This month, we’re so excited to share a date for your diary for our 2026 Symposium, plus two hands-on workshops designed to help local businesses grow: the Click. Book. Experience. Distribution Deep Dive Workshop and the Agritourism Farmer Workshop. You’ll also find industry updates, training opportunities, and funding insights to support your business and strengthen our region’s visitor economy. Remember, if you are keen to connect, please reach out to the team. We’re here to support you!
In this edition:
News & Announcements
Business & Skills Development, Resources, Events
Industry Insights
Grants & Funding Opportunities
SAVE THE DATE for our 2026 Visitor Economy Symposium!
We’re thrilled to announce that the 2026 DSSS Symposium will be held on 27 May 2026 at the beautiful new Crowne Plaza Shell Cove Marina! Stay tuned for more details…we can’t wait to bring everyone together for another awesome event!
💻 Click. Book. Experience. The Distribution Deep Dive Workshop
Join us for an interactive workshop + networking session designed to break down the often-confusing world of distribution. Whether you’re a small accommodation provider, an experienced operator, or just starting to sell online, this session will give you the practical tools you need to take action.
Understand what “distribution” really means — in plain language
Learn how OTAs (Online Travel Agents) and Channel Managers work (and what they cost)
Make your product bookable and visible online
Hear real case studies from local operators
Get practical tips from Tourism Australia, Destination NSW, and local experts
Join live panel discussions and networking sessions with industry suppliers
Take home tools and checklists to help you get started right away
Interested in diversifying your farm through agritourism? Join us for a hands-on workshop with Tourism Australia and Destination NSW, hear real stories from local farmers, and connect with like-minded producers.
📍 Robertson | 📅 Monday 17 November 2025 | 🎟️ Free to attend
The NSW Export Strategy Workshop – Wine and Spirits will assist NSW wine and distillery businesses to optimise their long-term exporting strategy. The workshop will help businesses to develop a targeted and focused export strategy as they embark on the next stage of their export journey.
The workshop will address the following topics to enhance participant’s export knowledge and capability:
Exporters growth stage and capacity for scalability.
How to identify key focus markets that offer the best product fit.
Key steps to developing a sustainable export strategy.
How to develop and advance export goals and ambitions for the wine and distillery sector.
An interactive wine and distillery panel session.
The workshop is brought to you by Investment NSW and the Export Council of Australia (ECA).
📍 Online | 📅 Thursday 13 November 2025 | 🎟️ Free to attend
Inbound Strategy Workshops — Sydney & Online (Free!)
Build your export-ready strategy and learn how to work with the inbound travel trade. If you missed Southern Highlands or other in-person dates, the online session is a great catch-up option.
Sydney workshop:Thursday 30 October 2025 — Register here
Online (Zoom):Thursday 6 November 2025 — Register here
You’ll learn: understanding international markets, tailoring experiences, working with distributors (OTAs & ITOs), and the steps, tools and processes to start selling internationally. Workshops include case studies, activities, and networking.
eeger is live – free job advertising!
eeger is the first-of-its-kind central hub designed to power the future of our workforce. Whether you’re hiring, training, or developing your workforce, eeger brings together jobs, careers, training opportunities, and industry resources, all in one place. Enjoy free job advertising throughout 2025 and reach over 6,000 registered job seekers ready to connect with your business. Create an employer profile to showcase your brand, attract future talent, and help shape eeger into the complete workforce solution our industry needs.
Applications are open for the Regional Nighttime Economy Program
There’s a new pilot program from 24-Hour Economy NSW that combines grant funding, tailored workshops, and ongoing support to help bring more colour, connection and energy to regional centres after dark. The program is open to collectives of six or more local businesses who want to collaborate and make their town centre or precinct more vibrant together.
The WorkTransit Alliance—a collaboration between the Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program regions of Murray Riverina, Capital, and Illawarra South Coast—has engaged Sparrowly Group to research and better understand transport-related barriers to employment across the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, and Bega Valley. Employers, employees, and jobseekers are invited to share their experiences to help build the evidence needed to advocate for improved transport connections and job access in our region. Each survey takes just five minutes: Employee | Employer | Job Seeker.
Applications are open for the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award
The AgriFutures Australia Rural Women’s Award is a prestigious national program that supports and celebrates women driving positive change in rural and regional Australia. Open to women aged 18 + who are Australian citizens or permanent residents and who lead an existing project, business or program, the Award offers a $15,000 grant for each state/territory winner and, for the national winner, an additional $20,000. Applications close on 7 November.
NSW Night-Time Economy Insights – June Quarter 2025
The latest NSW Night-Time Economy Insights Report provides a quarterly snapshot of how night-time industries are performing across the state — including trends in spending, visitation, and mobility. Produced by the NSW Government, the report benchmarks performance across six key regions: Eastern, Central, and Western Sydney; Central Coast; Lower Hunter & Greater Newcastle; and Illawarra–Shoalhaven.
In the Illawarra–Shoalhaven region, night-time activity showed steady growth through the June 2025 quarter, with increased mobility and spending supported by tourism and hospitality recovery. Movement between Wollongong, Shellharbour, and Nowra remained consistent, and the region continues to rank as one of NSW’s more stable night-time economies.
Applying for a grant – key tips from the Community Grants Hub
Thinking of applying for a government grant? The Community Grants Hub has a helpful guide that walks you through each step — from getting grant ready and finding opportunities, to writing a strong application and meeting eligibility requirements.
It explains how to plan your project, address assessment criteria effectively, and ensure all supporting evidence is in place. You’ll also find links to checklists, video guides, and extra resources to make the process smoother.
The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant program runs separately, however complements the Rural Women’s Award process as discussed earlier in this newsletter, aiming to provide a leadership and development opportunity to women who are not quite ready to apply for the Award.
Seven Australian women per annum will be granted with a learning and development bursary of up to $7,000 for professional development to enable them to bring their idea, cause or vision to life.
The Rural Women’s Acceleration Grant is one of many AgriFutures Australia initiatives ensuring our rural industries prosper now, and into the future.
Thank you for taking the time to read this update.
Don’t forget between our updates you’ll find us on socials, head over to follow us onLinkedInand you’ll also find us onInstagram.
We also encourage you to share our updates with your networks, simply forward this email and they can register here.
Talk soon, The DSSS team
Destination Sydney Surrounds South acknowledges the Aboriginal Nations and Aboriginal People of the Sydney Surrounds South region as the traditional carers and custodians of the land that we all now live and work on. We pay our respect to Elders past and present. Destination Sydney Surrounds South values the diversity of this region and works in partnership with local Aboriginal communities to respectfully celebrate and share Aboriginal culture with visitors to the region and also with locals who live here.
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