From the Editor
Hey Everyone,
Welcome to the 139 th issue of The Aussie Painting Contractor Magazine.
What a month it has been! It’s been a whirlwind of events, both personally and professionally. I recently experienced a heart attack, which has been a profound reminder of the importance of health and well-being in our demanding industry. Despite this personal challenge, I am more committed than ever to supporting our community of painters and industry.
This month marks several significant milestones for APN. We’ve kicked off multiple new training programs designed to enhance job ready staff. These programs have been developed to meet the evolving needs of our industry.
We are also thrilled to announce the launch of the Women in Painting initiative. This program aims to support and empower women in our industry, providing them with the resources and community they need to thrive. We believe that diversity strengthens our profession, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can succeed.
I am particularly excited to welcome Caroline back to the APN team. After spending a couple of years working with Busy Sisters, she returns with invaluable experience and a deep understanding of our business. Her expertise will be instrumental in driving our initiatives forward and supporting our community of painters.
In this month’s edition, you can read about all these updates and much more. We feature the impressive multi-million dollar restoration of Lamb House in Brisbane, a project that highlights the skill and craftsmanship within our industry. Additionally, you’ll find our usual array of tips and tricks aimed at making your painting business more profitable. From innovative techniques to business strategies, we have packed this issue with valuable insights to help you succeed.
'Til
next month, Happy Painting!!
Nigel Gorman
nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au 07 3555 8010
CONTRIBUTORS
• Caroline Miall
• Helen Kay
• Jim Baker
• Kate Hogan
• Leo Babauta
• Lewis Mitchell
• Melissa Humphries
• Nigel Gorman
• Park Thaichon
• Robert Bauman
• Sandra Price
• Sara Quach
EDITOR
Nigel Gorman GRAPHIC
Opinions
What All Painters & Decorators Need To Know
About the QBCC
Running a successful painting & decorating business includes compliance with certain regulations governing the industry you work in. I can imagine your eyes glazing over at the mere mention of it.
For instance, your business survival depends on your ability to have the appropriate licences for the work you’re undertaking. Of course, one of the regulating industry bodies in Queensland is the QBCC, the Queensland Building & Construction Commission.
In this article we’re highlighting some key areas that you must look into to make sure your business is not put in jeopardy. Are you meeting your Financial Reporting obligations?
The QBCC not only requires licence holders to provide them with regular financial reports. Most contractor licensees must meet minimum financial requirements to hold their licence. As a licensee holding a contractor-type licence, you need to demonstrate through financial reporting that your business can operate sustainably.
Showing that you meet the Minimum Reporting Requirements (MFRs) is easy when you’ve got your
financial systems set up correctly. In particular, when it comes to assessing the allowable annual turnover (maximum revenue), net tangible assets as determined by your working capital, and the current ratio in relation to your debts.
If you’re struggling to meet your MFRs know that you can get help. At Straight Talk Accounting & Tax we have the special accounting knowledge to enable you to make your QBCC reporting a breeze. Feel free to contact us for a FREE QBCC Financial Compliance Check via our website www.straighttalkat.com.au
Do you have the appropriate QBCC license for your business?
In Queensland, individuals (sole traders, partners, trustees), and companies must hold a QBCC licence to carry out (contract for) building work valued over $3,300. That includes painters and decorators. There are some instances that don’t require a licence, eg an unlicensed person working in partnership with a licensee where the licensed partner holds the correct QBCC licence for the work being performed.
It's also worth mentioning that as a painter or decorator you must hold a QBCC licence of the relevant class for the scope of works you intend to undertake or oversee. In addition, you need to hold a QBCC licence of the relevant type that befits your role and responsibilities in the industry.
The class of licence you need as a Painter and Decorator is called a Trade Licence. Getting a licence involves more than just providing information about your experience and qualifications.
What are the general conditions for a licence holder?
To hold a licence, you must be a ‘fit and proper’ person. For companies, this includes directors, secretaries and other influential people.
In deciding whether you are fit and proper to hold a contractor’s licence, the QBCC considers a range of things:
• your honesty and integrity in commercial and other dealings
• any failure to carry out commercial or statutory obligations and the reasons behind the failure
• whether you have done any Tier 1 defective work
• whether you are an enforcement debtor under an enforcement order for an offence under the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991 (i.e. you have an unpaid infringement notice fine issued by the QBCC that is outstanding with SPER).
• whether you have had an interstate or New Zealand licence cancelled or suspended
• any other relevant factor (e.g. criminal history).
Licence & Other Fees
The good news is that QBCC licence and other fees are set by regulation and increase according to the Government Indexation Rate. For 2024-2025, the Government Indexation Rate is zero percent. Therefore there was no fee increase on 1 July 2024.
Copyright © 2024 Robert Bauman.
The Magic Daily Practice of Facing Your Fears
Every day, there are things we’re resisting, avoiding, feeling some fear about. We don’t often recognize that, but what we most often do is turn away from these things.
This turning away leads to a couple of impactful things:
1. A shrinking of our lives, as we turn away from things we’re not good at, where we don’t know how things will turn out, when we aren’t sure of success.
2. A loss in trust in ourselves, and a feeling that we’re not living up to our best selves.
This isn’t wrong — it’s just how things tend to go. It’s all very human.
There’s something magical about swimming against the tendency. Of deciding to practice something different.
Let’s talk about this practice: facing your fears, just about every day.
This practice is to set a daily session of at least 10 minutes where you take on something that scares you, at least a little.
Some examples:
• Pick 1-2 emails that you’ve been avoiding responding to, and answer them.
• Write 100 words or more in that book you’ve been wanting to write.
• Go for a short run (or walk) each day, if you’ve been avoiding exercise.
• Record rough drafts of videos and send them to a friend, if you’ve been wanting to make a video course.
• Tackle just one or two small steps each day around your taxes or finances.
• Tackle the piles of clutter you’ve been wanting to declutter.
You get the idea. Pick one project, one area, and take small steps each day in that direction.
By working with the things that scare you, you are expanding yourself. You’re building trust in yourself. You’re exposing yourself to the fear regularly, and over time that fear will decrease.
It will get easier and easier with practice. And then you take on the next thing that scares you, and face that.
And over time, what happens is that you develop a confidence to step into the unknown, without needing to know the answers or know if you’ll succeed. That’s incredibly powerful.
Are you ready to create that kind of magic in your life?
Btw, this is why I created The Practice in my Fearless Living Academy — to have our members practicing with this together, with structure, accountability and community. Come join us!
Leo Babauta ZEN HABITS
Surviving the Silent Killer:
A Personal Account of My Heart Attack Experience
I want to start by expressing my deepest gratitude to Mikayla and Josh from the APN team. Their support was a lifeline during what was undoubtedly one of the scariest moments of my life. I also want to shine a light on the unsung heroes – the paramedics, surgeons, and nurses – whose expertise and dedication were nothing short of life-saving.
Just over two weeks ago, I experienced a heart attack. It began at 6:30 am with what I initially dismissed as indigestion. I hadn’t eaten anything yet, so the discomfort was confusing. I tried to brush it off, but then the pain intensified. It felt as though someone was sitting on my chest, pressing down with a crushing weight. My initial thought was that something was seriously wrong.
Realizing the severity of the situation, I knew I had to act quickly. I called out to Josh and dialed 000, trying to stay calm. Josh and Mikayla, with their unwavering support, took turns keeping me grounded and focusing on slow, steady breathing. It was a tense waiting game, and every second felt like an eternity.
When the paramedics finally arrived – after what seemed like a long 15 minutes – the pain had escalated. My left arm was numb, and the pressure in my chest was nearly unbearable. The paramedics sprang into action, their faces a mix of concern and professionalism. The ECG machine initially suggested a probable heart attack, but the specialist paramedic confirmed it as acute with a minor adjustment. That’s when the urgency hit home, and things began to move at a rapid pace.
As they prepared to transport me, I felt a surge of fear. The thought of not making it, combined with the potential danger of driving myself if I had waited longer, was frightening. The paramedics worked diligently, and I remember feeling a mix of anxiety and hope.
The senior paramedic’s discussion about administering an adrenaline shot directly to my heart and having the defibrillator ready was unsettling. Seeing the large needle being prepared by the junior paramedic added to my apprehension.
Despite the fear, I focused on maintaining a slow, controlled breath. The ride to the hospital was intense, and I had to trust the professionals handling the situation. Arriving at the hospital, the team was incredibly swift. They cut off my clothes and rushed me down the hallway with a sense of urgency that was both reassuring and overwhelming.
The scene in the emergency room was chaotic but controlled. Doctors and nurses moved with purpose, shouting instructions to each other. Amidst the frenzy, the surgeon’s voice cut through, saying,
"We have you, mate. We’re going to save you today."
That reassurance was a small comfort in a turbulent moment.
As the surgeon worked on me, I felt an increasing pressure in my right arm. The sensation was strange and uncomfortable. I was caught off guard when the surgeon informed me he was going directly into my heart. A machine moved over my chest, and I felt a rush of relief as the blockage was released. The surgeon’s explanation that blood flow was being restored was a significant moment of relief.
The team spent the next 30 minutes examining my heart to ensure everything was in order. The clean bill of health they eventually provided was a profound relief. By 8:30 am, I was in the Coronary Care Unit, sipping tea and chatting with the nurses. It was surreal to be feeling so much better after such a traumatic experience.
Three days later, I was discharged from the hospital, feeling like a new person. This experience has been a stark reminder of how unpredictable and life-changing heart attacks can be. It’s crucial to recognize the symptoms early and seek immediate medical attention. Heart attacks don’t discriminate, and anyone can be affected.
I am incredibly grateful to be alive and to have received such timely and expert care. I hope sharing my story can help others understand the importance of heart health and encourage anyone experiencing symptoms to act swiftly.
Don’t ignore the signs – your life could depend on it.
Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
Can You Change the Name of Your Pty Ltd Company?
Whether you are seeking to rebrand, expand and diversify, or even to stay more relevant in today’s ever-changing market environment, changing the name of your company is possible, but comes with significant considerations. So can you change the name of your business? Here, we will delve into the process of changing your company name and explore when this action may be relevant.
Can You Change the Name of Your Pty Ltd Company? A Comprehensive Guide
Changing the name of a company typically involves several steps, depending on the jurisdiction. In Australia, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) governs company registration and related procedures. According to ASIC, changing a company name involves specific requirements and procedures to ensure compliance with legal obligations.
ASIC Guidelines:
ASIC provides detailed guidelines on changing a company name, outlining the necessary steps and documentation. They outline 4 steps that must be taken to legally change your company name.
Step 1: Choose a new name
and check it’s
availability!
Before proceeding with a name change, it’s essential to ensure that the desired name is available and not already registered by another entity. ASIC’s online portal allows users to search for existing company names to avoid conflicts.
It is also recommended to check that is it not already trademarked or you could be in serious trouble form the trademark owner.
Step 2: Pass a Special Resolution
To change a company name, the directors and shareholders must convene a general meeting and pass a special resolution. This resolution formally authorizes the company to proceed with changing its name and confirms the company’s intent to change its name and empowers the directors to take the necessary steps to initiate the process.
Step 3: Lodge a Form 205 to Change the Name
The next step involves lodging Form 205 with ASIC, along with the required fee of $93. This form notifies ASIC of the company’s intention to change its name and provides details such as the current name, proposed name, and reasons for the change. This step must be done within 14 days of the special resolution being passed.
Step 4: Approval Process
Once the form is lodged, ASIC will review the application and may approve or reject the proposed name change. Approval is subject to compliance with legal requirements and the absence of any conflicts or objections. If the name change is accepted, a certificate of registration will be issued, but if it is rejected an explanation of the rejection will be forwarded to you and the $93 for the Form 205 can be refunded.
Considerations Upon Approval of Company Name Change
Congratulations! Your new company name has been approved! But, there are some other considerations that must be accounted for to ensure a smooth transition to this rebrand. Upon approval, the company must update its records and notify relevant stakeholders of the name change, including customers, suppliers, and regulatory authorities. It may also be necessary to update your marketing materials, digital assets, and consider applying for new Trademarks to protect your new brand.
When would you need to change your Company’s Name?
There are many situations in which changing your company name may be required or will be beneficial for the longevity of your business. Where your company name is too similar to someone else’s and may struggle to be Trademarked, it may be necessary to change your company name in order to protect your business. In the scenario of a business asset sale, where a new buyer acquires the business and seeks to retain its name, the seller may need to rename their company to facilitate the transfer of the name.
Updating your company name is often an essential step for safeguarding your company. At Rise Legal, our focus lies in assisting individuals in protecting their businesses and companies, encompassing their branding and assets. Should you be contemplating whether altering your company name is vital for safeguarding your business, one of our expert lawyers stands ready to offer guidance and support throughout this process.
Remember, while this information provides a general overview, legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances is invaluable. Don’t hesitate to contact Rise Legal for personalised guidance or book in a free Discovery Call.
Disclaimer: This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Consult with a qualified commercial lawyer for personalised advice related to your specific circumstances. Helen Kay
P: 1300 064 707 | E: helen.kay@riselegal.com.au riselegal.com.au
The ‘Painting Renovation’ of a BRISBANE LANDMARK
‘My name is Ashley Reilly and I started my painting business as a sole trader in 2012. I converted to a company in 2015 under the trading name, A.R. Painting Solutions Pty Ltd and became Dulux Accredited in 2018. I currently employ 6 full-time staff, one being a third-year apprentice.
The painting of Lamb House came about when a builder who was working across the road from a cottage we were painting back in 2019, noticed my ‘newly-made-up’ A-Frame Signage and Banner. The building company, ‘Chapman Builders’ have been in business since 1869 and specialise in Heritage and High-End projects. They’re not a huge company but the staff they have working for them are highly skilled in restoration work.
Andrew Brierley (the current owner of Chapman Builders) approached me to quote on another job they were working on and we have worked on a number of projects together since this time including a couple of small Heritage Projects and we developed a good working relationship over time.
Andrew had previously worked for Steve & Jane Wilson on their Heritage property at Highgate Hill, and
I believe Andrew and his team have been working with the Wilson’s since 1986.
As a result of our working relationship and mutual respect for workmanship, Andrew introduced me and engaged our business to work on Steve and Jane’s new, $12.75 million acquisition, ‘Lamb House’. It stands only a ‘stones-throw’ away from the Kangaroo Point Cliffs and has majestic views of the Brisbane River, Story Bridge and city centre.
I have completed a lot of restoration work on old ‘Queenslanders’ but never worked on anything of this scale before. In the beginning there wasn't too much of a ‘plan’ or ‘scope of works’ as it was something nearly impossible to price up, which is why we were engaged on an hourly rate just like all other trades. We engaged Jason Osborne (our Dulux Paint Rep), Dulux Inspirations in Milton, and the team at Porters Paints New Farm to assist with advising on best paint systems possible for the work required and for colour samples etc.
The pressed metal ceilings, as you would see in some of the pictures, were completely stripped back to a bare substrate with a heritage ‘Westox’, paint stripper, sanded, then scrubbed with Gamlen Cleaner (a water-based cleaner degreaser used for the cleaning of hard surfaces soiled with mineral, vegetable, animal oils and dirt). Panels that were damaged were replaced to match the existing and given one coat of Dulux Luxapoxy Sealer followed by two coats of Dulux Durabuild STE. This was to hold back and treat any future rust from forming. We then applied two coats of Dulux Weathershield Satin Black Pearl with gapping and sanding between coats. A challenge we were faced with was achieving a straight line as the cornice wasn’t level against the wall and as we were using a very dark colour on the ceiling, it was going to be impossible to cut a straight line using the actual cornice edge. I felt this would look terrible from the ground so what we did to achieve a perfectly straight line was to run a laser line 2mm lower than the lowest point of the cornice and applied masking tape along this line. Everything above the line was painted in the dark colour and everything below in Dulux Carrara (a very light colour). Being a dark ceiling and cornice, you can’t see any imperfections against the wall colour, just a perfect straight line.
On the internal walls (and some ceilings), we used a Porters Mineral Silicate paint that was recommended by David Gole (head heritage architect for the company ‘Conrad Gargett’) and Bronson Tucker (from Porters Paints). The reason this paint was used was the fact that it’s sympathetic to how paints were applied over solid plaster work in the early years. The product is a mineral paint that chemically reacts and penetrates into the substrate, a process known as ‘Silification’. It's a breathable paint that becomes part of the substrate as opposed to regular paint that sits on the surface.
All timber that was delivered on the job was first coated with two coats of Dulux One Step Oil Based Undercoat (all sides), then after installation, two coats of Dulux Weathershield Semi-Gloss on the exterior and gloss on external trim work (i.e. windows, doors, architraves etc). Any existing surfaces, such as, windows, doors, timber posts, decorative timber work on gables, masonry, etc, was completely stripped back to the bare substrate. By doing this, it gives the coating system, a 100% guarantee of any failure.
The natural timber finish on the inside, (which there was a lot of), was manually prepared with ‘Linbide Scrapers’ and ‘Festool Sanding Equipment’. Some areas had to be stripped completely as much of it was water damaged and graffitied. New timber that needed to be replaced (due to rot or damage) had to be stained to match the existing colour first. We then applied a product called ‘Whittle Wax’ using fine grade steel wool by rubbing the product into the grain of the timber to the point where it was buffed to a consistent, natural finish.
It was our job also to restore any brass fittings, lanterns and hinges on the exterior shutters. The fittings that had paint on were first placed in thinners. Once the paint had softened, we cleaned them with a wire wheel on a ‘Dremal’ sanding tool. They were then polished with the same tool and sealed with Penetrol. The brass fittings were just buffed with a scotch bright attachment on the ‘Dremal’ tool.
In terms of hours spent for myself and my team, it was a bit over 12,000-man hours over a two-and-a-half year period with the materials coming in at $100,000 plus. With my staff, it definitely took a toll on a few as they ‘moved on’ as in some areas we were prepping for 3 to 4 months without even picking up a paint brush, so it became very tedious work.
‘Lamb House’ is very well known to the people of Brisbane and being that it was near the point of being unrecoverable, it was a rare privilege to work on such a special project and doing, ‘my bit’ to bringing it back to its original condition. A lot of credit needs to go to Steve & Jane who put their own money into this, as being a private residence, there was no government funding. From start to finish, the complete renovation took 2 and 3/4 years. (According to the ‘ABC Documentary’, the cost of the renovation came in at around $20 million).
The project has definitely ‘opened some doors’ into Heritage Restoration work for me and fortunately is a field of work I enjoy. It has also been valuable in forming relationships with other specialist trades.
Ash Reilly www.arpaintingsolutions.com.au
Ash Reilly and his team, ‘A.R Painting’, have executed a superb full Painting refurbishment of this iconic and Heritage listed home. Through attention to detail and adapting to change throughout the entire project, the professional behaviour was truly instrumental in achieving the amazing results they delivered to the builder and client.
In my 35 years within the Painting Industry, I have not seen a more complexed and Iconic project needing attention to detail and a full preparation process. I was honoured and proud to be part of the Dulux Specification process and combining Porters –Dulux Protective Coatings – Woodcare - Acratex systems with a Dulux Decorative combination used.
Congratulations Team AR Painting
Jason Osborn
Business Development Executive
Dulux Accredited – Greater Brisbane
Being a painter for 53 years and an ‘MPA Awards Judge’ in 2001, I must admit the calibre of workmanship performed by ‘A.R. Painting’ on this property, is beyond exceptional. I have only seen attention to detail like this in ‘Palaces’ and ‘Castles’ on my overseas trips to England and Europe. Well done Ash and your team.
From comments and feedback through the ‘Home KangarooPoint’ Instagram page and Facebook Pages such as ‘Old Brisbane Album’, it seems that if you grew up in Brisbane, you were aware of the history behind this beautiful home, so the restoration was something the ‘locals’ closely followed. Appreciation must fully go out to the new custodians, Steve and Jane Wilson, who weren't willing to compromise quality and perfection over cost in order to bring ‘Lamb House’ - Brisbane's most significant residential heritage home - back to its former grandeur.
Jim Baker
MyTools4Business
NB: I thoroughly recommend you to watch the ‘ABC Documentary’ with television host ‘Anthony Burke’ giving a full restoration account of this property. https://iview.abc.net.au/video/DO2111H001S00
Unlocking commitment and experience: The advantages of hiring a mature-aged apprentice
In the competitive market of apprentices, businesses are identifying the advantages that mature aged apprentices can bring to the workplace. While traditionally apprenticeships have been associated with younger individuals fresh out of school, there's a growing trend towards hiring mature aged candidates who are looking to transition or expand their careers.
What’s a mature aged apprentice?
Mature aged apprentices are those over the age of 21, according to the Australian vocational system. Many of the mature aged individuals seeking an apprenticeship, may be already well into a different career pathway and have decided to change their path into a more enjoyable career that matches their goals. More than half of the applications Aussie Painters Network has received in the 2023 – 2024 financial year are from individuals over 21, seeking to move into their desired career pathway.
Here are some benefits of hiring a mature aged apprentice:
1. Experience and maturity : One of the standout benefits of hiring a mature-aged apprentice is their wealth of life experience. These individuals often come equipped with a solid foundation of skills and knowledge gained from previous work or personal experiences. Their maturity means they are more likely to approach learning with focus and dedication, understanding the value of the opportunity you’ve given them, as an employer, to grow and develop new skills.
2. Reliability and Work Ethic: Mature-aged apprentices typically exhibit a strong work ethic and reliability. Having often already established personal and professional responsibilities, they understand the importance of punctuality, commitment, and accountability. Businesses will see a reduced turn over in the number of staff and the costs involved in hiring and onboarding.
3. Diverse Perspectives and Problem-Solving Skills: With a broader range of life experiences, mature-aged apprentices bring diverse perspectives to the work place. This diversity can lead to innovative problem solving approaches and contribute to a more dynamic and inclusive work environment. Their ability to draw from various contexts enables them to offer fresh insights and contribute to the team's overall creativity.
4. Long-Term Commitment: Hiring a mature-aged apprentice often means gaining an employee who is looking for long-term stability and career progression. These individuals are more likely to view the apprenticeship as a stepping stone towards a fulfilling career path within the company and within the industry.
QUOTE: “You’ve got to look at both side of the coin. A mature aged apprentice typically WANTS an apprenticeship, as they know that’s the only pathway to their desired job. They’ll show up for work, as they have bills to pay and responsibilities to look after. They complete their coursework because they want to finish their apprenticeship and get stuck into their career. They do cost more in the sense of their weekly pay, but with a change in perspective, employers will see the benefits outweigh that over the course of their apprenticeship overall.”
In conclusion, while hiring a mature-aged apprentice may require an adjustment in perspective for some employers, the benefits far outweigh any perceived challenges. Their experience, maturity, reliability, and long-term commitment can significantly enrich your team and contribute to the success of your business. Embracing diversity in apprenticeship programs not only strengthens your workforce but also demonstrates a commitment to fostering talent at all stages of life. By choosing to invest in a mature-aged apprentice, businesses not only secure skilled individuals for today but also contribute to building a sustainable and resilient workforce for the future
Kate Hogan Recruitment Specialist recruitment@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
Painting Your Career: School to Work Transitions Program
After years of running the Try a Trade programs, the Aussie Painters Network (APN) has successfully secured funding from the Department of Employment, Small Business, and Training to elevate the program to new heights.
Over the next 12 months, APN will collaborate with 18 schools, providing 108 students with a unique four-day training experience at our state-of-the-art training facility. This initiative is specifically designed to prepare students for work experience and schoolbased apprenticeships.
Participants in the program will gain both life skills and practical hands-on experience, equipping them to confidently step onto a job site and perform essential tasks. They will learn the intricacies of a painting project, including preparation techniques and brushing and rolling skills, ensuring they understand what will be required during their work experience.
This comprehensive training program aims to give students a solid foundation in painting and decorating, fostering a smooth transition from school to the workforce. All participating schools and students are based in Brisbane, and we are seeking industry partners interested in providing work experience opportunities. By hosting one or more young people, you not only contribute to their career development but also potentially find your next apprentice.
If you are interested in getting involved and mentoring the next generation of painters and decorators, please reach out to the APN Team. Together, we can build a stronger future for our industry.
Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
How to Reduce The 5 Most Common Work Safety Risks
Different work spaces carry different types of safety risks, and yet there are common work safety risks that can be experienced in almost any work environment, from office to factory floors and construction sites.
1. Follow work safety protocols when working alone
Tradies and builders often go out and work alone at a residential site, depending on the size of the job and other job commitments the company has. This occurs less at commercial construction sites where it’s likely that you have a run of contractors coming in and out of the site and a site supervisor to coordinate the project.
When you or your workers do go out and work alone for any length of time on a regular basis, it’s best to have a simple safety protocol in place that you can enact in case of an emergency. Otherwise, if something unexpected occurs, such as you or the employee being taken ill or having an accident, both worker and the business are put at risk unnecessarily.
Things like communication check-ins via SMS or using a job flow system to flag when you’ve arrived on site and when you’ve left the site will give the boss reassurance that all is good. And if it doesn’t happen, they’ll know to double check on you and potentially avoid escalation of the situation.
It’s also important to make sure that someone knows exactly where you are, and whether there is someone else at the site while you’re there that you might be able to call on for help.
This could be the client or another contractor and their presence will help minimise lone working safety risks.
October is National Safe Work Month. In our article Keep Your Business Safe With Hassle-Free WorkCover Payments we give you plenty of reasons why it’s also important to keep your WorkCover premiums up-to date.
2. Stop infection risks immediately
On a building site the risk of injury is always there when you do the form work, erect the building frame, install the plumbing or electricity, gyprocking, roofing, the list goes on. It’s so easy to suffer a cut or graze of the skin when you work with building materials.
Knowing many tradies and their work attitude, I am aware that a lot of the times when this happens, the tough guys would not even bat an eyelid. However, you should make it a company policy to have a first aid kit on board and instruct anyone in your business to attend to small injuries as quick as you can.A drop of Betadine with a band aid or bandage can save you a heap of trouble later on. If the wound becomes infected, this could mean loss of work time and productivity, and worse still, more serious health consequences for you or the worker.
3. Eliminate slip and trip hazards
Building sites can be littered with potential trip hazards, a fact well known by the experienced tradie. Staff and contractors must be reminded of their responsibility to keep the working environment safe. On a big construction site the Site Supervisor would have a lot to do with keeping the workspace as safe as possible. It’s a legal requirement and best practice that hazardous conditions should be highlighted with appropriate signs and, if necessary, areas isolated until made safe. If you work alone, you need to take on this role to be safe, rather than sorry.
When you’re at the office, there are other hazards such as computer desks and workstations. Trailing cables are one of the most common causes of injury and damage to equipment. Conduct regular checks under desks and make sure all cables are stowed in cable management ducts or tied off.
4. Make sure your workshop floor is safe
On the workshop floor it’s important to work in a tidy way and with consideration for your fellow worker. Tools that are lying around in walkways are an accident waiting to happen. Spilt oil or other lubricants can lead to slips with potentially tragic consequences.
Training on how to safely use equipment like hoists or gantries, power tools etc is a must, especially when you’ve got new staff coming on the floor.
You should also conduct tests of lighting levels and ventilation in different sections of the workplace to ensure they are acceptable.
5. Safe manual handling practices
Tradies and labourers know a thing or two about back pain. If it’s not acute it can become chronic and made worse by applying the wrong lifting movements with building material. Once it’s become chronic, back pain treatment and careful management of load lifting will ultimately determine how long you may be able to do this job.
It’s best to avoid this risk altogether by knowing your limits and asking for help when it’s needed. You should consider that human beings have a tendency to make bad decisions. It’s not unheard of for injuries to be sustained by lifting heavy objects with an awkward shape without proper equipment or having another person to help you.
Prohibit this type of activity and bring in professional expertise to learn about safe manual handling practices and how to avoid bodily harm doing it.
Women in Painting: A Promising Start and Exciting Future A New Beginning for Women in the Trade
The Women in Painting initiative, launched just a few weeks ago by the Aussie Painters Network, has seen a remarkable start. Designed to support and promote women in the painting and decorating industry, the initiative aims to create a vibrant community where female professionals can connect, share experiences, and access resources tailored to their unique needs.
Highlights from our first weeks include strong community engagement, as we participated in the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) Women on Tools breakfast in Toowoomba, and Careers Expos at Yeronga State High School, and the Y School, Mango Hill. The initial response has been overwhelmingly positive, with numerous women and allies joining the free Membership online.
The community has quickly become a space of camaraderie and support, with Members sharing their stories on our private facebook page, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs faced by women in the painting industry. These narratives have not only been inspiring but also highlighted common obstacles that need addressing, which will help inform our direction from here on in.
Our platforms will help facilitate the exchange of valuable ideas and resources, including tips on efficient business practices, marketing strategies, and innovative work practices. We hope that Members will find us a valuable go-to resource for support, feedback and problem solving.
Women in Painting will provide the females in the industry opportunities for representation and advocacy to champion some of the changes that will have the greatest positive impact. There is a clear need for collaboration in the industry to address systemic issues faced by women in the trade. The initiative plans to work with industry bodies to push for policy changes that promote gender equality and create a more inclusive work environment.
To demonstrate the impact we can make on the industry, we will share and celebrate the success stories of women in painting, which will not only boost morale but also serves as motivation for newcomers to the field.
The Women in Painting initiative has arrived! With a focus on advocacy, career support, and community expansion, the future looks bright. The initiative is committed to empowering women and driving positive change in the industry, ensuring that more women can thrive in their careers as professional Painters and Decorators, leaders and business owners in the sector.
Caroline Miall info@WomenInPainting.com.au
www.WomenInPainting.com.au 0413 345 595
Membership
Packages
Brushed V: Empowering Future Painters and Decorators
Following the remarkable success of our previous Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program at the Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, we are excited to announce our next project. This time, we are partnering once again with MEGT and Major Training, and we are thrilled to be working on a new initiative with Bric Housing.
Bric Housing is a community housing provider committed to delivering safe and affordable housing solutions. You can learn more about their impactful work here: Bric Housing. Our collaboration with Bric Housing aligns perfectly with our mission to provide practical, hands-on training to those looking to build a career in the painting and decorating industry.
This 18-week program offers an incredible opportunity for eight dedicated participants to gain invaluable experience and skills. Throughout the program, participants will undertake a comprehensive repainting project of several of Bric’s properties, focusing on exterior areas. This project is not just about applying fresh coats of paint; it’s about learning the meticulous preparation and techniques required for professional painting and decorating.
The scope of work is extensive and varied, providing a well-rounded experience for our participants. They will be working on:
• Timber Fences: Preparing and repainting timber fences that have seen better days. This involves sanding, priming, and painting to restore the wood to its former glory.
• Block Walls: Tackling the challenging surfaces of block walls, which require a thorough cleaning, patching, and priming before any paint can be applied. This teaches the participants the importance of surface preparation.
• Metal Railings: One of the most demanding tasks will be the restoration of over 100 meters of metal railings. These railings are in poor condition and will need extensive work, including rust removal, priming with oil based coatings, and multiple layers of paint to ensure durability and aesthetic appeal.
This program is designed not only to impart technical skills but also to instill a sense of pride and accomplishment in our participants. By working on real-world projects, they gain firsthand experience that will be invaluable in their future careers. They learn the importance of attention to detail, time management, and working as a team to achieve a common goal.
Each month, we will provide updates on the progress of this project, showcasing the hard work and dedication of our participants. These updates will highlight their learning journey, challenges they face, and the triumphs they achieve. We believe that sharing their stories will inspire others and shed light on the rewarding career opportunities within the painting and decorating industry.
Stay tuned for our monthly updates as we follow the journey of these aspiring painters and decorators. We are proud to be part of their career development and look forward to seeing their skills and confidence grow over the course of this program. Together with MEGT, Major Training, and Bric Housing, we are committed to building a brighter future for these individuals and enhancing the communities they serve.
Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
More than just ‘we’re sorry’ –
How companies can make apologies we will actually believe
When a company makes a mistake – such as a marketing misstep or a product failure that leads to a recall – a good apology can make a big difference in how we as customers feel about them.
Things can go wrong for all kinds of reasons. On top of addressing the immediate fallout of something going wrong, a company must be prepared to explain what happened – and in many cases, apologise.
A well-intended, expertly delivered apology can help rebuild trust, while a bad one can often make things worse.
Our research has explored the different kinds of apologies that companies typically offer, and what key factors make a good one.
Understanding these nuances can help firms handle crises better and maintain positive relationships with their customers. It can also help us – as customers –make our own judgements about how genuine corporate apologies are.
How companies say ‘we’re sorry’ Not all apologies have the same intention and effect. Across the long history of corporate apologies, four key types emerge.
Incomplete apology
An incomplete apology is one that fails to fully accept responsibility, or leaves out important details like how the problem will be fixed.
In 2017, Dove launched an ad campaign that was widely panned as racist. After extensive backlash, the company issued an apology, saying it deeply regretted “the offence it caused”.
But Dove was then further criticised on social media for failing to fully admit fault or explain how the company would prevent such a mistake in the future. Such an approach risks leaving customers feeling unsatisfied and distrustful.
Doublespeak apology
A doublespeak apology uses confusing language and excuses to avoid admitting fault.
World Duty Free issued an apology following a controversial promotion. R.Narong/Shutterstock
In 2018, Chinese travellers were required to pay more than those of other nations as part of a promotion to get a discount voucher from World Duty Free at Heathrow Airport.
Soon after, World Duty Free issued an apology in both English and Mandarin, saying it had “taken urgent steps” and “comprehensively re-briefed staff” to ensure the promotion was clear.
While World Duty Free’s apology in Chinese explicitly addressed “the Chinese public”, its English version did not.
This discrepancy caused many media outlets in China to express frustration.
China Daily tweeted:
There is no sincerity in the statement as it neither explains the reason Chinese customers had to spend more nor gives a solution to prevent that from happening again.
Doublespeak apologies can create the perception a firm is trying to dodge responsibility, which customers are likely to perceive as dishonest.
Full apology
A full apology includes all the necessary parts: admitting to a mistake, accepting responsibility, expressing remorse and committing to promptly address the issue. This kind of apology helps rebuild trust.
In 1982, Johnson & Johnson faced a crisis after some Tylenol capsules were found to be laced with poison, leading to a number of deaths.
But the company quickly admitted there was a problem and took responsibility for fixing it with mass warnings and recalls. The crisis ultimately led to the development of tamper-proof packaging for medications.
Such a thorough response helped the brand restore its reputation over time.
Extended apology
An extended apology goes even further by including long-term commitments to change and corrective action, such as compensation. This is the style we most like to see, and shows a company is serious about making things right.
In 2018, Starbucks closed many of its stores to provide staff with racial bias training after an incident of discrimination.
Starbucks’ chief executive at the time, Kevin Johnson, recorded a personal apology message.
The company’s extended apology showed a commitment to broader change and helped rebuild customer trust.
What makes for a good apology?
If a company doesn’t fully acknowledge the harm caused when something goes wrong, its customers will feel ignored. Vague promises to fix an issue that lack meaningful details can also undermine trust.
Three key factors can make or break a corporate apology.
Spokesperson
Who delivers an apology matters a lot. The authority of a top official, such as the chief executive, makes the apology more believable.
In 2018, after it emerged Facebook had been used for widespread data harvesting, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg apologised himself, intending to convey the company was serious about fixing the problem.
In contrast, choosing a spokesperson who lacks
thority or credibility can weaken an apology.
Delivery
How an apology is delivered is important, too. It should be communicated broadly through rich media channels that are specifically able to reach the affected audience, such as social media, television or a company’s website.
Facebook’s 2018 apology was delivered not only on the site itself, but also before congressional committees, in television interviews and across full-page newspaper ads.
Timing
Finally, the timing of an apology is crucial. Apologising quickly shows the company is serious about fixing the issue. Delayed apologies can frustrate customers and signal a lack of urgency or that an issue isn’t a priority.
Showing genuine care
In the end, a corporate apology should be about more than just saying “we are sorry”. It requires a thoughtful approach that considers what is said and when, who says it and how it’s delivered.
Companies need to be sincere, transparent and quick. This goes to the very heart of what’s required to rebuild trust – acknowledging their customers and showing that they genuinely care.
Park Thaichon Associate Professor of Marketing, University of Southern Queensland
Sara Quach Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Griffith University
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg apologised following major privacy concerns in 2018.
TRADE INSURANCE HEALTH CHECK
How much do you really know about your business insurance?
In a perfect world you would put aside time each year to run through everything with your Trade Risk broker.
But it’s not a perfect world, and you’re busy running a business!
So if you don’t have time to speak with your broker, but do have a few spare minutes to read this guide, you could be doing yourself a massive favour.
Why does it matter?
We have plenty of amazing clients who rely on their
Trade Risk broker for advice and assistance through out the year to keep their insurance in check.
But there are also plenty who forget about their insurance five minutes after the certificate of currency hits their inbox each year!
It is a big deal though… Imagine getting hit with a $100k claim from one of your clients, then finding out your insurance is invalid as you hadn’t kept your details up to date, or didn’t have the right cover.
We’re fortunate that this happens very rarely to our clients, but it’s always a risk, and one that could be avoided by giving a little time and attention to your insurance.
Let’s get started!
Our preferred option for a proper insurance review is to speak with your Trade Risk insurance broker.
It won’t cost you a cent extra, since being a Trade Risk client entitles you to all the advice and reviews you need!
But if you prefer to do things yourself, here are some good options to get started.
We’ll run through the checklist based on the policy type, starting with the most common form of tradies insurance.
Click a question below to jump straight to the section, or simply scroll down to run through all of the questions.
Is the insured entity correct?
Have there been any changes to your business structure? Often with a start-up trade business we find that they’ll switch from being a sole trader to a company or trust at some point.
You need to ensure that our insurance is in the current name. If you’re invoicing clients under your company ABN, but your insurance is still under your old sole trader ABN, there could be issues at claim time.
Are your revenue and staff numbers still correct?
If your business has grown – or shrunk – since you last updated your policy, it’s important to let us know.
If the business has shrunk in terms of revenue of staff numbers, you might be paying more for your insurance than you need to be.
Has your usage of subcontractors or
I’m a bit unsure about something…
Have your business activities changed?
We don’t mean that you’ve switched from being an electrician to a plumber (although you’d need to let us know about that too!) but more so if the specific activities have changed.
Sticking with the electrician example, if you were only doing domestic and light commercial work when you started your policy, but now you’re doing industrial work, you need to let us know.
The same works in reverse… If you told us you were doing electrical work in power plants and mine sites when you took out your policy, your policy would have been more expensive due to the higher risk work.
If you’ve now gone back to doing domestic work only, you’ll be paying a lot more than you need to be for your insurance.
Is the policy current?
This is an obvious one, but if your policy isn’t current, you won’t be able to claim on it.
But we can only know about those changes – and adjust your premium – if you let us know.
Has your usage of subcontractors or labour hire changed?
Using subbies or labour hire in your business can have an impact on your public liability insurance.
If you’ve changed the percentage of your revenue that is going to subcontractors or labour hire firms, you need to let us know.
I’m a bit unsure about something…
If there is anything about your insurance that you’re slightly unsure about, let us know!
Any issues that could impact upon a claim are far better to be sorted out now, rather than at the time of a claim when it may be too late.
Tool Insurance
Is the sum insured still correct?
If you have $5k worth of tools when you took out insurance, but you now have $20k worth and haven’t updated your policy, that’s a problem!
Your tool insurance policy isn’t going to pay more than the value of the insurance, so you need to ensure that your level of cover stays up to date.
Have you added any big ticket items?
Most tool insurance policies will have a dollar limit per item. This doesn’t mean you can’t cove the higher value items, but simply that you must specify them on the policy.
The dollar amount differs between different insurance companies, but generally it’s around $2,500.
If you’ve purchased any additional items with a replacement value of $2,500 or higher, simply provide us with a description of the item and the replacement value, and we can have it added to your policy.
Do have you invoices or receipts for all of your tools? This question is more about your own record keeping rather than the insurance policy.
All insurers require that you provide evidence of ownership for each tool in the event of a claim.
If you can’t provide any proof that you owned the item, the insurer won’t pay a claim for that item.
As a business owner you should be keeping all of your invoices for tax purposes anyway, but it’s also vital for your tool insurance.
Personal Accident Insurance
Has your income changed?
If your income has changed since taking out cover, it might not be appropriate for you now.
Maybe $1,000 per week was sufficient when you started your policy, but if you’re now earning a lot more and have a larger mortgage and bills to pay, you need to update that policy.
What use is your insurance if the weekly benefit amount isn’t going to be enough to cover your bills?
No matter how much you are earning, your personal accident insurance isn’t going to pay out more than the specified benefit on your policy.
Is the waiting period and benefit period still appropriate?
Our circumstances can change over time, in terms of financial responsibilities, children and business.
Your waiting period and benefit period may have been perfectly fine when you purchased your policy, but they mightn’t be right for your current situation.
Are you covered for illness?
You might assume that all personal accident policies cover you when you’re off work due to illness, but that’s not the case.
Sickness or illness must be specified on your policy in order for you to be covered.
Five minutes checking your policy today could save you thousands in the event of a claim!
Motor Insurance
Does your policy cover business use?
This is a big one, especially if you’ve recently become a self-employed tradie, and you’re still using the same ute that you had as an employee.
As an employee you likely would have had your ute insured for private use, but now as a business owner you should have it insured for business use.
If you have a claim, and the insurer can see that the vehicle was clearly being used for business use, they may decline your claim.
Has the youngest driver changed?
If you’ve taken on an apprentice and expect them to be driving one of your vehicles, it’s important to have them listed on the policy.
This won’t be an issue for a mature age apprentice, but if you have anyone under the age of 25 driving your vehicles it could impact upon your insurance and any claim.
Has the driving history changed for any drivers?
If you have someone new driving your vehicles with past driving offences or licence losses, you need to disclose this to the insurer.
Likewise, if you’ve picked up any new driving offences yourself, you need to disclose these to the insurer.
Talk to your broker
Whilst checklists are great, nothing beats having a proper discussion or formal review with your insurance broker.
Your broker can ask all the right questions to ensure your business insurance is set up correctly.
They can answer all of your questions – and as mentioned earlier – none of this will cost you an extra cent if you’re already a Trade Risk client.
Whilst this article and the “health check” questions are a great start, you must not rely on this article as any sort of replacement for a proper insurance review. Nor does it satisfy your duty of disclosure.
For more information please contact your Trade Risk insurance broker directly or call our office on 1800 808 800.
Certificate 1 Program: Building Careers in Painting and Decorating
Aussie Painters Network , in collaboration with Everthought Education (RTO No. 32438) , is proud to introduce our Certificate 1 Program, aimed at empowering unemployed individuals with practical skills and knowledge in the painting and decorating industry.
This intensive 6-week program, held at our state-of the-art training facility, runs four days a week and immerses participants in the fundamentals of construction site operations, with a special focus on painting and decorating.
Program Highlights:
• Construction Site Familiarization: Participants gain a comprehensive understanding of how construction sites function, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world environments.
• Surface Preparation: Essential skills in preparing surfaces for painting are taught, ensuring participants can handle various surfaces with confidence.
• Cutting-In Skills: Mastery of precise cutting-in techniques is emphasized, a critical skill for achieving professional finishes.
• Rolling Skills: Participants learn the art of rolling paint, a fundamental technique in painting large surfaces efficiently and effectively.
• Tool and Equipment Proficiency: Hands-on training in the use of industry-standard tools and equipment ensures participants are work-ready.
Currently, we have six dedicated participants who are showing great promise and will be seeking work placements in the next 4-5 weeks.
If you are looking to bring on a trial apprentice and support the next generation of skilled painters, please reach out to our recruitment team. Your involvement can make a significant impact on these individuals' careers and contribute to the growth of our industry.
Nigel Gorman nigel@aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
The importance of BOOKKEEPING
As a business owner, you’ll need to stay informed about your finances and your financial situation. You do this through bookkeeping. Bookkeeping is the process of recording transactions in your business. This includes any transactions, credit card charges and any other financial activity that happens within your company.
How good bookkeeping helps you
Bookkeeping is vital for any business. First, it helps you understand your finances. Bookkeeping gives you insights into your income and expenses, such as:
• How much money you’ve made
• How much money needs to be paid for bills or salaries
• How much money should be put away for taxes or other unexpected costs
Bookkeeping also helps keep track of all your business transactions. A good system will serve as an audit trail showing every transaction that has taken place within your company. This includes purchases from suppliers, sales made to customers and bills paid out by suppliers or employees (like salaries).
If there are any irregularities such as missing items on purchase orders then this information will quickly become apparent. You get transparency into your business, a way to ensure you remain compliant with laws, and valuable insights to help you make smarter decisions.
When to hire a BAS Agent -bookkeeper
There are many scenarios where it makes sense to hire a bookkeeper. These depend on your business set up and your own abilities.
You should consider hiring a bookkeeper if you have
• More than one employee
• Multiple business locations
• A complex business structure
• Concerns about making errors in your books that could lead to fines or penalties
• Too much work to do and bookkeeping constantly gets pushed to the side
• A lack of experience with bookkeeping and are uncertain about how to go about it, so you avoid it.
What a bookkeeper can provide for you
Expertise
Bookkeepers are experts at managing, sorting and recording your business’s financial transactions. They’ve spent time developing their skills and experience. During that time, they’ve also seen and resolved bookkeeping-related issues that you may come up against. Their expertise makes them more efficient at managing those issues.
Beyond that, they understand business trends and challenges others in your industry face, and can help you move through those as well. They also know what questions to ask to help you make important decisions and can share best practices with you.
Guidance
Your bookkeeper not only helps you maintain accurate records, they understand your financial circumstances.
They help you assess how to make important business decisions, such as whether now is a good time to grow or when you should hold back. They can also identify trends in your industry and help you take advantage of those opportunities.
Finally, they can assist you with budgeting, and sticking to your budget. They’ll help you come up with a realistic financial plan that enables your business to grow while achieving short- and long-term goals.
Time savings
As a business owner, you likely have many activities to focus on. In bookkeeping alone there are numerous tasks to be responsible for, such as:
• Collecting and recording transaction data
• Sorting receipts
• Classifying expenses
• Invoicing customers
• Paying vendors
• Managing payroll.
Bookkeepers take on those tasks so you don’t have to. It’s not just about the energy you put into them, it’s about the fact that unless you’re an expert at bookkeeping, it’ll likely take you longer to complete these activities than it would take a bookkeeper. That can add up to a lot of extra hours.
By hiring a bookkeeper, you save yourself that valuable time for other activities such as marketing, perfecting your products or even spending time with family.
Money savings
There’s a time cost to doing your own books, but there’s also a potential money cost in the form of missed opportunities. The time you spend doing your own books is time you could potentially be out creating or taking advantage of new opportunities for your business. Your bookkeeper frees you up so you have the time and energy to identify potential opportunities. They can also advise you on whether you’re in a good financial position to jump on those possibilities.
Additionally, the expertise bookkeepers bring to their activities means they’re likely to save you from costly mistakes that could affect your finances.
Final thoughts
There are many good reasons to hire a bookkeeper. Always check that your bookkeeper is a registered BAS Agent with the Tax Practitioners board. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for more information. Sandra Price www.tradiebookkeepingsolutions.com.au
The Powerful Effect of Bringing Into Your Life PLAY
How much of your day is spent either 1) trying to make yourself do something you really don’t want to do, or 2) avoiding doing that thing you don’t want to force yourself to do (and feeling guilty about it)?
In truth, this is most of the day for many people. Trying to coerce ourselves to do stuff.
So a few things to say about coercing ourselves:
1. It doesn’t work really well — we’ll put up a lot of resistance if we’re trying to force ourselves.
2. Even if you can do it, it’s super not fun!
3. And then when you’re done forcing yourself, you have to do it again. Over and over again. Hoping to do everything “right” but usually feeling like you’re not doing it “right.”
OK, so let’s say you’re convinced that coercing yourself to do things doesn’t work. Then what? Do we just never do the boring things? Just always avoid facing the hard things?
That’s not what we want either, because most people reading this wants to be out doing meaningful, impactful, sometimes hard and scary things. So how do we do that without coercion?
Play might just be the answer.
Let me describe the powerful effects of Play in this context, and then talk a bit about how to bring Play into your life.
The Powerful Effects of Play
When we’re up to meaningful, difficult, interesting, scary things … coercion is one answer. Avoidance is another. And Play is yet another possibility.
Here’s what happens when we bring Play into doing all of our hard, meaningful tasks:
• Instead of dreading a task, you start to get excited about playing with the task.
• Instead of looking for the possibilities of failure, you start looking for the opportunities for fun, for exploration, for adventure.
• Your day becomes less of a slog and more of a playground.
• You focus less on doing things the “right” way and more on trying new things out and seeing what works. You get less perfectionist and give yourself more permission to make messes.
• You focus more on learning and growing than needing to stay safe.
• You feel more alive — instead of just churning through endless tasks, you’re trying new things, stepping into the unknown, seeing what works and what doesn’t. It can feel thrilling.
• You learn more — instead of worrying about doing things right, you let yourself try new ways of doing things, and let yourself fall on your face, because that’s a part of the Play.
These are the powerful effects of Play. Let’s look at how you might start to incorporate Play into your day.
How to Bring Play Into Your Life
At this point, you might start to ask, “OK, so how do I play? Just give me the answers!” But knowing the answer is the safe way, not the way of Play.
Instead, try things out for yourself, and see what you can discover! Be playful in bringing Play into your life!
That said, here are some ideas to start you out:
• When you do a task, ask, “How can I turn this into Play?” Maybe some music, maybe try things out a new way, maybe let yourself stumble and fall a bit, maybe turn it into a game.
• When you have free time — even 10 minutes — instead of going to your usual distractions or see-
ing how you can use the time productively … ask yourself what would be fun? How can you turn this small time into a bit of Play?
• Invite others to play with you — young kids are always down to play (they’re our models for Play!), but you can invite your partner, your family, your friends. How can you invite people you work with to play?
• Try to see if you can do your usual things in a new way. Get inventive! Instead of walking home the usual way, try a randomly selected path. Instead of just getting through your email, can you do it with more Play? Instead of doing chores or errands the usual way, can you get creative with them?
• Some words to prompt you: Adventure. Dance. Games. Creativity. Invention. Stumbling around like a toddler learning to walk. Exploration. Discovery. Joy!
What would you like to play today?
Leo Babauta ZEN HABITS
Is social media making you unhappy? The answer is not so simple
You may have seen headlines that link social media to sadness and depression. Social media use goes up, happiness goes down. But recent studies suggest those findings might not be so straightforward.
Although it is true that people’s feelings of envy and depression are linked to high social media use, there is evidence to suggest social media use may not be causing that relationship. Instead, your mindset may be the biggest thing affecting how social media connects to your wellbeing.
People who feel they are able to use social media, rather than social media “using them”, tend to gain more benefits from their online interactions.
Why do people use social media?
Social media covers a broad range of platforms: social networking, discussion forums, bookmarking and sharing content, disseminating news, exchanging media like photos and videos, and microblogging. These appeal to a wide range of users, from individuals of all ages through to massive businesses.
For some, social media is a way to connect with people we may not otherwise see. In the United States, 39% of people say they are friends with people they only interact with online.
For older people, this is especially important for increasing feelings of connectedness and wellbeing. Interestingly though, for older people, social media
contact with family does not increase happiness. Meanwhile, younger adults report increased happiness when they have more social media contact with family members.
Teens, in particular, find social media most useful for deepening connections and building their social networks.
With social media clearly playing such an important role in society, many researchers have tried to figure out: does it make us happier or not?
Does social media make us happier?
Studies have taken a variety of approaches, including asking people directly through surveys or looking at the content people post and seeing how positive or negative it is.
One survey study from 2023 showed that as individuals’ social media use increased, life satisfaction and happiness decreased. Another found that less time on social media was related to increases in work satisfaction, work engagement and positive mental health – so improved mental health and motivation at work.
Comparing yourself to others on social media is connected to feelings of envy and depression. However, there is evidence to suggest depression is the predictor, rather than the outcome, of both social comparison and envy.
All this shows the way you feel about social media matters. People who see themselves using social media rather than “being used” by it, tend to gain benefits from social media and not experience the harms.
Interviews with young people (15–24 years) using social media suggest that positive mental health among that age group was influenced by three features:
• connection with friends and their global community
• engagement with social media content
• the value of social media as an outlet for expression.
There are also studies that look at the emotions expressed by more frequent social media users.
The so-called “happiness paradox” shows that most people think their friends on social media appear happier than themselves. This is a seeming impossibility that arises because of the mathematical properties of how friendship networks work on social media.
In one of our studies, Twitter content with recorded locations showed residents of cities in the United States that tweeted more tended to express less happiness.
On the other hand, in Instagram direct messages, happiness has been found to be four times more prevalent than sadness.
How does internet use in general affect our wellbeing? Some of the factors associated with decreased mental health are not aligned with social media use alone.
One recent study shows that the path to decreased wellbeing is, at least partially, connected to digital media use overall (rather than social media use specifically). This can be due to sleep disruption, reduced face-to-face social interaction or physical activity, social comparison, and cyberbullying. None of these exist for social media alone.
However, social media platforms are known to be driven by recommendation algorithms that may send us down “rabbit holes” of the same type of (increasingly extreme) content. This can lead to a distorted view of the world and our place in it. The important point here is to maintain a diverse and balanced information diet online.
Interestingly, interacting on social media is not the only thing affecting our mental state. Rainfall influnces the emotional content of social media posts of both the user experiencing rain, and parts of their extended network (even if they don’t experience rain!).
This suggests that how we feel is influenced by the emotions in the posts we see. The good news is that happy posts are the most influential, with each happy post encouraging close to two additional happy updates from a user’s friends.
The secret to online happiness therefore may not be to “delete your account” entirely (which, as we have found, may not even be effective), but to be mindful about what you consume online. And if you feel like social media is starting to use you, it might be time to change it up a bit.
Melissa Humphries Senior Lecturer, School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, University of Adelaide
Lewis Mitchell Professor of Data Science, University of Adelaide
IMPORTANT Contacts
Aussie Painters Network aussiepaintersnetwork.com.au
National Institute for Painting and Decorating painters.edu.au
Australian Tax Office ato.gov.au Award Rates fairwork.gov.au
Australian Building & Construction Commission www.abcc.gov.au
Mates In Construction www.mates.org.au
Workplace Health and Safety Contacts
Comcare
WorkSafe ACT
Workplace Health and Safety QLD
WorkSafe Victoria
SafeWork NSW
SafeWork SA
WorkSafe WA NT WorkSafe
WorkSafe Tasmania
Cancer Council Australia
Ph. 0430 399 800
Ph. 1300 319 790
Ph. 13 72 26 / Ph. 13 28 65 Ph. 13 13 94 Ph. 1800 003 338 Ph. 1300 642 111
comcare.gov.au worksafe.act.gov.au worksafe.qld.gov.au www.worksafe.vic.gov.au www.safework.nsw.gov.au www.safework.sa.gov.au commerce.wa.gov.au/WorkSafe/ worksafe.nt.gov.au worksafe.tas.gov.au
actcancer.org cancercouncil.com.au cancercouncilnt.com.au cancerqld.org.au cancersa.org.au cancervic.org.au
cancerwa.asn.au
(02) 6257 9999 (02) 9334 1900 (08) 8927 4888 (07) 3634 5100 (08) 8291 4111 (03) 9635 5000 (08) 9212 4333
