Australia Post is calling for nominations to find its 2022 ‘Local Business Heroes’, with around A$285,000 (US$205,000) set to go toward helping local small businesses.
Nominations are open until March 25, with 57 Local Business Heroes to be named across the country in the middle of the year. Each of the winners will receive a “heroes package” worth up to A$5,000 (US$3,600), which includes tailored sending offers, increased exposure through Australia Post’s Post Office and mail networks, and exclusive access to business coaching services. To nominate their business for the program, small to medium-size business owners should visit their local post office to speak with the team.
Catriona Noble, executive general manager of retail at Australia Post, said the Local Business Heroes program highlighted the close relationships post offices have with customers and showed the ability and willingness of post office team members to support their local businesses.
“We have more than 4,300 post offices across Australia with over 2,500 of these in regional areas, and our post office team members help local businesses connect with their customers and access essential services like banking, every day,” she said. “The Local Business Heroes program is a fantastic way to continue that support and build on these established relationships, to help our local businesses thrive and give back to our communities.”
Simone Hubble, a 2021 Local Business Hero who runs Happy Hubble Australia, a homegrown therapy and sensory toy store for children with autism, said, “I am truly grateful that my local post office team believed in me and my dream by nominating me for the Local Business Hero program last year. Their support enabled us to build greater awareness of our brand and support more families of kids with autism and ADHD.”