Aussie Painting Contractor Mag Jan 2014

Licensing System

Scrapped

A Career in Painting Look After Your Mates This Christmas Workplace Bullying

New Laws to Define and Combat

Cool stuff to do

with your kids on the holidays...

EDITOR Nigel Gorman EXECUTIVE EDITOR Caroline Miall CONTRIBUTORS • Caroline Miall • Colin Thompson • Jennie Gorman • Jim Baker • Monroe Porter • Nigel Gorman • Scott Collins

GRAPHIC DESIGNER J. Anne Delgado Opinions and viewpoints expressed in Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher or any Home Painters Info staff or related parties. The publisher, Home Painters Info and Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine personnel are not liable for any mistake, misprint or omission.

Information contained in Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine is intended to inform and illustrate and should not be taken as financial, legal or accounting advice. You should seek professional advice before making any business related decisions. We are not liable for any losses you may incur directly or indirectly as a result of reading Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine.

Reproduction of any material or contents of the magazine without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

From the Editor Hi Readers!

Happy New Year to you all! And welcome to January’s Aussie Painters Network.

We’re going live with this issue before the end of the year, but already it’s clear that 2014 is going to be a incredibly busy one, bringing with it new opportunities for our members and new comers to the Industry.

We really hope you’ve all downed tools for a while, to enjoy time with your loved ones before the madness of the New Year takes hold. It’s a difficult but crucial balance to find between a successful work life and a rewarding personal one; don’t forget to measure your priorities!

It’s disappointing to see the Commonwealth have scrapped the National Occupational Licensing System; we do still believe that it is imperative that formal training continues in all states so the consumers have faith in our industry. It will also assist to keep our industry alive and growing in the future.

This month is also covering On-Site Etiquette which can assist you in getting the job and being recommended for future work as well as Workplace Bullying which in these days and times is totally unacceptable.

I hope everyone enjoys their break and if travelling has a safe trip.

Enjoy the mag!

Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

07 3555 8010

Contents 6

A Career in Painting

9

Survival Guide to Holiday Food

10

Look After Your Mates This Christmas

13

Google Adwords

17

What to do if your business is losing money

21

On-Site Etiquette

24

The National Occupational Licensing System scrapped by the Commonwealth

27

Workplace Bullying New Laws to Define and Combat

28

WHAT and WHO Are NETWEAVERS ….

30 Solvents, Chemicals and Dust 31

Prostate Cancer

32

Cool stuff to do with your kids on the holidays...

33

Good Feng Shui

35

Painting Tips

36 The Industry Idiots 37

Important Contacts

In the Chair Well it’s the start of a new year. We are in the process of organising business refresher courses. By the time you read this, we will have conducted the first course here in Brisbane!

The aim of the course is to update painters on various facets of business that could be improved; for example what the charge out rates should be to cover all your overheads including insurances, vehicle costs, tax and legal requirements as well as OHS requirements, marketing your business and business planning. If the first one is successful, we aim to run the courses around the country. They will only take about a half day, so I urge you to take advantage of these when they come to your area and your input would be most welcome.

We also aim to stop the builders dictating the prices they are paying us for the work we do. This seems to be a common problem around the country and we are going to work towards changing their attitude towards our profession. I am busy at the moment updating information and documentation to add to the members’ area such as • Health and Safety plans, • Emergency Management plan • Emergency Procedures (Do you and your staff know what to do if an emergency arises?)

We don’t want to alarm you but under the Work Health and Safety Legislation, you are required to have all this documentation in place. We are also updating the current work method statement and risk assessment forms.

We wish to explore other avenues to help our fellow painters out there and we will inform you as they come on line. If anyone has any ideas on ways we can help you, just give me a ring or drop us an email and we will give it due consideration.

Happy New Year and Happy Painting!

Colin Thompson colin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au Aussie Painters Network Your Partners in Painting 0433 274 794 / 07 3555 8010 1800 355 344

A Career in Painting How does one fall into the trade of painting? Not a bad pursuit given the purpose of painting is to improve the aesthetic of a building and to protect it for the long term.

So, what has brought me here? Before joining Aussie Painters Network, I spent four and a half years teaching apprentices for a local training organisation in Brisbane. I’ve given it some thought over the years, given one of the first questions I would always ask the first time apprentices was, why they wanted to become a painter. Most of them didn’t really know the answer other than to say ‘It’s a job’. Or ‘My mate’s a painter, so I thought I would give it a go..’ When I think of it, that’s just how I felt when I left high school all those years ago… 1967 to be precise.

My high school teacher said he could get me an apprenticeship in the painting industry and I declined his offer, originally. Three months later I hadn’t found employment, so I gave painting a try. I stuck with it and completed my apprenticeship in 1972. I learned the trade with a 4 inch and a 2 inch brush. If I used the 2 inch when the boss thought I should be using the 4 inch, I got a kick up the bum! No rollers or spray guns. Imagine setting up a small scaffold and painting ceilings and walls by hand these days!

I went on to work for a couple of other painters and then spent six months working for a company making kitchens. I was employed to stain and spray using lacquers, stains and two-pac products.

I started my own painting company by chance as I was helping a mate out one weekend and he couldn’t cope with the volume of work he had, so arranged with one

6 | Aussie Painters Network

of the builders for me to take over the work. The rest, as they say, is history.

My business slowly grew and I started to employ apprentices myself. One was a real drop-kick, he was into drugs and alcohol so after some discussions with the apprenticeship board, we managed to get him transferred. He straightened up for a while but then went back to his old ways. I grew to a staff of six at one stage so had a reasonable operation going.

Over the years a lot of opportunities came my way, with involvement on various committees and organisations in the Painting Industry. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience of the Industry and enjoyed making my way forward. I suppose the biggest highlight of my career so far is the four years on the national board of Master Painters New Zealand and going back to my original employer with the President’s Chain of Office around my neck.

So, what I say to apprentices is be proud of your trade, as it is our work that people see the most, everywhere and we are often called upon to remedy damage done by other trades. We follow the builder and fix their stuff ups and fill countless nail holes left by over-use of the nail gun. How many tubes of NO MORE GAPS do you use in order to make a job look good?

BE PROUD TO BE A PAINTER.

Happy Painting!

Colin Thompson colin@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

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www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 1800 355 344 or 07 3555 8010 info@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 2014 January Issue | 7

Jason Norris

Golf Pro Jason has been playing the professional circuit for over 15 years. He was the winner of the 2010 Victorian Open, the 2007 Western Australian PGA & the 2007 New South Wales Open.

We’re proud to be sponsoring him and look forward to seeing Jason sporting our logo!

8 | Aussie Painters Network

Survival Guide to Holiday Food How to successfully eat your way through Christmas & the holidays As January’s issue goes live, we still have a few days till the big guy comes down the chimney. All celebrations leading up to it, and then New Years parties mean that there is no challenge greater than the festival of food known as Christmas time. You have all lived through it and all know what to expect the never ending supply of abundant food, treats, and goodies and let’s not forget the alcohol. And many of us don’t manage it well and regret stuffing our faces full of turkey and beer.

But we love this time of year, it’s about family, friends and chance for a fresh start in the New Year. It reminds us of the important things in life and not just work. This time of years has always had its challenges for me as I love fruit mince pies and a slice Christmas cake. However, I am quite the fussy food fanatic and at times it could be said that I am somewhat neurotic about healthy food.

I knew I was pushing buttons with the family when I was politely told to bring my own food a few Christmases ago!

My goal is to get you thinking about how you approach this time of year. Are you accepting invitations to BBQ’s and compulsory Christmas events where you know there will be major temptation waiting to add to your weight?

As shocked as I initially was, I soon realised that to Bring My Own Food was a great idea!

Many of us are conscious about our health, and most of us have the best of intentions, so let’s look at some strategies that will keep you leaner this Christmas.

1. Prepare two or three fresh salads to take with you.

2. Prepare a healthy desert/snack options (chopped fruit, protein balls, humus even homemade sushi).

3. Put apple juice in a wine bottle (fewer calories in the juice and you liver won’t hate you).

4. Watch your portion sizes – grab a smaller plate.

5. Eat slower – If you take time in enjoying your food, you will feel greater satisfaction and feel fuller.

6. Avoid the foods that you know are going to hit the waist line (or as above, smaller portions) Emergency NANNA Strategy!

The secret to avoiding over consumption is saying No, No and No again. If your family is anything like mine there is food peer pressure. “Go on have one more bite”, “You’ve got room in those legs of yours” and so on. It can be tiring and a surprise to others when you say no to them. This was what happened in my case.

Stress Stress Stress The most important suggestion I have to endure all the ‘fun’ is to reduce stress. Stress will cause your body retain fat and crave salty sugary foods. Stress can mean doing too much, not enough sleep, worrying about things like finances and over consuming the wrong foods. The only real solutions when it comes to stress is take more care of YOU; sleep more, focus on your breathing and take time for yourself. I feel that is important to nurture your soul through spending time doing the things you love to do.

Vitamins and Supplement may also be of benefit to help get you through this time of year. There are wonderful herbal teas and herbal stress formulas that can really help take the edge off. Drop into the clinic to discuss what natural solutions are available.

Have a wonderful Christmas season and I look forward to helping you achieve healthier happier lives in 2014.

Merry Christmas!

Scott Collins - Naturopath

www.scottcollins.com.au 0411 740 222

2014 January Issue | 9

LOOK AFTER YOUR MATES THIS CHRISTMAS a message from Mates in Construction

By this time of year, we are pretty much hanging out for a break from the working year. It’s time to put away the tools, park the ute and do what you want to at last.

It could be a bit of fishing, camping and just hanging out with the family that makes your break special, but it is worth remembering that it’s not always a great time for everyone. At MATES in Construction we don’t want to spoil your Christmas, but there will be guys and gals at your workplace who are not looking forward to the Christmas break.

Take a look around. They are probably not talking about it, but some of your mates could be spending Christmas alone as a result of family break-ups or some may be in trouble financially and facing the problems of providing for their families’ Christmas expectations. It can be tough, particularly with no income for a month or more.

Christmas is a time for giving, but not just material things. Spending a bit of time and having a quiet chat and a phone call with someone who may be doing it tough, shows that you are a real mate, not just ‘on the job’ but in real life.

You don’t have to add another place at the Christmas table, but if you did, we promise it would add to your Christmas spirit too!

Doing it tough? Call the MATES in Construction helpline.

If you or your mate are doing it tough this Christmas season, please call the MATES in Construction helpline 1300 642 111 for help. The helpline is open 24/7.

For more information about MATES in Construction, visit matesinconstruction.org.au and watch out for the new national website early in 2014.

www.matesinconstruction.com.au 10 | Aussie Painters Network

2014 January Issue | 11

How much does your business need to earn to cover its expenses?

www.mytools4business.com/myhourlyratecalculator

Advertisements are placed for free!

Do you have an Adwords account (paid advertising on the RHS of Google)? Are you finding that you’re paying out a lot of money but there is very little, genuine calls for actual quotes? Have you noticed that you are getting an increased amount of canvasing calls? Well, you’re not alone, as many painters I talk to experience the same problem.

I have recently returned from an 8 week overseas holiday and hadn’t taken any notice of how my Google advertising was performing until I received my last two accounts.

Normally my monthly bill is around $150 but my September account was $270 and my October account $340, so this really concerned me. As I manage my own Google campaigns, I noticed through a search that my adverts were being ‘clicked’ on 2-3 times per day, 7 days per week.

(Because I have a daily budget, the ‘clicks’ will not exceed this amount, which is lucky for me as my account would have been very much higher).

When I was away, my Google advert was clicked on around 100 times but there were only 10 potential clients that actually phoned me. How do I know this? Because every call that is received from a potential client, I ask the question, ‘Where did you find my name? So who were the other 90 people that ‘clicked’ on my advert?

Immediately ‘bells’ rang as I thought there could be some illegal activity going on through my Google campaign, so I contacted the technical support line at Google to ask for help in solving the problem. This was a very well-worth 20 min chat as I learnt quite a lot from him.

So why am I receiving a high ‘click rate’ but little to no calls? It suddenly dawned on me that in the period of being away, I remembered receiving an unusual amount of canvassing calls. (If you are wondering how I know about these calls if I’m away on holiday, I recently had a new digital phone system installed, it transfers all voice phone messages to my email account. Technology is brilliant!!).

If a canvasser wanted to retrieve your phone number, they would first have to click on your advert to get to your web page. This has just cost you a few dollars (depending on your ‘click rate’ budget) with no potential client outcome.

The technician and I talked more to see what could be done and he mentioned I could include a phone number on the immediate campaign advert. This made perfectly good sense to me. The good news is that there is no charge to have this extra line and you can do it yourself or, you can contact Google to do it for you. This will eliminate a person having to ‘click’ on the advert just to find a phone number.

Over the past few weeks, I have carefully monitored my Google account and have noticed that my ‘click’ rate has dropped dramatically. As I said, ‘A well worth 20 min chat.’

You can reach Google by calling 1800 287 850 Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm Sydney time. You will need to enter your Customer ID to get through to them and you will also need to be signed into your Adwords account during the call.

He took me through certain filters to see if there was any unusual activity on my campaign. It eventually led to the ‘hour of day’ my Adword campaign was being ‘clicked’ on, and also the city it was made from. He explained that if there was a ‘cluster’ of calls made, let’s say 10 ‘clicks’ between 10am and 11am on a particular day or they were made from another country, then there would be a concern to look into. If and when this does happen, there are Google filters that recognises there is unusual activity and stops everything coming in from that IP address. Google will not charge you for any ‘clicks’ deemed to be illegitimate.

In my case though, the clicks were spread through-out the day and they were made from Brisbane. So although I had all this extra knowledge of the different filters I could now use, it didn’t solve my immediate problem.

Jim Baker www.mytools4business.com 2014 January Issue | 13

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14 | Aussie Painters Network

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2014 January Issue | 15

What to do if your business

is losing money Many years ago, I was attending a convention and the president of one of the largest and most profitable companies in America keynoted a speech welcoming everyone to the city. He talked about typical things such as local attractions and encouraged everyone to enjoy the city. Just before leaving, he commented that he was asked to offer some business wisdom and why his company was so successful. His reply was, “every year we take in more money than we spend. Thank you.” He was already leaving the podium before the crowd realized what happened and thunderous applause erupted. The simplicity of his statement was profound but the reality of doing so is not all that easy.

Most of our consulting is for people hoping to increase their bottom line.

The first step is to stop the bleeding.

Company owners tend to blame loses on an incident or situation such as customers not paying, one bad job, a poor salesperson, etc. When in reality the problem is cultural and has more to do with how the company is run and the incident merely triggered the inevitable. Unfortunately, most will only change when the pain is great enough and lately, many have called us when it is too late.

Start by cutting costs. Entrepreneurs tend to think they can sell their way out of a loss. There are two problems with this theory; one is that the current economy makes increasing sales a challenge. Second, assuming everything goes ok, you only get to keep the gross profit out of additional sales. However, every dollar you cut is yours to keep.

For contractors, the big buck areas of cost are material, labor (or subs) and overhead. Cutting material costs is difficult as there are only so many suppliers and if you are struggling to pay your bills, you are probably not buying at the lowest price. Labor costs can be cut by lowering wages or being more productive. Overhead is the biggest area of concern because percentage wise it dramatically increases as sales drop. No matter what you do, it is going to be painful but the longer you wait, the more painful it will be.

• Consider cutting on office employee hours. Unemployment varies from state to state but some states will let employees work part time and collect unemployment part time.

• Look closely at your average hourly labor cost. There is a tendency to keep the higher paid employees as they have seniority and are more skilled. However if you worked two man crews with a foreman earning $20 an hour and a helper, $10, your average is $15 an hour. If you put two $20 an hour people on a crew, your hourly crew costs increase by $5 which is a whopping 33% ($15 original average divided by $5 increase)

• As owner, reengage in your business. You need to be visible and interactive. Show me an owner who is not there in the morning and never visits jobs and I will show you an organization that is not as productive as it should be. Go out and visit customers and see what kind of work you can create. Yeah, I know you may have been doing this for a long time and may no longer enjoy project management and sales. You aren’t going to enjoy bankruptcy either. Get out of denial and concentrate on activities that bring profit to the company. Stop comments regarding the economy, banks, politics, etc. You are a contractor. You will turn things around in the trenches. Concentrate on things you can control.

• Backward delegate. If you have superintendants and estimators who used to work in the field and now do not have enough work to keep them busy, consider moving them back to the field.

• Look closely at advertising. Know where your leads come from and the cost per lead and per sale.

• Take a look at recurring costs.

Compare insurance companies and cost but make sure you are adequately covered and not just taking the lowest quote. Evaluate what you are paying for phone, internet and mobile communications. Consider reducing the amount you pay on hospitalization and other employee benefits.

Continue on Page 18...

2014 January Issue | 17

What to do if your business

is losing money • Ruthlessly manage your activities. If what you are doing is not going to immediately generate income, don’t do it.

Explain the situation to your family and that you will be working extra hours but it is only temporary. Possibly they can help. Teenage kids can pass out door hangers. Spouses can help make phone calls or send mailers. Of course, if you have been living in denial and making hollow promises of success to your family, credibility may be an issue.

• Make every sale count. If you have a salesperson that is not closing jobs, get rid of that person. When a potential job reaches a certain size, visit the customer twice. Work the process harder. Make it happen.

• Make every job count. Assign your most productive employees to jobs where they can make you the most money.

Micromanage the work you already have. If you have a job you need to be a home run, force it to happen.

• Fire someone. Years of good times have left many organizations enabled. Do not accept poor performance.

Demand and implement performance. Figure out who is “with you or against you”.

18 | Aussie Painters Network

by Monroe Porter

Now is not the time to be egotistical or prideful. You only have two choices, make it work or quit. Whether your business was murdered by economy or poor management, it is what it is. Get in the fight. Make the tough choices.

If it is too late to save it, go bankrupt and start over.

Bankruptcy laws were made to protect people who made mistakes. Don’t die a slow death of denial where you and the problems merely grow older and older.

PS, there is one more choice. Contact me I will be happy to talk with you about it. Change is never easy.

Monroe Porter is president of PROOF Management a firm that teaches seminars and runs networking groups for painting contractors. Several Aussie painting contractors travel to the US each year to participate in his programs.

He can be reached at monroe@proofman.com

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www.paintrollersd.com.au 2014 January Issue | 19

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20 | Aussie Painters Network

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On-Site Etiquette The way your employees act and look on a job can help to guarantee their future and yours! Why? Because clients will talk, and what they will hopefully be saying to their friends is, “I had some really great tradespeople working on my place.”

That leads to a possible recommendation for another job.

For those of you that work in the residential market, the main priority should be to respect the clients’ privacy and work in with their schedule. Remember, you are invading their home and space so make as little disruption as possible.

So how are the manners of your employees? As I guess you know, men have a tendency to swear on the job every now and then, so make sure the clients are well out of ear-shot.

Smoking is a bone of contention.

If the client smokes, all well and good, but if not, then take extra care. Definitely don’t smoke in their house and don’t leave cigarette butts in the garden. That is a pet hate for many, if not all, non-smokers.

Also, if any of your staff needs to use the toilet, tell them not to use

the one in the en-suite. It’s another pet hate of clients. People who have an en-suite toilet regard it as their own private seat. They don’t like the thought of anyone else using it. Also for the guys, don’t leave the seat up; women hate that.

If you are working inside and going to create some dust, then make sure everything is fully covered with clean sheets. I find using new plastic sheets for the furniture is cleaner and they are cheap enough to throw away once they are a bit dirty.

Drop-cloths always have a film of dust on them which is then transferred onto the furniture, so every 12 to 18 months I take them to an industrial laundry and get them cleaned. The cost is minimal and the client appreciates seeing clean sheets.

An excellent product on the market to contain dust and debris on a worksite is ‘Zipwall’. I have been to many homes where clients have been annoyed by the dust plasterers leave from sanding. Even when they use a sanding machine, the excess dust floats around and settles on the furniture. Zipwall can be erected in a few minutes and could save you hours of unnecessary cleaning.

For more information on this, go to www.zipwall.com or your nearest Dulux Trade store.

Get out of the habit of putting your tools on work benches or the furniture. Although you think it is OK, accidents do happen. Just a slight movement of a hammer or screwdriver can easily scratch the surface which could cost you hundreds of dollars for repair or replacement.

Keep an old towel handy that you can put them on. You won’t get the worried looks from the clients also.

The exterior is just as important. If you have to walk through the garden beds, then be careful not to trample on the plants. Quickly go around and fluff them up if required and cut off any leaves with paint on so there is no evidence of you being there.

Trivial I know but effective with the clients. Also, if you need to go inside and you don’t like taking your shoes off, then buy yourself some shoe covers; such an easy solution.

Continue on Page 22...

2014 January Issue | 21

On-Site Etiquette I now take a two metre length of hose with a trigger nozzle to a job, and connect it to the existing hose; It didn’t matter how many times I told my guys to keep the clients hose clean, there always seemed to be paint on it at the end of the job.

Local Councils are also coming down hard on ‘waste material’ on building sites. Architects are often now specifying low VOC products and waste disposal methods, which means they expect painters to be the ‘complete package’. The idea is to reduce the impact activities have on the environment and as environmentally friendly products become more popular with customers. So too has the demand for services that have a positive impact on the environment. Being environmentally friendly makes good business sense and besides, grass is supposed to be green.

After sales: You may receive a call from a client a few weeks or months after completing the job saying something has

happened. For good customer relations the issue should be dealt with as soon as possible. For good PR, include a follow up call after 6 months to see if they are enjoying the new colour scheme and if they need any touch-up work done from possible accidental damage. This after sales service definitely leads to customer referrals.

Final note: Something that you should always remember is never to differentiate your quality of work depending on the wealth of the customer. The less affluent have probably saved harder for your service, so treat your customers equally and perform the job with the same pride and attention to detail. Also, it is very important to under promise and over deliver. Just by doing that unexpected little bit extra is a sure way of ensuring good word of mouth referrals.

Jim Baker ‘How To Become A Really Successful Painter’ www.mytools4business.com

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22 | Aussie Painters Network

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2014 January Issue | 23

The National Occupational Licensing System scrapped by the Commonwealth

In what is deemed by many to be a hugely detrimental outcome for our industry, on December 13 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) determined that the policy for a National Occupational Licensing System would no longer be pursued.

Therefore, the National Occupational Licensing Authority will be disbanded next year.

Citing concerns with the proposed model, associated costs, and a lack of agreement among key stakeholders, it was decided not to go any further with the National Licensing scheme, and governments instead would opt for other approaches that would increase ‘labour mobility’ across States and Territories.

“To this end, States agreed to work together via the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) to develop alternative options for minimising licensing impediments to improving labour mobility and to manage the orderly disestablishment of the National Occupation Licensing Authority from early 2014.”

(COAG Communique Dec 13, 2013).

Further negotiations regarding a system to enable streamlined operation of licensees across borders would be undertaken by the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF).

Daniel Wurm of the National Institute of Painting and Decorating commented on the move, that whilst this was a set-back for our industry, it also means we can now focus on the real reason why painters should get qualified; to improve their skills, knowledge, and to be more professional. “It has always been my belief that it is better to use a carrot than a stick to motivate people.” Said Daniel. “We will still be encouraging painters to get qualified in the states where they are not required to be; and it is even more important that we support those that do.”

It is difficult to dispute that training and education make the difference between a good painter and a lousy one, regardless of enforced licensing. The Certificate III Painting should remain the benchmark for professionalism in the industry.

For further information, see COAG Meeting documentation at http://www.coag.gov.au/node/516

24 | Aussie Painters Network

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2014 January Issue | 25

www.consolidatedi .com.au Phone: +61 7 3292 1100 | Fax: +61 7 3292 1110 Email: contactus@consolidatedi.com.au I just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for referring me to Consolidated Insurance Pty Ltd. I spoke to Scott about our Business Insurance and with little time, Scott emailed me back a comprehensive package for our Business and we saved over $1,000.00. Thanks again Aussie Painters Network for the great referral and all your ongoing help.

Sonya Baker www.bakerbrosmasterpainters.com.au

26 | Aussie Painters Network

Workplace Bullying New Laws to Define and Combat

There has been recent changes to the Fair Work Act that have embraced anti bullying principles, making the act of bullying in the work place officially illegal for the first time.

It is a costly problem; a paper released in 2012 by the standing committee on Education and Employment estimated the problem costs employers between $17,000 to $24,000 per claim! Reforms that come into effect on the 1st of January, 2014 aim to provide a solid definition and additional safeguards for employees who reasonably believe that they have been bullied at work. The definition of a bully in a workplace, according to the revised laws, is one who “repeatedly behaves unreasonably towards the worker … and that behaviour creates a risk to health and safety”.

The revised act enables: • Affected to make an application to the Fair Work Commission which must be investigated within 14 days.

• The Fair Work commission to make any orders it considers appropriate to prevent the worker from being bullied at work.

• Workers to apply to the Federal Court if they feel their employer has failed to comply with the Commission’s order and acted in such a way to stop the bullying.

If a Federal Court finds in favour of the worker at that point, a business may be subject to fines of $10,000 to $50,000.

Adoption of the act will certainly bring into focus the definition of a ‘worker’ in a given circumstance... that is, ‘employee’ may encompass contractors, subcontractors, outworkers, trainees, apprentices and people on unpaid work experience.

There will also need to be consideration of the scope of bullying, given its prevalence on Social Media, and other digital forums which can be work related.

on, it would be astute for Managers and Business Owners to ensure they have up to date policies covering any such behaviours encountered in their companies. Policies and procedures should actively work to prevent such goings on, but also need to clearly outline the sort of actions considered unacceptable, and the methods for reporting and complaint. Being ignorant to the problem will not make it any less your responsibility to remedy!

Seek legal advice to ensure you’re complying with the new laws.

For further resources and information on Bullying, see the Australian Human Rights Commission website at: http://www.humanrights.gov. au/workplace-bullying-violenceharassment-and-bullying-fact-sheet Caroline Miall

caroline@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

1800 355 344

With the nitty gritty of bullying in the work place now being legislated

2014 January Issue | 27

WHAT and WHO Are NETWEAVERS ….

‘NetWeaving’ is a new word in the Australian market place. It is one that was coined and created by Bob Littell from the USA and is about creating and building bridges of trust by listening and helping others first. It is all about sharing of ideas, opinions and experiences amongst specific groups, creating a community of like-minded people.

For me, NetWeaving is about all the above as well as building relationships without expectation of personal gain by listening to what people want and need.

Traditional networking has always been about making contacts and connections for professional and/or personal benefit but NetWeaving is more than that.

As a NetWeaver I believe the more we give to others the stronger our relationships and our businesses become – thus a win-win situation for everyone.

Some call it ‘givers gain’, which is another nice way to say it. By creating a community, it can be a peerto-peer support network of trusted business owners who freely share knowledge, skills, resources and relationships to build each other’s businesses without expecting anything in return.

NetWeaving eventually helps people become experts at building lifelong personal and business relationships. These will then become new referrals for each person in the community.

To be a NetWeaver means that you commit to bringing specific ideas to grow your contacts businesses, all of which can be implemented quickly. The key to success in NetWeaving is giving active support and a commitment to implementation.

As a NetWeaver (a professional networker and community builder), I see the opportunities for people to learn new skills which will kick start not only their businesses but also their personal lives.

To be successful as a networker/ relationship builder/ word-of-mouth marketer, one must firstly really like people, want to learn what makes others tick and have a thirst for knowledge with an ability of knowing how to connect people generally.

There are many tools necessary to building relationships, all of which are learnable. One does need to learn the basics of networking and live them so that they can then become the NetWeaver.

Jennie Gorman 0414 278 344

www.connexionsunlimited.com.au 28 | Aussie Painters Network

2014 January Issue | 29

Solvents, Chemicals and Dust Fumes and dust are a constant hazard and nuisance in a painter and floor sander’s life - not just on the job but also to and from work.

Thanks to modern OH&S laws and requirements a safer work place has emerged as more is known about the effect of chemicals and dust on our health.

Work place practices have improved and tradies as a result have a healthier work environment.

However, one area remains a potential hazard traveling in vehicles to and from work. There is still the potential for exposure to solvents and dust.

Painters and sanders are not the only industry that has to deal with this - think pool cleaners and pest control industries.

A solution to this hazard is to have separation between the driver and cargo area. A bulkhead/vapour barrier is needed as a minimum requirement to keep fumes and dust in the back of the van.

In addition, it is a good idea to install a whirly bird on your roof. The main supplier of vapour barriers in Australia is Motexion. Their range of ABS and Polyester bulkheads/vapour barriers comply with the European DIN standard. The DIN standard governs everything in the loading/cargo area of a vehicle.

Motexion’s bulkheads are supplied direct to a number of vehicle manufacturers in Europe and installed on the production line. Unfortunately due to cost and the ingrained habit of metal mesh barriers and poorly fitting air-conditioning screens, importers of vans are not installing or importing these very useful items into Australia

30 | Aussie Painters Network

This is where Motexion Australia comes in and DO import vapour barriers that fit all European vans as well as the Hyundai iload and Toyota Hi-Ace. Motexion also has a Birch marine plywood flooring that are made of 1-2 pieces, CNC cut and dropped in easily. The tie down points of the van hold the floor in place and are flush with the floor. The floor is resistant to oil, water, light acid and fuel so ideal for carrying chemicals. Birch is also a far denser type of wood so the floors are hard wearing.

To complete the fit of the van Motexion have wall panels that are pre-cut with plug or drill hole already in the right location (no damage to vital parts will occur). For a small outlay of about $500 you can avoid the repair cost/trade-in loss of $1500 or more.

Other items Motexion import are side bars to protect the sides of vans getting damaged when parking (those small pesky yellow posts and large concrete car park pillars) and drawer systems (BEKS –Systems) for a clever way of optimising the load space of your van (ever had a whole lot of stuff covering the item you need in the bottom of the van?).

For more information visit our website at

www.motexion.com.au 0433 97 55 44

Prostate Cancer I would like to thank everyone that has contacted me by phone, email and through the magazine wishing me all the best in the future in regards to my Prostate Cancer. As mentioned, the whole intention was to let as many people know of how important it is for early detection of Prostate Cancer. Why is it that the majority of men don’t want to talk about the subject and just want to block it out of their mind completely?

I guess, as my wife said to me recently, ‘It’s because it has to do with your ‘private bits’.

Also I could safely say that most men wouldn’t know exactly what the prostate is or does, and to be honest up to a few weeks ago, I didn’t know either.

From the feedback I have received, it has got men thinking that maybe they should make an appointment with their doctor for a general check-up. If more of you could do the same then we’ve achieved our goal of greater awareness. jimbaker@notjustapainter.com.au

Jim Baker

FUMES or DUST in your van?

2014 January Issue | 31

Cool stuff to do with your kids on the holidays...

I’m not one of those natural Mums you see in some of the Mummy blogs, but I try. I started getting that anxious feeling as the holidays crept closer. When my Little one’s day care teacher confirmed he was home for holidays for a month... I realised suddenly that there was a look of alarm on my face! What was I going to do with my two small boys over the holidays?

Now that the holidays are well and truly here, I’ve compiled a list for my own sanity, so I am armed with some simple cost effective and fun ideas for us to enjoy. Here are some of the things that I’ve come across for this round of fun days out and at home.

Go Camping... in your own backyard: Don’t underestimate the fun to be had from this oldie but goodie!

Particularly if you’re not big on camping normally. Borrow a tent, or purchase a cheap one, and camp out with the kids for a night just for the fun of it. Even having a little fire in a 40 gallon drum means you can have some toasted marshmallows which the kids will love.

32 | Aussie Painters Network

Water Play at home: If you aren’t lucky enough to have a pool at home, the kids will love a few water pistols, water bomb balloons (cheap from your local dept. Store), a plastic paddle pool or even just the sprinkler. Entice them away from the air-con and the Nintendo to cool down.

Balloon ices - Seriously cool water-play for a hot day: Add another dimension to your water play - I loved this idea from Brisbane Kids, who regularly have fantastic advice for parents. Such a simple suggestion especially for a hot day: all you need is a balloon and a freezer! Fill the balloons with water (and food colouring if you like), freeze and enjoy! http:// www.brisbanekids.com.au/sensory-ice-ball-play/ Visit all those specialty parks and playgrounds within an hour from home: Research into childhood development has resulted in some amazing sensory experiences being built into local parks and reserves. If you haven’t looked into it lately,

search online for those near you and make the effort to go a bit further afield. Some parks are equipped with incredible water play activities too, so take the kids rashies! Check out websites like http://www.playgroundfinder.com/ Check your local Galleries and Museums There are some wonderful interactive exhibitions and shows going on this holiday - really inspired ideas and creative activities that can trigger further projects at home too.

Most are free or negligible cost.

Here are some around the country: Qld: http://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/kids/ exhibitions http://www.ipswichartgallery. qld.gov.au/exhibitions NSW: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/ calendar/type/school-holidays/ Vic: http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/whats-on/ programs-by-category/?queries_category_ title_query=Kids SA: http://www.artgallery.sa.gov.au/agsa/ home/Events/children_and_families.html WA: http://www.artgallery.wa.gov.au/ events_programs/SchoolHolidays.asp NT: http://artsandmuseums.nt.gov.au/ museums/exhibitions ACT: http://www.museumsandgalleries.act. gov.au/children/index.html TAS: http://www.tmag.tas.gov.au/learning_and_discovery/families

Good Feng Shui Feng Shui translates as Wind and Water, ideally we look to site ourselves between the extremes of these two elements.

A good view to the front and sheltered from behind with a protective embrace to the sides created by hills or trees.

Our first settlers looked for land that could sustain life, crops and stock. Next they positioned their homes where they had a view of all who approached and would not be attacked from behind. This allowed them to make the appropriate preparations for new arrivals. Tea and damper or the pointy end of a shot gun.

This is the Classic Configuration of Feng Shui, and is often referred to by modern practitioners as the seat of the armchair.

The three primary criteria are: a) fertile land (nutrients, near a water source) b) sheltered, giving protection and security c) clearly defined boundaries.

Where this does not naturally occur, inhabitants can apply the principles of Feng Shui to introduce enhancements that will go some way towards remedying less fortunate aspects.

Ideally a body of water would be at the front attracting living creatures and plants which creates an area for the energy (Chi) to gather. Avoid tall items that create barriers and prevent opportunities.

The property would slope up from front to back as it is important our back is protected. In Feng Shui we refer to this as the power position. You could use fences, hedges, trees, shrubs and walls.

When back yards slope down, maximise vertical lines with fence palings or plant trees with strong vertical trunks.

Ensure boundaries are defined where they actually are. Feng Shui suggests that when boundaries are not physically clearly defined then we have difficulty setting boundaries in our dealings with others.

Debra Jarvis Feng Shui Suite 301, 4/58 High Street Toowong QLD 4066

www.debrajarvisfengshui.com.au 2014 January Issue | 33

34 | Aussie Painters Network

Painting Tips 1) The correct way to paint a panel door. After watching apprentices paint panel doors for the world skills competition I checked it out and found that there is a correct way to paint a panel door.

• Panel Mouldings • Panels • Centre verticals and horizontals • Door Edges, Outer verticals and horizontals 2) If using a tray and roller and leaving out for a period during the day or overnight, Cover with a wet towel or rags to prevent roller drying and prevent paint skinning up 3) Wrap brushes in glad wrap to keep wet overnight and lay flat to prevent bristles bending. Nothing is worse than trying to use a brush that has been left in paint overnight and the bristle has bent over.

4) When using turps to wash brushes, pour into a spare 20lt drum and let settle. After a few days the solid matter has settled and the turps can be reused in undercoats or recleaning.

5) The shelf life of acrylics is 6 to 12 months once a tin has been opened. When it starts to smell, it’s time to discard. Turn tins upside down at regular intervals, it helps to keep ingredients in suspension.

6) Drill a hole in the top of the handle and hang brushes on wire in a pot of water to prevent brushes drying out.

7) When using a roller tray for small jobs, Place tray in a suitable plastic bag then pour paint into tray. When the job is done simply discard the bag and leaves the tray clean.

COLOUR AND YOUR PERSONALITY ( ICI/Dulux Great Britain 1987) Red Indicates that your adventurous, ambitious and passionate.

Blue Represents peace, tranquility and wisdom Orange is a less fiery version of red. It points to a sunny,

luxury- loving nature Pink I like a bloke who is man enough to wear pink. It suggests a

calm warm and relaxed personality.

Purple is the colour of royalty and is associated with noble traits as

love of truth, justice and right living Green indicates a well balanced personality Yellow is the colour of optimism, your likely to be cheerful and

happy go lucky.

The Industry Idiots

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?? A special Industry Idiot to start the New Year, courtesy of YouTube. Grab a coffee and sit down for a few moments of laugh out loud, potentially fatal, idiocy! So unbelievable you will want to watch it twice! (Warning some mild course language and VERY disturbing work practices!)

36 | Aussie Painters Network

Important Contacts Aussie Painters Network www.aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au

Ph. 0430 399 800

Master Painters & Decorators Australia www.masterpainters.asn.au Ph. 08 9471 6662 National Institute for Painting and Decorating www.painters.edu.au Ph. 1300 319 790 Australian Tax Office www.ato.gov.au

Award Rates www.fairwork.gov.au

Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65 Ph. 13 13 94

Fair Work Building & Construction www.fwbc.gov.au Ph. 1800 003 338 Mates In Construction www.matesinconstruction.com.au

Ph. 1300 642 111

Workplace Health and Safety Contacts STATE ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA

Website www.worksafe.act.gov.au www.workcover.nsw.gov.au www.worksafe.nt.gov.au www.deir.qld.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au www.worksafe.vic.gov.au www.safetyline.wa.gov.au

Phone (02)62073000 13 10 50 1800 019 115 1300 369 915 1300 365 255 1800 136 089 1300 307 877

Cancer Council Australia ACT NSW NT QLD SA VIC WA

www.actcancer.org www.cancercouncil.com.au www.cancercouncilnt.com.au www.cancerqld.org.au www.cancersa.org.au www.cancervic.org.au www.cancerwa.asn.au

(02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333 2014 January Issue | 37