• Robinson Aerospace Systems prepares to launch first RASCube kits
• Digital solution to detect staff underpayments
• Cancer Council SA opens integrated cancer building
• Leadership program opens for South Australian not-for-profits
• Australia-China business groups announce new partnership
• Flexible workspace to open in Mawson Lakes
• South Australian grants program an efficient job generator

Robinson Aerospace Systems prepares to launch first RASCube kits

Robinson Aerospace Systems (RAS) will officially launch its RASCube at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Lot Fourteen on Monday 27 March.

RASCube is an educational cube satellite (CubeSat) kit designed to inspire the next generation of space scientists by giving STEM students hands-on opportunities to learn about and practice building satellites.

The event will host a presentation on the creation of RASCube and the future of RAS before RASCube kits are provided to the first users.

The event will run from 5:30pm, with the presentation beginning at 6:00pm, before guests are invited to browse product displays and enjoy refreshments.

Free tickets are still available for interested industry stakeholders.

Digital solution to detect staff underpayments

Cowell Clarke Commercial Lawyers has launched a new digital solution called RemCheck that uses payroll data and legal expertise to help employers identify and rectify staff underpayments by highlighting risk areas and calculating shortfalls that employees are due.

Cowell Clarke Associate Director Cassie Burfoot said RemCheck can assist employers in getting ahead of these issues with proactive payroll reviews.

“Payroll reviews are more than a pure mathematical exercise. If the calculations do not have regard to how courts and the Fair Work Commission are interpreting the relevant award provisions, then there is a real risk that the numbers will be wrong,” Burfoot said.

“By combining specialist legal insight with our data-driven digital solution, we can uncover the true extent of underpayment issues based on tailored, well-reasoned calculations.”

The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) reported that last financial year over $532 million in unpaid wages and entitlements for more than 384,000 workers was recovered.

“Many unsuspecting employers may be sitting on an underpayment time bomb and at risk of significant back-pay claims, penalties and costly court action,” Burfoot said.

Cancer Council SA opens integrated cancer building

With the support of a $10 million grant from the State Government, Cancer Council SA has opened an integrated cancer building in Eastwood to bring all the organisation’s services and support under one roof.

Located at 202 Greenhill Road, the building has 120 rooms of supportive accommodation for regional South Australians travelling to Adelaide for cancer treatment as well as support services for people impacted by cancer and cancer research facilities.

Cancer Council SA Chief Executive Kerry Rowlands said the building will help to reduce the rate and impact of cancer for generations to come.

“Through providing state-of-the-art accommodation alongside our full range of services and support, all under one roof, we are ensuring that all South Australians impacted by cancer have every chance to survive their diagnosis,” Rowlands said.

Leadership program opens for South Australian not-for-profits

The Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program is inviting leaders from more than 3000 not-for-profit organisations across South Australia to take part in professional development opportunities.

The course, which would ordinarily cost more than $80,000 per person, is being offered for free to bridge the gap between what commercial corporations spend on employee training and what not-for-profits can afford.

According to SILA, corporations spend around $3.6 billion a year on employee training and development.

SILA is offering 120 CEOs from not-for-profit organisations a fully funded professional development program with the goal of strengthening the sector by advancing organisational capability, enhancing the effectiveness of leaders and building a not-for-profit “brains trust” network.

Applications open on March 20 for South Australia-based not-for-profits and close on April 23.

– Camillo Malacari

Australia-China business groups announce new partnership

The South Australian chambers of the Australia China Business Council (ACBC) and China Chamber of Commerce in Australia (CCCA) have announced a new partnership focused on re-establishing business cooperation and opportunities for inbound investment and bilateral trade.

The partnership comes after Australia lost around $6.6 billion in revenue between July 2020 and February 2021 as a result of the tariffs imposed by Beijing.

The new agreement seeks to establish industry-specific working groups and roundtables to identify future economic growth opportunities for net-zero industrial transformation.

The partnership, which was signed by ACBC SA President Sean Keenihan and the incoming Vice President of the Adelaide Branch of CCCA Brandon Liu, also aims to re-establish business cooperation and trade relations.

“This is an agreement designed to drive outcomes. It is designed to deliver business cooperation, increased economic complexity and economic prosperity,” said Keenihan.

– Charlie Gilchrist

Flexible workspace to open in Mawson Lakes

Former Holden factory site owners, Victorian-based developer Pelligra Group, have teamed up with International Workplace Group (IWG) to create a multi-level building of flexible office space for defence and aerospace, technology, communications and education businesses.

The eight-storey building providing private offices, meeting rooms, co-working and creative spaces will be added to the current Holiday Inn Hotel project that is due for completion in 2024.

“Pelligra and our partners ONE7 Developments look forward to welcoming IWG co-working group to our newest Holiday Inn Hotel and Commercial development in Mawson Lakes,” said Pelligra Group chairman, Ross Pelligra.

Country Head of IWG Australia, Damien Sheehan said the development is important to IWG’s expansion plan as it looks to add up to 40 locations around Australia.

“The need for high-quality flexible workspaces continues to soar as hybrid working becomes the new normal,” he said.

“Our latest openings come at a time when more and more companies are discovering that flexible working boosts employee happiness and satisfaction, while helping the environment.”

– Liam McMahon

South Australian grants program an efficient job generator

The Industry Leaders Fund (ILF) has opened applications to its 2023 study grant program for executives who can demonstrate their business will add to the size of the South Australian economy.

Despite last week’s announcement that South Australia’s unemployment rate dropped to a record low rate of 3.8 per cent in February, the privately funded study grant program aims to generate wealth and jobs for the State.

ILF grant recipients are awarded up to $50,000 to study at leading universities and develop their professional careers with the understanding that they will give back to the state by growing their businesses, spreading their knowledge and generating employment.

Chief executive officer of the ILF, Geoff Vogt said a survey of the ILF’s 261-member network showed companies involved in the program have collectively created 3450 jobs since the scheme began in 2010.

“The survey results prove that ILF Scholars are growing their businesses, fast-tracking employment in their sectors and generating wealth at the same time at a rate that well exceeds initial expectations,’’ Vogt said.

Grant applications for 2023 close on May 31.

– Max Bland