’s portal where clients log in to track the movement of their order and also get all records from previous transactions.

IOR Petroleum’s Tech and Equipment

No business can keep afloat in the 21st century without embracing technology. IOR has some of the most modern equipment in the oil and gas industry, making them offer services that are over the top. Their tank monitoring systems have gauging systems allowing one to track the level of fuel in a tank without having to dip check.

Their high-dip tracking systems enable their clients to monitor how employees dispense oil to customers from anywhere in the world. IOR also has frac tanks which can be used in places where water storage is temporary.

Safety Measures

IOR is not only providing fuel transport services but also pays keen attention to safety in line with the business, the community, and customers. Their fleet is upgraded continually to make sure that it is environmentally friendly, and their tracks have safety impacts.

Fuel deliveries are done by fleets that have been inspected for high levels of safety. The diesel stops and fuel depots are also continually upgraded hence improving on safety measures and customers experience.

Conclusion

IOR is a business that covers all its basis in perfection hence offering the best fuel transport solutions. From equipment, technology, service and customer relations, they have upgraded the oil, fuel and gas industry in Australia. Everyone associated with the name is never disappointed.

About The Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to home improvement, productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

A guide to Usability Testing Before Launching Your Website

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Usability testing is a technique that is used as part of UX design, to see how potential users interact with a website. This technique has been used since the beginning of the formation of IT systems. However, how a designer used to go about usability testing is not the same as designers do today. Today, conducting usability testing is a bit more involving and here is how you go about it.

Who Conducts the Test

Before the tests begin, you need to decide who will be in charge of the entire process. It may be one of your staff or a third party outside the company’s walls to do the tests. You can also decide to have more than one type of test so that one staff can handle tests within the company as a third party handles trials outside the company. Using an old testing method such as focus group participants, both a staff and a third party can be involved to balance out the findings.

Who are the Test Users

Users testing recruitment is another thing to consider. Not everyone is suitable to be a part of the test. Some prospect users might have no interest in the website; hence their inputs are not of any importance. This is why it is essential to choose the appropriate user testing participants. As you do the users testing recruitment, make sure that the users you choose are very close to the clients you expect to attract to your website. You can either look for organic users or PPC through SEO advertising.

Testing Among Staff Members

As much as you want prospective users to have a good experience on your site, your staff to need to not only know how to navigate through the website but also have an easy time in doing so. It will not paint a good picture if staff members are finding it hard to assist clients just because the site is too complicated for them. The first-hand experience for the staff is a good marketing strategy as well.

Evaluations

Once you have undertaken the usability testing, having data that is both quality and right quantity will be of great importance. These are the two sides of your website that will show how ready the site is to be launched in the market. With the quantity, you will learn about your target audience and their behaviour while quality will let you know why the people who were part of the test behaved the way they did. The two will help you see where the issues are and how to solve them.

Importance of Usability Testing

Most people do not understand why usability testing is important. Some argue that one can just launch the website in the market and make changes as time goes by. However, doing some corrections after a while might be too late for the brand. This is one of the reasons why designers should do a usability test before the site is out to the public.

The tests will help you bridge the gap between the business’s goals and the real world. It will also help you evaluate a product and make sure that it is as perfect as it can get before it is launched into the market. During the test, you can be able to understand your user’s expectations as well.

Conclusion

Conducting usability testing can happen more than once during the UX design process. Getting the right participants during these tests should never be compromised. Otherwise, your feedback will be as good as not having any. A successful usability test will consequently mean a useful site.

Featured Photo © Mimi Thian on Unsplash

About The Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to home improvement, productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

Streamlined Systems – 5 Ways to Improve Office Efficiency

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It’s getting hard and harder to make a dollar. Living costs are rising, but wages are not keeping pace. What’s more, most business’ profit margins seem to get narrower by the day. Rather than make drastic changes that could impact those around you, it’s time to turn your office into one of efficiency to benefit your bottom line. Here’s how to do it:

Update Your Communication Methods

If you haven’t heard of cloud unified communications, then you’re missing out on dramatic savings that could have a positive impact on your business. Unified communications are an advanced phone, video, email and messaging system that merges all these different communication methods into one.

You can make and receive phone calls from anywhere in the world on your official business number, use instant messaging and group chat, and even utilize voice and video calling. Even more eye-opening is the price tag. Unlike traditional phone systems which are complex to maintain and expensive to upgrade, modern methods such as unified communications are scalable and affordable.

Time Tracking Technology

Did you know that over 30 percent of employees waste at least half an hour of work time every day? That might not seem like a lot, but that equates to around four hours every week, per worker. It can make you wonder whether your team’s roles as are streamlined as they could be.

Time tracking technology can help you to establish how much time a particular task takes. While some staff may see it as a privacy invasion, that’s not its purpose. Once you know how long a job takes to complete, you can find out whether some staff can take on more work, or if others need a helping hand.

Team Project Management Applications

Remember in school when everyone had a job to do on a team project, but something always went wrong? Crucial data fell through the cracks, someone didn’t pull their weight, or people forgot which job was theirs.

The workplace can be a lot like that without appropriate project management applications in place. Time equals money, and if you can save time with streamlined project management applications, why wouldn’t you? Such apps have digital paper trails, task allocation, and instant messaging so that everyone knows where they are.

Integrated Workplace Management Systems

When you’re trying to make your workplace more efficient to boost profitability, the last thing you want to do is spend more money. However, that’s often the answer. If you’re going to spend it anywhere, invest in integrated workplace management systems.

Such software can spell the end of most of your everyday programs, transforming them into one easy-to-manage system. In the long-run, you’ll save time, cut down on expensive fees, and make your workers’ days a little bit easier.

Give Your Workers Freedom

While offering your staff freedom doesn’t sound like efficiency, it can have more of an impact than you think. Give your team the freedom to turn their office space into a place for them, and productivity will follow.

Studies show that 17 percent of those with custom workspaces were more enriched and empowered than workers without anything to call theirs. Even a family photo and a few knick-knacks can make all the difference.

Cutting costs isn’t always about redundancies, downsizing, and cutting back on stationery purchases. It can be as easy as focusing on efficiency and productivity to save time. Time is money; let’s not forget. Find out whether your workers’ roles are at full capacity, and invest in beneficial technology to make their lives easier. The financial rewards will follow.

5 Benefits of Performing Cyber Security Risk Management

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For the past few years, there are increased numbers of security breaches due to the advances in technology. Lack of proper security measures can lead to unauthorized access to the financial status of an organization and theft of client’s information. Moreover, important data can be lost. To prevent such risks, an organization not only need a great cybersecurity system but also a modern comprehensive cyber security risk assessment system.

Smart businesses ensure that they understand what is cyber security risk . They then integrate cyber security strategies into their organizational risk management policies. Their main aim is to prevent data loss, improve security measures, protect the network services and manage and control the active data. A company such as AusCERT, a leading Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT), helps organizations to mitigate such risks.

Companies need to understand that cyber security risk management system has a huge impact on an organization’s ability to reach their goals. So here are five benefits of performing a cybersecurity risk management and prioritizing it.

Timely identification and mitigation of the cybersecurity risk

In order to manage cybersecurity risk, your team should be able to identify red flags. Such a team identifies any dangers to ensure that all the information is secure. Cybersecurity management measures involve identification of problems before they occur in order to determine the security measures to mitigate them.

Timely identification of potential risks involves monitoring the system for suspicious patterns and behaviors. They can also carry out cyber security risk analysis, and assessment to identify any gaps in the security of the system. Such measures lead to timely identification, and control or mitigation of the risks. Thus, it can help in preventing data leakages and ensure data protection.

Creates better IT support team

A company with an actual cybersecurity strategy and a protection solution in place means that your team will follow a specific protocol. They will use on-site measures and the established software combinations to react to system threats because they have the needed knowledge on what should be done.

Such a team will always be prepared in case of cybersecurity risks. Such a strategy and plan in place means that there will be less stress for the team working in this crucial department. Additionally, the working relationship will improve because there will be enough trained personnel to mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Reduces vulnerabilities

Fixing a patch after a data breach in a company takes time. Hackers or unauthorized people can take advantage of such vulnerability to steal important data. Cybersecurity risk management can help identify the risks and assist the company to eliminate or reduce the impact.

Identification of the problem means the threat is there and thus a proper cybersecurity assessment should be done. In order to address the problem in your company, you can design a separate department that facilitates and report on risk management.

Saves revenues

There are many types of threats out there that can lead to loss of profits from clients, fines and lawsuits. A DDoS attack on your system can completely shut down your company’s platform preventing engagements with clients, and online purchases and transactions. Despite that you will have to invest some revenues on a cybersecurity management system, they can greatly reduce losses due to attacks on your system.

Enhances your business reputation

A business thrives by keeping the clients’ interest in mind. One way to ensure that is through establishing trust. This virtue can be achieved by protecting your clients’ data. Lack of proper cybersecurity management systems can lead to data breaches which can cost you customers and finances. They also lower the reputation of the company due to its negative impacts. Thus a company that prioritizes the data security of their customers get more loyal clients, and experience success through doing more business.

A cybersecurity management plan and system are more than an option for a company. It is significant for the success and security of an organization. It is a responsibility for each team member including the leaders and technology team. No matter the company you may find yourself in, cybersecurity is a must in the modern world because it ensures information integrity and the trust of the employee and client.

About the Author:

Caroline Bird is a creative writer and digital marketer. She loves sharing her perspective, tips and how-tos related to productivity, business, technology, and SEO through her writing. Connect with Caroline via @bCarolinebird12

Australian Small Business Grants in 2019

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The Australian government is giving small businesses a boost with financial help in the form of payment incentives, tax credits or grants. To qualify for a grant, your business should be a start-up or a small and medium-sized business. The annual turnover of your business may come into play if you want to apply for some of the grants.

We will explore some of the business grants available to your business below.

Australian Government Entrepreneurs Program

To encourage productivity, competitiveness, and commercialization of ideas, the Federal Government is providing this grant to entrepreneurs. To accelerate commercialisation, the grant will give funding of up to $1 million for any process that goes into bringing a new product, service, and process into the market.

small business outlook 2019

Business advisors will be at hand to mentor and help in implementing strategies. They will also help create a business evaluation action plan that will recommend how to grow and improve. 

Your business must have an annual turnover of between $1.5 and $100 million. The company must also be in a particular growth sector like manufacturing, mining technology, medical-technology agribusiness, food, among others.

Start-up and existing incubators will receive up to $500,000 to help them access international markets.

State Government Grants – Victoria

These grants are available for people who live in the Victoria area and are available for anyone in food innovation, Social Enterprise, Defence and Aerospace, exports to Asia and advanced manufacturing.

Anyone who successfully applies will get vouchers that they can use in innovation, market engagement, and business capability.

Winning a state government grant can provide prestige and credibility, with the appearance of a small business critical to help it get off the ground. In addition, the most obvious benefit of this grant is that, unlike a loan, grants do not need to be repaid. This can provide you with a unique advantage over your competition.

According to the short-term finance experts at Maxiron Capital, “The approval of state funding can provide the same boost to a small business or start-up as a small business loan. With no repayments to make there is the opportunity to use short-term financing to scale at speed and drive home the advantage provided through state grants.”


State Government Grants – Queensland

This $50,000 Grant is available for businesses that need to purchase specialised Services or equipment. The grant aims to accelerate the growth of businesses that have high growth and employment aspirations.

According to the Queensland Government, Business Queensland, “Business innovation often requires an up-front investment of resources to develop new ideas, with a view to future profits. For businesses that are unable to fund their own ideas, a range of grants and financial assistance is available to support innovation.”

In order to find the specific grant, you can go over the Grant Directories.

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State Government Grants – New South Wales

The $2000 Grant is for businesses that hire new employees without paying payroll tax. The company will get the grant for every new employee they hire.

There are typically two types of grants for employee hiring, both of which will require you to understand your taxation and legal rights. A Small Business Grant is aimed at small businesses looking to increase their headcount, which means businesses that are paying less than $750,000 a year in wages and therefore falling under the NSW Payroll Tax threshold.

With the ability of grants to transform your business, the legal experts at Southern Coast Lawyers indicate that “you should always be aware of relevant state legislation pertaining to your business. Knowing your legal responsibilities and ensuring you are working within these parameters can ensure you are eligible for business grants when they become available to you.”

Then there is the other typical grant that is the Jobs Action Plan. This is for larger businesses, so it is important to identify which type of grant suits your needs the most.

CSIRO Kick Start Grant

Any Australian SME or start-up can qualify for the $50000 matched funding Grant. 

The fund will aid in research activities done together with CSIRO to grow the business. Your company must have an Australian company number (ACN) have an annual turnover of below $1.5 million, and GST registered.

The research will cover areas such as product development, ideas with commercial potential, and testing of products or materials. It should not be less than a one-year research project.

CSIRO will provide between $10000 and $50000 in matched funding for your research investment.

Certain Inputs to Manufacture (CIM) programme

CIM is a concession which will allow manufacturers in Australia to import specific raw material like chemicals, paper goods, plastic and metal for food packaging, duty-free.

You will only get the grant if you can prove that you cannot get the same quality of the product in the domestic market.

R & D Tax Incentive

The R&D tax incentive will give a company a 43.5% refundable tax, for any costs that arise due to research and development activities.

To be considered for the grant, the company has to be incorporated, and have R&D reductions or costs of $20,000 at the minimum. You must also have an annual turnover of no less than$20 million.

Australian Government Restart Incentive

The Australian Government Restart Incentive is a grant that will go to any business that employs and retains mature employees of age 50 and above.

The company must have a valid ABN, is a member of an unemployment service provider, and should offer the employee a minimum of 20 hours per week. Your company will receive a payment of $10,000 over six months.

Respite Care – What to Expect

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home and respite care for australia

Respite care describes short-term care solutions, designed to provide caregivers with a temporary break. Respite care options provide caregivers with an opportunity to take a temporary rest, whilst knowing that their loved one is cared for by a registered and trained professional.

Respite care is therefore flexible and can be tailored for each individuals needs. For example, temporary care can be provided for the elderly, or for those with conditions that require supervision. Care can also be offered from hourly to weekly, in the comfort of your own home, or within a residential care home. If you have questions about respite care in NSW, read on to find out what to expect.

Home Care

One of the most important features of respite care is that it is designed to provide individualised and flexible care. Many people choose to receive home care after recovering from an operation or illness, or simply when extra help is required for some of life’s daily tasks. Respite care providers can assist you or a loved one with various tasks including personal care and with completing household chores.

Respite care providers step-in to complete the tasks that are performed by your usual caregiver. At home care is therefore structured with flexibility in mind, ensuring that the care provided is specific to the individual and their needs. Some clients may require constant supervision and care, while others will only require care for a few specific hours each week.

Residential Facilities

Residential facilities can be utilised for an overnight stay, or for an extended period of time. Respite care provided in a residential care facility is a great option for any primary caregiver that requires a temporary break, but who wishes to ensure that their loved one is cared for in a supervised environment. Many leading residential facilities offer numerous accommodation options, including single or shared rooms. Many will also offer various social activities, including day trips and activities. These programs are a great way for individuals to make friends and participate in group activities.

Many individuals choose to receive respite care at a residential facility as a trial when considering whether or not to enter into aged care. Having an opportunity to stay at a facility temporary can be a good opportunity to decide whether or not it is the right fit.

Reliability

Respite care providers are trained professionals. Before choosing to hire a care provider you can review their requisite qualifications and other additional training they may have undertaken. Many professionals who care for those with disabilities, Alzheimer’s or other individual conditions, will carry additional qualifications and experience working with patients with the same needs. Industry leading respite care providers will ensure that your loved one’s caregiver is experienced and able to assist with any individualised care requirements.

Costs

As the options of respite care available are so varied, so too are the costs involved. Whilst some services will be charged by the hour, others will be charged by the number of days or weeks. The costs of the service will also vary depending on the level of care and supervision that is required.

Some individuals may be eligible for government funding or other financial assistance programs in order to subsidise the costs of respite care.

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Respite care is a fantastic option for any caregiver that requires a temporary break, or any individual that requires additional care for a short or extended period. With so many flexible options available, respite care can include as much support or care as each individual requires. From help with shopping and household chores, to expert care for disabilities or health conditions; respite care is an affordable option for every family.

A Dose of Drive – The Productive Benefits of an Office Coffee Machine

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Did you know that 2.25 billion cups of joe are consumed around the world, every single day? That’s a lot of coffee’coffe vendor business australia

 But after all, it’s one of the most popular drinks around. And that’s no surprise – who doesn’t love a steaming, fragrant, delicious cup of “let’s wake up right now” every morning when getting ready for work? It helps you get things done, whether it’s in the office or around the house.

In fact, a workplace without a steady source of productivity beans is a workplace that is seriously low on morale. So, if you’re in charge of an office, workshop, warehouse or other place of business and your staff don’t have access to that sweet, sweet arabica, you need to discover the benefits of an office coffee machine, post haste.

Great for morale

Getting an office coffee machine, whether it’s buying one or investing in coffee machine hire, is a great way to boost the morale of your staff. First of all, who doesn’t like a free cup? By putting on some gratis brews, you’re showing your staff that you value them and that you are being generous. They’ll appreciate it and work harder for you, day in and day out. Secondly, a coffee machine is a great way to encourage your staff to get together and bond. Trust us, the thing will run hot most mornings from 8 till lunchtime. People will gather around the machine, getting cups and having a chat, laugh or discussion.

Productivity booster!

Coffee increases productivity, there’s no denying it. This is because coffee contains caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant. A good dose of caffeine will wake up employees and get their brains whirring and into gear – setting them up for a productive and innovative day. A few cups can turn the most dreary meeting into a dazzling brainstorm of activity, so by installing a coffee machine in your office you’re actually investing into your business. The return on investment may not be as noticeable as a growing bank balance, but long term productivity and employee engagement are rewards enough.

Keep it stocked and serviced

A coffee machine that runs out of beans is a serious risk to your bottom line. Watch morale plummet and the grumbles begin when the beans run out. To counter this business risk, keep a healthy stock of beans ready to grind and brew into that nectar of commerce. If you’re running a huge office or a multi-level building, then try to find some wholesale beans – you’ll pay less per kilo and ensure you’ve always got a steady supply.

Likewise, a good coffee machine is a like a prestige automobile, it needs a bit of tender loving care to keep it running smooth. Your office coffee machine will need a regular service, and, sometimes, it’s going to break down and need repairs. The company that leases it to you should be able to provide this service, or you can find a third party. Either way, ensure it gets a regular checkup and immediate repairs when broken – you don’t want your staff going back to instant swill, after all.

Brewing it up

 

An office coffee machine is great for morale and staff culture and will bring your teams together. It will also provide a major lift in productivity due to the stimulant properties of caffeine. Ensure that you keep a good stock of roasted beans on hand to make that delicious joe, and ensure that you service your machine on the regular and fix it promptly if it breaks down.

What is SEO and why it is indispensable to your business?

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Search Engine Optimisation, popularly known SEO, has become quite a buzzword in business today. You might be wondering what SEO is and why it is becoming an essential driver for online businesses these days. Companies these days are consulting SEO experts to help them improve their search engine rankings. SEO helps in increasing your visibility and making your website more searchable. So, let’s look at few reasons why SEO is important for your business.

SEO helps in organic searches

Organic search is a crucial part of any buying funnel. The guidelines defined by search engines such as Google and Yahoo must be followed by your brand. SEO services Adelaide help you comply with these guidelines so that you can rank well. This helps by showing your website in the relevant search results to generate more traffic.

Building trust and credibility

It is crucial for you to connect with your users as a brand. They will be interested in your products and services only when they can trust. You can build this trust via search engine optimisation. Your website will essentially establish authority if it has quality back-links, optimised content, and machine-learning signals. It should be noted that building authority is a time-taking process and you would have to be patient for getting results. SEO helps in achieving this so that your brand gets the recognition that it deserves. Customers are more likely to buy your services or products if they are convinced that you are reliable and trustworthy. Thus, SEO helps you in making your profile credible in the digital space.

Improving user experience

Very few people understand that the visibility and ranking of your website highly depend on the user experience. Search engine optimisation Adelaide helps you improve your website. It should be noted that Google considers a user-friendly website to be a really important aspect. Quality SEO works in favour of your brand. Your chances of ranking high are increased if you put high-quality content on your website. The information you provide should be relevant and precise to engage the audience.

Role of Local SEO

Local SEO has become crucial for small scale businesses and enterprises. How you rank in the target location decides how well your business will fare. Local optimisation is when your marketing efforts are focused on a particular town, region, state or city. This ensures that you communicate your brand and connect with the local audiences. SEO professionals optimise your website and make it relevant to the location and your business sector.

Cost-effective alternative

We are not saying that SEO is free. But it is certainly cheaper than traditional marketing like banners, hoardings, printed ads etc that only reach a few people. With the paradigm shift of digital marketing, your business must have an online presence. A little investment in SEO is going to help you a long way.

SEO activities are measurable

You can measure almost all SEO activities with analytics and tracking. A digital marketing team would show you exactly what results you have achieved after putting in the efforts. This is measurable in terms of leads generated, number of likes and follows and overall reaches of your company. 

Final Take

Thus, it is apparent that SEO is indispensable for your business. Implementing SEO on the website of your brand is sure to bring in favourable results. You can expect improved visibility, better traffic, and more leads. As a result of this, you can also generate more revenue. Moreover, you can always check if your efforts are getting paid off as it is quantifiable. So what are you waiting for? Avail SEO in Adelaide today to boost your business online.

Opening a Physiotherapy Practice – Where to Start

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The need for physiotherapy is only expected to increase with contemporary demographic changes. As such, opening your own practice has potentially never been more opportune or potentially lucrative. However, knowing where to begin the process of taking such a leap can be difficult and it’s important to take some time to understand exactly what is involved in opening your own physiotherapy practice.

Starting from scratch opening a physiotherapy practice can be difficult. There are many points to check off that it can quickly become an overwhelming task. However, with the right guidance, support, determination and patience, you can make your dream a reality. With every stage of the process, you need to do what you can to ensure that things go smoothly.

Let’s take a look a closer look at some of the key elements of opening a physiotherapy practice, from building plans to practice management software and everything in between.

Read on to learn more!

Some First Steps

To open your own practice, it is important to understand the requisite legal specifications you must check off before you open. Understand what the industry standards are. This includes officially registering as a physiotherapist which must be done with an application to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. This organization requires both an initial and annual registration fee.

In addition, you must apply for a Medicare Provider number and (often) also apply for registration with the Australian Physiotherapist Association.

If you will require financing, it is useful to write a proper business plan. This should incorporate your knowledge of the physiotherapy market as well as details regarding projections for your own practice.

Structuring Your Practice

In terms of the organisation of your practice as a business, it is useful to think about how you will structure it. Usually, following a company structure is most sensible. This will establish your practice as a distinct legal entity. This can reduce your personal liability in case of potential accidents. Choosing your structure will also depend on whether you are opening the practice as a sole individual or whether you are entering into a partnership with other physiotherapists.

In any case, it is also vital to register your business in Australia to get it legally up and running. You will need to acquire an Australian Business Number and a Tax File Number to ensure that your practice is in good stead with the government.

Laying The Foundations

Unless you own some real-estate which can serve as the physical location of your practice, you will likely be renting or leasing a space. In any case, choosing a prime location is paramount. If you do choose to lease, know the rights and obligations of your retail or commercial lease. It is critical that you make sure you know what you can use the space for and whether you will have the option to extend the lease. Procuring equipment for your practice can easily be done online.

Once your location is set, it is important to hire a team of employees that can serve you well. Depending on the specifics of your practice plans, you may be hiring additional physiotherapists or staff to assist with administrative tasks. Vet candidates on how well they can fit in with the work culture of your practice. Be sure to follow existing hiring laws and make sure to set up the proper tax filing information for each new employee.

Setting up medical practice management software can also streamline the day-to-day operations in your practice. These programs can be used to help integrate electronic medical records with operational administrative and financial matters (appointment scheduling and insurance claims, for example). They can also provide performance indicators to let you know how efficiently your practice is operating.

Grand Opening

Taking the time to fully understand how to open your new physiotherapy practice is the first step in getting your new business up and running. Owning and operating your own business is a huge commitment but when managed correctly, it can be a very rewarding and satisfying experience. With the right preparation, you will be on course to a successful future from the very beginning and will be able to establish your new physiotherapy practice in your local community in no time at all.

5 ways small businesses can encourage healthier eating at work

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Maintaining a balanced diet and lifestyle can be really difficult, particularly if you’re working full-time or are managing a business. Whilst it is not strictly your responsibility to ensure that your employees eat in a healthy manner, it is in your best interest to encourage healthy eating and diets in the workplace, as this can have many positive effects on your business’ productivity. Indeed, there are many convenient and tasty recipes like HelloFresh, which you can use to ensure your employees actually look forward to meal time at work.

So, what should be your plan of attack when encouraging healthy eating in the workplace?

Increase health knowledge

One of the first things you need to do as a manager is help improve the health knowledge of your staff and workers. Building this knowledge could come in the form of scheduling seminars on quick and easy recipes that are healthy and affordable. Consider hiring a nutritionist to come in during the week and discuss healthy eating habits with your staff and colleagues. You could even call it a “lunch n learn” day. It is really important that you build clear communication with your employees and clarify any questions they may have regarding the program. Your program needs to be framed around a purpose and if your aim is to help your employees work at a more productive level you should let them know exactly that!

Build positive attitudes

Another key component of implementing an effective healthy eating program is to help build positive attitudes towards healthy eating. Encouraging dieting and nutritional consumption is one thing; embracing such eating habits is a whole different ball game. There will definitely be some members of staff who will resist such change, which is understandable. Some people are less inclined to eat healthy, while others may view it as an unnecessary cost, or something that just wastes time and resources.

Either way, you need to help build positivity around healthy eating. One of the best ways of achieving this is to share stories of people whose lives changed for the better after dieting – it could be simply losing weight and getting back in shape, or something more significant, like new job opportunities after the weight was lost.

Incentivise the programs

Put simply, there will always be a select few that will not get involved in the program. However, there may be a larger number of individuals who choose to not get involved because of the viability and perceived benefits of scheme. In this situation, you need to incentivise and reward employees who get involved. How? Well, if your business is working in affiliation with a healthy food outlet, develop a loyalty points scheme, so employees are rewarded for their purchases. This will have the effect of stimulating demand and encouraging workers to participate, even if they were a little hesitant at first! Overall, incentivising your workers is a central part of enhancing employee management and performance.

Having said this, not all businesses have the financial capacity to provide in-house food options. If so, provide your workers with a list of restaurants in the local area that offer balanced meals. Be sure to stock the vending machines with healthier food options and reward workers who choose the healthier alternatives!

Plan the program

Some businesses don’t offer healthy eating programs throughout the entire year. For example, many businesses will often offer such programs after the holiday seasons, since many employees might be deflated from some weight gain over the festive season. The program should include lunch meals that contain several servings of vegetables or fruit – you want to minimise the consumption of products containing high levels of sugar and/or salt. A high sugar diet has been linked to weight gain and increased prevalence of Type II diabetes. Reduce the amount of processed grains and try to select lean meats with less fat and added salts. When choosing your meat options, be sure to stick with fresh meat over processed meats, since processed meat and foods are often full of chemicals that undermine the nutritional value.

Does it actually work?

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For those that may still be a little sceptical, it is important to understand that there is a relationship between healthy eating and job satisfaction. Indeed, adhering to a balanced diet of protein, vegetables, fruit and healthy fats has been linked to improved job performance. A lot of this stems from that fact that eating healthy promotes better body image, staves off illness and reduces the likelihood of fatigue. In fact, this could go a long way in boosting someone’s leadership skills, so if you’re a manager or in a leadership position at your work, be sure to try and eat as healthy as possible throughout the working week.

Likewise, eating healthy at work can also help you improve your overall time management. Being able to schedule your meetings and tasks in an efficient manner goes a long way in building your leadership portfolio. It also helps enhance your reputation within the company – you’ll find your workers have greater respect for you and your objectives for the business!