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G'Day from AACC President, Jackie Yuen
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Dear AACC Members and Friends, As we experience the latest summer/winter solstice, it signifies we're at the halfway point of 2024! Crazy! While we have a relatively light calendar of events during the vacation months of July/August, we are gearing up for some exciting events in the 2nd half, so more to come. We've already announced the 12th Annual International Golf Scramble on October 3 and we're delighted to broaden our reach to include members from the Japanese, Filipino and Swedish communities. So sign up to play as well as check here for sponsorship opportunities. At the end of June, many AACC memberships will reach their anniversary, so we look forward to your renewals. For those who are not yet members, we offer both individual and business membership levels. From the Annual Australian Gala to Happy Hour networking events and member-only business panels and webinars, membership of the AACC provides many opportunities to network and improve business and social links throughout the year. Join our thriving community today and Become a Member now! And finally, a shout out to our generous and valued partner, United Airlines. They have some amazing deals to Australia that will be announced over the coming months so check out our social media pages to ensure you have access to the latest for your travel plans. As always, thank you for your support of the AACC.
With much gratitude,
Jackie |
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AACC Director, Helen Fairclough
... from the Victoria Desk
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Greetings from Melbourne! I'm back from an epic North American adventure, and while the words for this update were born in the USA, they’re finally hitting the screen in chilly Melbourne. The trip kicked off with a Melbourne Magic at Bluestone Lane in San Francisco with our Executive Director Mel for the SF Aussie Coffee Meet-up . Then it was a self-guided, four-week journey through the US, Canadian Rockies, and Alaska—stunning scenery and wildlife all the way. But I digress.
On the business front, Australia’s economy is sluggish - March quarter grew just 0.1% (annual growth 1.1%). GDP per capita declined for the 5th straight quarter, productivity is stagnating & new business investment down by 0.7 percent. Australia's unemployment rate remains about 4%. The budget predicts sluggish business investment growth at 2.5% this financial year and 2% next year.
In the Victorian housing sector, charges for domestic building insurance on new builds would increase by an average 53% from August, with builder insolvencies and company collapses as the main driver for the increase.
However there is some good news... Victoria’s digital technology industry is booming, generating over $34 billion in revenue and $3 billion in exports annually. The state is home to more than 22,500 ICT businesses and boasts a tech workforce of 279,000 employees. The outlook is mixed, though, with optimism about hiring new workers but neutral sentiment about the broader economy. Key growth barriers include product development costs, access to investment and capital, and skilled employees. Check out the VIC Digital Technology Fact Sheet.
So, what’s happening here? Winter mode is in full swing, and the annual Rising Festival is back, lighting up Melbourne’s streets & public spaces with new art, music, and performances.
August brings the 72nd Melbourne International Film Festival, featuring over 250 films from around the globe, including Didi 弟弟, a double-Sundance-winning film profiling a coming of age marked by Myspace and Motorola flip phones and set in the late 2000s in Fremont, California.
And let’s not forget sports—both codes of rugby are coming our way. The State of Origin Game II between the NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons will be at the iconic MCG, and Wales will face the Wallabies at AAMI Park for the first time in a decade.
That’s all for now. Chat again soon! |
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12TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL SCRAMBLE |
We are thrilled to welcome the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce and the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce as event partners for the 12th Annual International Scramble. It is shaping up to be a truly international tournament! Played in scramble format, the tournament will be a great opportunity to entertain clients, or reward employees. Get your foursome together today and head to the tournament website for more information. Sponsorship opportunities are available, which includes player foursomes. Please reach out to Melissa Zajic melissa@sfaussies.com if you are interested in joining us as a sponsor. |
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Cheers to a great night at the AACC Happy Hour on May 30th! We enjoyed some fantastic wine courtesy of Zilzie Wines and beers from Coopers Brewery as we caught up with mates, old and new! Thank you to Young Professional Member Lexie Werblow for providing a fantastic venue for this event. Join us for the next Happy Hour at the end of July. |
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Catching up with fellow Aussies over coffee at the June Meet up. We'll be back at Bluestone Lane in SOMA for July's meet up on the 19th. Where would you be interested in having a future coffee meet up outside the city? Let us know chamber@sfaussies.com. |
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LATEST NEWS FROM AACC MEMBERS |
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WELCOME NEW SMALL BUSINESS MEMBER - VISUAL TRAFFIC |
Visual Traffic is a boutique, full service creative agency based in Melbourne - Australia, but servicing the World!
Our bunch of talented crew bring enormous industry experience that allows us to focus and service Sport, Corporate, Retail/FMCG and Health where we have put smiles on the faces of all our clients.
We pride ourselves on offering an end to end opportunity or any where between, with our focuses on strategy, branding, marketing, design and print materials, digital presence be it website, organic social media or digital advertising.
At Visual Traffic, we solve problems and nurture growth and evolution of all sizes of business. Check out their work on the website for the SF Unicorns.
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WELCOME NEW SMALL BUSINESS MEMBER - SMATS GROUP |
2024 AUSTRALIAN BUDGET REVIEW |
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Co-founder and Managing Director of Australian Taxation Services and Chairman of SMATS Services, Steve Douglas, has once again used his expertise to dissect the Budget announcements and how these will affect Australian expats abroad and those looking to return home. The 2024 Australian Budget Review addresses the following issues: - Key insights in the Federal Budget announcement
- Analyse the revenue and expenditure priorities
- Evaluate how the budget may shape the economy
- The budget impact on Australians, expats, intended migrants and investors
- Assess the affect the budget may have on Australia's property markets
Click the link below to view this free webinar.
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SENDING MONEY TO THE U.S., AUSTRALIA, AND INTERNATIONALLY: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW |
Here are top tips for sending money overseas: - Don't use your bank. Banks typically charge hefty fees and high margins on the exchange rate.
- Find a reputable money transfer provider, like OFX, to get great exchange rates and swift delivery time.
- Stay on top of exchange rate fluctuations. Pay attention to upcoming central bank announcements or major elections.
- Use risk management tools. Forward Contracts let you lock in a rate for up to 12 months, so you can keep you budget intact.
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AACC members receive an exclusive offer on currency exchange rates. Check out the 'Mates Rates' below. |
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The AACC provides membership at both individual and business levels. From the Annual Australian Gala to Happy Hour networking events and business panels and webinars, membership of the AACC provides many opportunities to network and improve business and social links throughout the year. |
Join our thriving community today! |
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CHECK OUT 'MATES RATES' OFFERS |
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One of the perks of being an AACC member is having access to special offers, promotions and discounts. Log in to the member portal to access these 'Mates Rates'. |
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JOIN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY > |
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