Women in Business - Cath Fowler

WOMEN

IN BUSINESS

with CATH FOWLER

FROM THE DIGITAL LANEWAY

NAIDUJADE

WOOLGOOLGA PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO AND NAIDU THEATRE COMPANY

Can you tell us a little bit

about your business?

I’m the Artistic Director and owner of NAIDU Theatre Co (a family-run business with all of my Fijian Indian family working behind the scenes from all around the world with me!) and Woolgoolga Performing Arts Studio.

WPAS serves as a training facility for lovers of all things music and the performing arts. From preschoolers to women in their 80’s – we cater and work with all artists no matter their background, diversity or level.

NAIDU Theatre Co serves as an Independent Performing Arts Company producing original works, cabarets, and musicals. Currently our team is Directing/Choreographing Disney’s Frozen Jr for the Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium and we’re in the midst of writing a new musical called ‘Girmit’ based on the Fijian Indian’s indenture in Fiji from 1879-1916.

What’s your favourite part of the work you do?

Working with an incredible community! ‘Shining a light on unity in diversity through the arts’ is what it’s all about for me. That no matter your passion – dance, theatre, lindy hop, guitar, drums etc – we’re all united with joy in one space.

The other part I love is creating and being an artist. Operating two businesses has been the space I needed to be the artist I am. I love being able to be an artist at the core of everything I do now – from choreographing, to songwriting and composition to performing myself. I get to fulfil every artistic aspect of my life through my businesses.

Who is your greatest influence in business?

Fellow women in business that I have the pleasure to meet every week! Meeting women who own and run businesses whilst juggling motherhood, work, money and their own happiness. Being part of the Business Women’s Network and Woolgoolga Chamber of Commerce has really made me sit back and observe the incredible women I’m surrounded by, and their many influences over what I do.

Every woman in business that I meet plays a huge role in what influences and shapes my next move and how I improve my own business.

Have you always lived on the Coffs Coast?

I’ve lived here since 2016. I never intended for Coffs to become ‘home’ but in the magic way this place works, it did! I’d just come off a big contract working in Mumbai as a Director and wanted a place to ‘rest’ before the next big adventure. I have family and friends in Woolgoolga and I came and stayed with them for a ‘breather’. Six months turned into six years and there’s no place like it! I love the communities here, the passion the locals have for change and progressing forward. I really love our Arts community especially – so many like-minded people making incredible art and supporting each other.

What piece of advice would you give women making their way in the business world?

Our biggest challenge and limitations in business (from my experience) are our own belief systems formed as young children. The ‘personal’ and ‘self’ work is just as important as growing or starting a business because the longevity and balance that life requires of you needs to first come from a place of calm and clarity.

Doing that ‘inner’ work, as cliched as it sounds, becomes the place you go to when times are difficult, things feel stuck and you’re not sure what your next move is. Your body and mind is your ‘home’ and it needs to be a place that you can safely go to and rest before coming back to kick some business butt! The safer your space is ‘inside’, the stronger mindset you can build for your business and not be knocked down as hard when it happens.

Where can people find out more about your business?

naidutheatrecompany.com woolgoolgaperformingartsstudio.com

Three facts about meanstested fees

Fees in residential aged care are means-tested, but the rules are complicated. This article explores the three key facts you need to know about meanstested fees.

Providing aged care in a residential service is expensive when you add up wages, equipment and other operational costs. The government pays most of this cost but you may be asked to pay a portion.

How much you pay is means-tested, so the more you have in financial resources, the more you might be asked to pay – but only up to the annual cap of $29,399, with an overall lifetime cap of $70,559 (indexed).

The rules for how the means-tested fee (MTF) works is not easy to understand. So what are the top three facts you need to know.

1.The fee is not evenly spread across the year

The annual cap averages $80.55 per day, but you might be asked to pay a higher rate each day (up to $265 per day, based on an assessment of your care needs) until you reach the annual cap.

Once you reach the cap you stop paying the means-tested fee for the rest of that year. Other fees continue.

Example:

Martha’s means-tested fee (MTF) is calculated as $160 per day. She pays this amount (plus other fees) for approximately 184 days until she has paid an amount equal to the annual cap. Then no more MTF is payable until the next year.

Unfortunately there might be a delay before Services Australia identify the cap has been reached and allow payments to stop. The provider will refund (or hold a credit) any excess that you have paid.

2.The cap applies to an anniversary year

The annual cap applies to your anniversary year. This generally starts on the date you enter permanent residential care. But if you were receiving a home care package before the move, the year starts from the date your home care package commenced.

This could see your first 12 months in residential care span two anniversary years and you may pay more than the annual cap in that first 12 months.

3.The caps are indexed

Every six months the annual (and lifetime) caps are indexed. You will need to chase the indexing cap, but once reached, the meanstested fee ceases for the rest of the year, despite any indexation during that time.

This advice is general in nature and everyone’s circumstances are different. So it’s important to speak to someone like myself who is a licenced financial adviser (I am an Authorised Representative of Count Financial Limited AFSL 227232).

As an Accredited Aged Care Professional™, I have helped many clients navigate through aged care fee liabilities. It is important to determine the means-tested fee and plan on how to best cover the costs.

Call me on 0431 414 799 or email jason@burleyagedcareadvice.com.au to find out how I might help yours or a loved one’s own position.

P 0431 414 799 E jason@burleyagedcareadvice.com.au W www.burleyagedcareadvice.com.au

KICKSTART Your Career

AT COFFS HARBOUR CITY COUNCIL

Join Our Team as an Apprentice or Trainee

As a leader in local government, Coffs Harbour City Council is ‘committed to the pursuit of excellence’ and one of the largest employers in the region. As a diverse, inclusive and innovative organisation, our people put our community and customers at the heart of everything they do. We are passionate about providing opportunities for young people within the Coffs Harbour area through apprenticeships and traineeships. These opportunities allow our young people to commence a pathway into their chosen career whilst remaining within the local community. These trainee and apprentice opportunities also have the potential to extend to permanent roles through the ongoing professional development provided by Council. Apprenticeships and traineeships at Council are the perfect way to kick start a career as they combine formal learning and on-the-job training in a safe, supportive environment. Council has many trainee and apprentice success stories, one of which is Kayla Wheatland. Kayla commenced her journey as a Stores and Procurement Trainee with Coffs Harbour City Council in 2020. Kayla was then able to apply and progress to a Project Support Officer role and is now working as the Corporate Planner in the Community Planning and Engagement team. “My biggest motivation for applying was upskilling myself, I was working in hospitality and really wanted to give myself a chance at a career,” said Kayla. “There were some challenging points throughout the traineeship, but the team I worked with were really supportive and wanted me to have a good experience. If you are interested in a traineeship or apprenticeship, just go for it! Especially if you really enjoy working and learning at the same time, it’s a really good experience. Doing both at the same time was really beneficial for me; I got to do the practical work, while learning through study. I love how supportive everyone is at Coffs Harbour City Council. Everyone wants to see you learn and grow both professionally and personally. The level of care everyone has for each other means there are really good, connected teams.” From August, Coffs Harbour City Council is preparing to launch a significant number of traineeships and apprenticeship providing the perfect opportunity to begin a career in the community you know and love.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

• Upcoming opportunities across many Council areas, including; Finance, Payroll, Human Resources, Laboratory Technician, Grounds Keeping, Horticulture, Reservations and Reception, Customer Service, Water & Sewer, Civil Construction, Carpentry and More! • 2-4 years full time employment depending on the apprenticeship/traineeship • Competitive pay rates • Your qualification paid for • Learn in demand skills on the job • On-going learning in a supportive environment ABOUT YOU

Regardless of the specific field, we want our trainees and apprentices to be; • Self-Motivated with a positive can-do attitude • Able to actively listen and take instruction • Reliable, trustworthy and punctual • Kind and courteous team players • Passionate about a career with Council

We encourage people to sign up to our job alerts using our QR code to get an immediate update about our apprenticeships and traineeships as they become available.

COFFS HARBOUR CARPET

COURT

Coffs Harbour Carpet Court was recently awarded the NSW/ACT State Member of the Year Award, and the National Member of the Year Award.

At the National Members meeting on the Gold Coast in May 2022. The awards are in recognition of extraordinary dedication & contribution to the Carpet Court franchise group & the flooring industry together with outstanding performance in a number of segments of the business.

Owners, Fiona & Simon McCredie are extremely proud of their amazing team who always strive to provide outstanding customer service through dedication & hard work. An enormous amount of resilience has been exhibited by the team to chart the challenges over the last couple of years with not only the impact of Covid but with product availability & delays.

The team has changed over the last couple of years with some sadly departing to move away to be closer to family or to undertake further studies. Some familiar faces are on leave enjoying life as new mums & we look forward to them joining us again in 2023. However, some new faces have been welcomed & they bring a new dimension to the business. They are an extraordinary bunch with a great positive attitude!

Fiona highlighted in her acceptance of the awards, “It is a great honour to be part of such an amazing team and a proud

achievement to be recognised by Carpet Court Australia.” The Carpet Court group is growing nationally with over 200 stores & leading the way with new advancements It is a great honour such as carpet ranges to be part of such featuring ECONYL® an amazing team and a regenerated nylon which proud achievement to is made from nylon be recognised by Carpet waste from old carpets, Court Australia. fabric scraps & fishing nets, which would otherwise pollute the environment. Through the regeneration process, ECONYL® yarn never loses its virgin qualities which means it can be recycled an infinite amount of times, making it the perfect sustainable fibre

Left Fiona McCredie with James Hayward CEO Carpet Court Australia and Rod Walker Chairman Carpet Court Australia.

Below Fiona McCredie with Operations Managers for QLD & NSW - Geoff Stutz & Greg Zeegers.

solution. Eco carpets are not only kinder to the planet & reduce environmental pollution, they also come with several benefits to transform your interiors & elevate your quality of living. Other attributes include durability, stain resistance, fade resistance, allergen friendly, soft & dense. These ranges are part of the Brutal Beauty Story & are becoming very popular after entering the market late last year!

Carpet Court has partnered with Qantas Frequent Flyer & Qantas Business Rewards to give customers the opportunity to earn Qantas Points when shopping in store or online. For every $1 spent you earn 1 Qantas Point.

The Carpet Court team thank their valued customers, contractors & suppliers for their ongoing support to the success of the business. Simon highlighted how rewarding it is to work alongside so many great businesses on the Coffs Coast & be part of the progress of the Coffs Coast with new developments. Carpet Court is a proud sponsor of THE BLOCK & are excited for the new season to start very soon. If you see any flooring or window furnishings you like, don’t hesitate to call into the showroom to see what it looks like in real life. You could have that look in your home!

Carpet Court’s showroom is open weekdays, 9am-5pm & 9am-1pm Saturdays. The team can assist with products & colour

The Carpet Court team thank their

valued customers,

contractors & suppliers selections & can provide a FREE onsite for their ongoing measure & quotation which can be booked support to the success in store, via phone 6652 4866 or the website of the business. www.carpetcourt.com.au. The website provides a wealth of information & inspiration for your next project. It is a joy to see dream homes become a reality! Whether it be a new build, a renovation or just a refresh of a room - Carpet Court can help with your flooring & window furnishing options. DREAM IT. STYLE IT. LIVE IT.