As Australians spend around $50 billion in the lead-up to Christmas Day, we should always try to look to shop small or shop locally in our community.
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The coming month is when many local businesses take risks, make investments and employ more locals in the hope that the upswing in Christmas retail trade makes it possible.
From the many local stores which have unique gifts and must-haves for family, friends and loved ones to small businesses which sell the groceries necessary for the festive season, there is nothing we need this Christmas which local small businesses don’t sell.
Many of our local small businesses employ more young people and those looking for casual work during the Christmas season.
Christmas is a vital injection of cash and confidence into our community and a chance to help our small businesses employ more local – particularly young people – and keep that money flowing around our local economy.
I support Federal Small Business Minister Michael McCormack’s challenge to Australians this Christmas – think local and shop small.
Through your support and the hard work of millions of Aussies and their small businesses, this can be a merry Christmas for local jobs and for our communities.
Mobile Service Centres
This month marks 10 years since the first Australian Government Mobile Service Centre hit the road to visit regional communities with limited access to government services.
First launched as a converted Winnebago in 2006, the service has since evolved into a pair of sleek, high-tech, nationally touring mobile offices equipped to deliver the same Centrelink and Medicare services as any other Department of Human Services Service Centre.
Over the past decade these Mobile Service Centres have covered almost 700,000 kilometres, helped over 120,000 customers, visited more than 3800 towns and been deployed to 20 disaster situations.
The 10 year milestone was a fabulous achievement for the well-loved travelling outreach service. For the past decade the mobile service centres have been a touchstone to government support for Australians living in regional and rural areas.
Having a face-to-face service that helps people access both financial and social work support is critically important for ensuring all Australians get the help they’re entitled to.
The travelling service has also been particularly vital in the aftermath of natural disasters – when they can be quickly relocated to provide emergency on-the-ground support.
For more information and itineraries visit humanservices.gov.au/mobileoffice