As businesses prepare to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce Ballarat is providing practical steps to help.
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A new website will be launched this week to match employers to swap spare resources - a Facebook group is already active.
Titled Resource Connect, businesses with unused equipment during the crisis could get in touch with businesses that do need it, or businesses looking for trained casual staff could be shared with an employer worried about cutting hours.
Commerce Ballarat chief executive Jodie Gillett said the situation could worsen, which would put more strain on workers if childcare centres and schools close.
"What we envisage is perhaps an employer with five casuals with food handling certificates, and someone else might say we need five casuals with those certificates to bring in quickly to supplement my staff," she said.
"There's a lot of people in flight mode at the moment, it's all hitting, they're looking at how they're going to cope and support their staff."
She added Commerce Ballarat was running online workshops to help employers navigate the changed landscape this week, including with accountants, human resources specialists, and workplace relations legal experts.
The most important ones will be related to mental health, she said, on Thursday and Monday.
"It's really important, they're free to anyone to go and watch, and they'll be available to watch after as well," she said.
"Our concern is making sure our business community is supported and feels they have support from a wide area when they're dealing with such difficult times.
"Individuals or businesses, it's a time where we're all in a new space."
While some businesses may be able to change tactics quickly, not all will be able to as easily as the pandemic continues.
"The heartbreaking part for me, over the past few days, is seeing how devastating it is for business owners to say to casuals we can't give them any work," Ms Gillett said.
"The pressure, and emotional impact that's having, is huge.
"As a city, we really need to be caring for each other, everyone's being affected in one way or another."
The online workshops, as well as a host of other resources, are available on Commerce Ballarat's website.
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