http:// 2013-06-19T08:43:47Z 2013-06-19T08:43:47Z developer-warns-mandurah-real-estate-prices-cannot-stay-this-low-much-longer

Mandurah, WA, June 19, 2013 - 4Land Property Group, based in Perth, is responsible for developing the highly successful Natures Walk Estate in Erskine, Mandurah. In a recent blog post on their website, they offered research regarding the amenities and economic prospects of Mandurah--now and in the future.In 1976, Mandurah was a sleepy little fishing village with a population of 12,700. It was Australia's 60th most populous “urban” area. By the 2011 Census, the population of Mandurah had reached 83,300. Mandurah is now the second-largest city in Western Australia, and the 22nd most populous urban area as of 2012.Many factors are cited for Mandurah's growth. It is known as a popular “sea change” destination, and the railway built between Mandurah and Perth has made the area even more attractive to Perth residents.The mining boom, which has benefited WA greatly, has provided a huge influx of residents to Mandurah who work in the mining and resource industries within the  numerous mines that our located two hours’ drive or less from Mandurah. Many fly-in fly-out or drive-in-drive-out workers have bought homes in Mandurah.In addition, Mandurah is a popular destination for day-trippers, thanks to numerous new restaurants, shops and amenities such as zoos, whale-/ dolphin-watching tours and world-class fishing and crabbing.This influx of residents and visitors has created numerous jobs in the tourist and service industries and has created a need for larger infrastructure, and so more and more facilities are being built to provide services and goods to the fast-growing population.Besides “sea change” residents, Mandurah is very popular with downsizers and retirees, with 21.2% of its citizens aged 65 or older. This gives Mandurah WA's largest ratio of those aged 65 and over.Mandurah's population is projected by many to double in size, possibly as early as 2031, and the local Council is busy planning projects to take Mandurah into the future by developing numerous economic opportunities designed to “keep up” with the current growth pattern.Among these projects is the Mandurah Traffic Bridge which is slated to be replaced. In fact. Mandurah’s entire infrastructure of roads and highways is subject to ongoing review with many discussions on how to keep traffic flowing in, out, and through Mandurah as the population continues to grow.In addition, the Peel Health Campus is currently undergoing a $75 million expansion. Peel Health Campus is the Peel Region's second-largest employer, and the expansion is slated to nearly double the amount of jobs provided to the community.Dave Gillon, Sales Manager for Natures Walk Estate, agrees with the overall assessment of Mandurah's prospects for growth: “Mandurah is the fastest-growing regional city in WA, and for good reason. People move here to be closer to the water, to parks, and numerous amenities, without the hectic large city lifestyle.”Gillon continued, “Our planned community is perfect for downsizers and retirees. The houses are sized perfectly for couples and boast a modern, spacious design. Natures Walk is quiet and serene yet is within 10 minutes of shopping centres, medical care, entertainment, and every amenity residents could need.”Gillon concluded: “If you are even thinking of moving here, now is the time to make the move. Mandurah properties are priced far below similar properties in other markets, but it can't last forever.”Natures Walk Estate has currently eight house and land packages remaining for sale in Mandurah. For more information, call (08) 9301 4445 or visit their website: http://www.natureswalk.com.au/.

2013-06-19T03:32:55Z perth-property-developer-warns-land-buyers

Perth, Western Australia, June 19, 2013 - Recently, 4Land Property Group provided readers of their blog with a six-step blueprint for selecting land on which to build a home.4Land Property Group is a successful Perth property developer, offering both lots and house and land packages.  They have helped downsizers, first-home buyers, families, and investors buy new properties for well below the median value for established homes in their property markets.In response to some common questions from potential buyers, 4Land Property Group compiled a list of what they consider to be the six important factors when choosing the correct land block. LocationPreferred locations are close to amenities, such as shopping and parks, with schools being important for those with children. Public transport is another consideration for many. For those in the workforce, it is important to choose a location with an easy commute to work.Size and ShapeThe size and shape of a property block determines the price. It also determines what kind of house can be built there. The most common mistake made by first-home buyers is buying too large a lot and over-stretching their budget. In many cases, 4Land Property Group recommends that first-home buyers purchase a smaller lot and use one of the space-efficient home designs currently offered by many builders.Survey Strata Titled or Green TitledGreen titled land is very straightforward; the owner has full ownership and control of everything within their boundaries. However, survey strata titled land forces the owner to share part of their land with their neighbour or neighbours. Besides the potential for dissension between neighbours, survey strata titled land can also generate hidden maintenance fees, thus raising the monthly cost of the property.SetbacksSetbacks determine the distance between the road and the front of the house. Many titles and estates are rigid, where some are flexible. 4Land Property Group recommends that buyers always know their setback distance and use it to determine whether or not they can have the house design and the backyard they want before purchasing.IncentivesMany developers offer incentives, such as free landscaping or free fencing. This can save buyers a lot of money. 4Land Property Group recommends always asking the sales agent whether the developer is offering incentives.Building guidelines and covenantsVirtually every land estate has rules that must be followed and are not subject to negotiation. These can be as simple as what paint colours can be used on the house and its peripherals, or how long the buyer has to finish building a home after buying the land.It is mandatory that any buyer fully understands the rules in any estate before purchasing land there.Lauren O'Connor, Marketing Manager of 4Land Property Group, compiled the information and was happy to offer it to potential buyers: “We offer many different options in the Perth and WA markets, but what's right for one may not be right for another.”O'Connor continued, “Buying a home and choosing the right block of land is the most important decision many people will ever make; we want them to make the right choice.”Uniqueness and affordability are what 4Land Property Group, a successful developer of land estates, specialises on.  Their communities across Western Australia are carefully planned to accommodate varying lifestyles and budgets. Call Lauren O'Connor on (08) 9301 4445 for more information.

2013-06-19T03:17:20Z red-planet-software-releases-mobile-application-for-insurance-premium-providers

June 19, 2013. Brisbane, Australia. Red Planet Software, a leading provider in Premium Funding and Professional Fee Funding applications, today announced the release of its iPhone application for its Odyssey Premium Funding solutions. The iPhone application will enable all funders, brokers and insurers that use Red Planet’s solution greater flexibility for processing and approving premium funding for their clientele. The application provides premium funding repayment calculations and integrates with real-time approval processes, and electronic client authorisations. This will significantly reduce the time it takes to process applications and streamline the associated administrative tasks involved. The new mobile technology is seamlessly integrated with back office financing and banking systems and delivers a complete end-to-end solution from broker to client to funder. The Red Planet application is the next step in enhancing its cloud based and mobile solutions for the financial services industry. “We’re excited to see the rollout of this application to our clients. It gives them the flexibility to be more mobile and responsive to client needs,” says Peter Williams, CEO of Red Planet Software. “We continually aim to deliver innovative solutions to our clients and this app will enable give their teams the technology at their fingertips.” Red Planet Software has worked closely with leading Funding provider organisations to deliver this mobile application. It is available to all current clientele and new Premium Loan Funders, Insurers and Brokers on request. (Not available in the App Store). For further information, please contact Red Planet Software on +61 7 3376 6214 or email info@redplanetsoftware.com. For a demonstration of the iPhone application, please click here.

2013-06-19T01:20:01Z noventus-celebrates-its-4th-year

Noventus Pty Ltd is celebrating its 4th year in the Professional Services sector. As one of the fastest growing project management, engineering, ICT and logistics companies in Australia, Noventus now operates in all states and territories of Australia with a balanced portfolio spanning the Defence, Aerospace (Air Traffic Management), Government, Telecommunications, Rail and Resources sectors. With a client base which includes a number of blue-chip local and international prime systems integrators, State and Federal Government clients, Noventus has emerged as a next generation professional services company with a refreshing approach. The Noventus owner and Managing Director - Keith Armstrong - says that "... our core belief in business ethics and treating our staff and clients respectfully is one of the reasons for our modest success - it's not just about us. So we are now achieving superior levels of client and employee satisfaction that result in client and employee referrals becoming a significant source of new business and staff. Our Australia wide footprint is also a testimony to our capability and capacity to deploy anywhere with small to large teams."As a former Defence Systems Engineer and Systems Integrator, Keith Armstrong has also established an in-house Research & Development (R&D) capability currently focussed on Test Automation which was a spin off from their Air Traffic Management line of business. "... as Test Automation is a service which is transferable across multiple sectors (and it assists our clients to become better, faster and cheaper), we see this is a key differentiator in the market place." Noventus is set to remain a forceful contender in the future with multi-million dollar forward orders as well as tier one membership in several Government panels which include:SEA 1000 Future Submarines Victorian State Government eServices Rapid Prototyping Development and Evaluation (RPDE) Defence Materiel Organisation Support Services (DMOSS) Defence Support Group (DSG) Electro Mechanical CAD Design Services For more information on Noventus services connect via LinkedIn at au.linkedin.com/in/noventus/.About Noventus Noventus is a Project Management, ICT, Logistics and Engineering advisory services company that has established itself as a leading provider of capability improvement to Government, Defence, Telecommunications, Resources and Rail clients. These services are also supported by allied capabilities such as Business Analysis, Architecture Development, Integration and Test, Change Management, Process Improvement, Commercial Management / Procurement Management Project Controls / Earned Value Management, and Managed Services

2013-06-18T01:24:34Z merger-furthers-community-cps-growth-plans

Leading national credit union Community CPS Australia continues its strong record of growth through mergers, with regional Credit Union Alliance One to join the Community CPS Group next month. Members of regional South Australian Credit Union Alliance One voted on Monday 17 June to merge with Community CPS, effective 1 July 2013, in a vote of confidence in the merged entity’s ability to provide a strong alternative in the banking sector. Community CPS Chief Executive Officer Robert Keogh said the new entity would result in more than 200,000 members across SA, WA, ACT and NSW, with assets under management of $4 billion. As one of Australia’s four largest credit unions, the merger positions the Community CPS Group for further growth and reinforces its commitment to regional South Australia. The current branch network will expand from metropolitan Adelaide to Gawler, Port Augusta and now includes Alliance One branches in Clare, Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Roxby Downs. Mr Keogh said the merger would enable the business to better compete in a challenging financial market for the benefit of all members. "The Alliance One members have recognised that a larger entity will be able to better invest in providing a wide range of products and services and I’m pleased to welcome them to the Community CPS Group," he said. "The merger brings together two credit unions with very similar values – both are firmly focused on creating and returning value to members and they both believe in supporting the communities in which their members live and work. Mr Keogh said the CPS Group had steadily grown over the past four years through prudent management of its business and through mergers, most recently in Wagga and the Hunter Valley. 　 About THE COMMUNITY CPS AUSTRALIA GROUP Three-time winner of Money magazine’s Credit Union of the Year award (2012, 2008) and Best Credit Union (2005) and winner of the Mozo People’s Choice Award for Best Credit Union (2012), the Community CPS Australia Group is one of the largest customer owned financial institutions in Australia. With assets under management approaching $4 billion, the Credit Union employs 598 staff across 46 branches to service more than 186,000 members. Community CPS is located in South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory, and operates as Wagga Mutual Credit Union in Wagga Wagga, Companion Credit Union in the Hunter Valley and United Community Credit Union in Western Australia. The Group comprises activities in banking, the community (through the Community CPS Foundation) and professional services (wealth management, tax and accounting services via Eastwoods). For more information visit www.communitycps.com.au. 　 　 About ALLIANCE ONE CREDIT UNION Alliance One Credit Union provides banking and lending services to northern South Australians through its branches in Whyalla, Clare, Port Lincoln and Roxby Downs. It has 16,000 members, total assets of $233 million and employs 53 staff. For more information visit www.a1cu.com.au.

2013-06-17T23:49:09Z major-global-construction-company-brookfield-multiplex-to-implement-ifs-applications

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, JUNE 18, 2013 – IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that international construction, development, engineering and infrastructure firm Brookfield Multiplex has selected IFS Applications for project ERP (enterprise resource planning). The contract is initially for 1,750 users of a broad spectrum of IFS Applications functionality. The contract includes licenses and services valued at AUD $4 million.Brookfield Multiplex is headquartered in Australia and operates in eight countries, employing 3,368 people. The company has won more than 500 awards and has completed 793 projects valued at $54 billion. Significant projects include the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Toronto, the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Australia, Strata SE1 in London and the Dubai Marina. IFS Applications will be used to address, initially, several areas of the business including contract and product portfolio management, project profitability, financials and reporting. As these and other parts of the business work to pursue major projects on an international basis, IFS Applications will enable Brookfield Multiplex to leverage its global knowledge and resource base to win and successfully deliver projects. Other components to be implemented include IFS Touch Apps, e invoice, CRM, IFS Talk, HSE and Rostering. The implementation will be driven and managed by IFS Australia and will commence in July 2013.“IFS is uniquely positioned to help a global construction company of this calibre profitably manage project deliverables, collaborate with vendors and enhance customer satisfaction,” IFS Australia Managing Director Rob Stummer said. “We are also uniquely positioned to ensure a successful implementation, having proven our capabilities through our work for Brookfield Multiplex’s parent and sister companies in the UK and North and South America.”The construction, contracting and infrastructure industry is an IFS targeted vertical market. IFS offers a complete and integrated business solution that manages the entire contract lifecycle – design, procure, manufacture, build, construct and install, commission, maintain and service, spares and supply chain, repair, refurbish, and disposal.IFS Applications includes functionality for contract and project management, risk management, project budgeting and forecasting, finance and project accounting, resource planning, scheduling and optimisation, asset and service management, spares management, mobile solutions for site work, call and case management including SLA, all fully integrated with human resources and document management. IFS customers in the Construction, Contracting and Infrastructure industry include Alliance Contracting, Brierty, Contiga, Graham, Technip, Hertel, Debut Services, Fabcon, Babcock Group, Agility Group, Heerema Fabrication Group, Clancy Docwra, Damen Shipyards, Seadrill, Eltel Networks and Infratek.About Brookfield MultiplexBrookfield Multiplex is a leading global contractor responsible for creating landmark buildings and infrastructure projects in Australia, the Middle East, Europe, India and Canada.Established in 1962, it has delivered almost 800 projects with a combined value of more than US$52 billion (AU$54 billion). It has expertise across the residential, health, retail, commercial, education and engineering infrastructure sectors.With over 500 industry awards, Brookfield Multiplex is known for delivering on time and on budget. By thinking like an owner and understanding clients’ unique requirements, it enables long-term, cost-effective outcomes that add real value to projects.About IFS IFS is a public company (XSTO: IFS) founded in 1983 that develops, supplies, and implements IFS Applications™, a component-based extended ERP suite. IFS focuses on industries where management of any of the following four core processes is strategic: service & asset, manufacturing, supply chain, and projects. The company has 2,100 customers and is present in approximately 60 countries with 2,800 employees in total. More information on IFS is available at www.IFSWORLD.com  Follow us on Twitter: @ifsworldVisit the IFS Blogs on technology, innovation and creativity: http://blogs.ifsworld.com/

2013-06-16T22:50:00Z the-eofy-countdown-has-begun-avoid-last-minute-paperwork-blues

17 June 2013 The EOFY countdown has begun: avoid last-minute paperwork blues If you’re a small or medium business operator nervously counting down to the end of the financial year (EOFY), MYOB encourages you to take action now to help yourself avoid last-minute paperwork blues. With less than one month to go, the time to get organised starts… now! If you spent the final hours of last June tackling piles of paperwork, reconciling receipts and clocking up rushed conversations with your accountant or bookkeeper – there’s a better way to bring in the new financial year. Don’t wait until ‘crunch time’ MYOB CEO Tim Reed says, “Managing a business can take up the majority of your waking hours. It’s tempting to delay the not so exciting aspects, such as bookkeeping, until crunch time. Lack of preparation is one of the key reasons why many business owners and their loved ones dread the end of financial year. “A solution like MYOB LiveAccounts or AccountRight Live acts as a virtual assistant by automating many aspects of your financial management, such as automatically feeding your business bank transactions into your software. You can view your financial situation in-depth or at a glance, and reduce time spent on manual data entry. This means more time for growing the business and enjoying life outside work.” Michael Bagshaw, owner of finance, consulting and wealth protection business Statewide Business, says, “It’s never too late to get a head start on paperwork as the new financial year approaches. “It’s understandable that even some of the most practical tactics to beat the paperwork blues get lost in the daily grind, when business owners wear so many hats. However, if they’re put into action now it is still possible to start the new financial year with a firm foundation and move forward with confidence and clarity.” Mr Bagshaw has prepared these eight tips to help businesses plan for a happier new financial year: Know your tax and superannuation obligations. Prefer to be buddies with the ATO and your financial institution? Well, keep your GST, PAYG and staff superannuation obligations up-to-date. Tracking these obligations through accounting software such as MYOB AccountRight Live is pretty straightforward. Just as importantly, allocating payments correctly and keeping records up-to-date helps you maintain an accurate balance sheet. Review your bookkeeping systems. A pile of confusing receipts, unfiled invoices and no system to manage them is not a good way to make a healthy business. Haven’t documented your bookkeeping procedures? Thankfully your accounting software contains a list of helpful steps to follow. Documented procedures are particularly beneficial if multiple people manage one role (such as admin or finance), and they reduce duplication and errors. The most important thing you can do is reconcile each account monthly in your balance sheet. Start planning your tax. Your accountant should be all over this as soon as the March quarter passes. By late March/early April you will have the first nine months of business information at your fingertips, making it relatively easy to estimate what your tax situation will look like in the April to June quarter. Tax planning should be long-term - the decisions you make today may impact your business for years to come. For example, do you want a tax deduction on your superannuation contributions? Take action prior to June 30. Be in the know about cash flow. Don’t have a cash flow update? Get one! Cash flow monitoring is critical to any business. So is monitoring it regularly – monthly as a minimum and daily at best. Many failed businesses show a profit but run out of cash. Why? They fail to manage costs or anticipate rising costs. An ideal way to ensure you achieve sound cash flow management is to use up to date accounting software. See your business structure with a set of fresh eyes. This is another discussion to have with your accountant. It’s helpful to ask questions such as: a) Is my current structure right for me? b) How should I structure my business to protect my assets? c) How should I structure my business long-term? Start thinking about succession planning as early as you can too - the right structure can help simplify this process. Update your business plan. Your business plan helps clarify what your business should and shouldn't be doing. It sets out how and why you run your business, and includes everything from how you promote and fund it through to who your ideal customer is. A plan will enable you to answer some or all of these questions: Is my business model sustainable? Should I be doing more online? How can I best combat my competitors? Can I better allocate my resources? What’s the smart way to increase the value of my business, long-term? Review your business finances. Get your qualified finance broker or your lending institution to review your finances to ensure you are getting the best return on your investment. Pertinent questions include: a) Are my assets financed to match the life of the asset? Do I have adequate cash flow to service my loan(s)? What is my interest rate, and is there a better deal or a different type of loan available to lower my costs? Review your personal insurances. Often it’s not until things go wrong that business owners discover their personal insurances, such as life insurance, income protection and trauma insurance, are out of date or, at worst, missing in action! Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for tax deductions. A discussion with your insurance broker and/or your accountant will help, as will taking time to compare deals online. Visit http://myob.com.au/EOFY for a summary of major tax changes, helpful tips, resources and more. -ends- For further comment or other information please contact:Angely Grecia, MYOB Public Relations Consultant Symon Madry, Haystac Public AffairsP: 02 9089 9071 / M: 0449 169 997 P: 02 8094 7779 / M: 0409 919 508 E: angely.grecia@myob.com E: myob@haystac.com.au About MYOBEstablished in 1991, MYOB is now Australia’s largest business management solutions provider. It simplifies accounting, payroll, tax, CRM, websites, job costing, inventory management and much more for businesses of all ages, types and sizes. Over one million businesses in Australia and New Zealand have used one or more of MYOB’s 50+ products and services. Today, its solutions extend online, delivering innovation through cloud computing. This enables its clients to be more productive and make smarter connections with staff, business partners, business advisors and customers. With a network of 20,000+ accountants, bookkeepers, certified consultants and other professional partners, MYOB provides support and tools that help make business life easier. Visit: http://myob.com.au/smarterconnections.

2013-06-16T21:08:15Z prediction-markets-rudd-would-double-labor-s-election-chances

Key points: - The Labor Party’s failure to reinstate Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister on March 21 has cost the party dearly. Labor’s election chances have roughly halved over the past three months. - Labor would still to gain strongly from a Rudd return, at least doubling its chance of victory in September. - However, prediction markets are split on whether this basic political arithmetic will be enough to sway caucus, giving Rudd and Gillard an equal chance of leading Labor on election day. As the Labor Party enters what will likely be its last Parliamentary session in power, basic political arithmetic is forcing caucus members to once again consider reinstating Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister.  According to prediction markets, reinstating Rudd would see the probability of an ALP election victory jump to almost 20 per cent, at least double the chance enjoyed by a Gillard-led Government.[1]  The failure to restore Kevin Rudd’s Prime Ministership on March 21 has cost Labor dearly. The long hoped-for turnaround in the polls has failed to appear for Gillard, and Labor’s chance of winning the election has halved from almost 25 per cent (recorded in the hour following the March 21 announcement of a leadership ballot), to its current level of close to 12 per cent.  At the time of March’s aborted leadership challenge, prediction markets believed that a Rudd return would boost Labor’s election chance to 30 per cent.  However, Labor’s perceived chances under Rudd have now fallen to just under 20 per cent, suggesting that Labor’s underlying position has deteriorated to the point that Rudd cannot be relied upon to deliver the same ‘bounce’ as might have been the case had he been reinstated in March. This could reflect a number of factors, including the possibility that the aborted leadership challenge damaged Labor’s brand, or because there is now less time for Labor to rebuild community support before the election.Nevertheless, markets still believe that Labor would gain significantly from the reinstatement of Rudd, with our estimates suggesting that a Gillard-led Government would have less than a 1 in 10 chance of victory in September, under half that offered by Rudd.  So while a Rudd return may not be enough to ensure victory, at the very least Rudd would boost Labor’s primary vote and minimise the scale of Labor’s loss. The political logic for a leadership change also remains compelling – the associated prospect of mere survival may be enough for marginal seat members to support Rudd’s return, and members in safer seats will know that minimising their time in opposition will require saving as many seats as possible. However, markets remain split on whether this basic political arithmetic will ultimately sway the caucus, giving Rudd and Gillard a roughly equal chance of leading the party on election day. Unfortunately for Labor, the next two weeks seems likely to be the final chance it gets to roll the Rudd dice. [1] By combining the predictions from different betting markets, it is possible to make conditional predictions: that is, to ask the question of what will happen if Labor takes any particular leader to the election.

2013-06-12T12:24:03Z millennius-becomes-first-online-retailer-to-accept-bitcoin-and-litecoin-in-australia

Leading Australian online consumer electronics retailer Millennius today announced it is the first major Australian online retailer to accept Bitcoin as a payment mechanism. Bitcoin is a digital currency that enables instant payments over the Internet. Unlike credit cards and PayPal, Bitcoin has no central authority and no way to lock entire countries out of the network. Merchants who accept Bitcoin payments can do business with anyone. Millennius Founder Pierre Boutros said Millennius was always looking for ways to make purchasing online easier for consumers, both in Australia and throughout the world.  “Bitcoin is becoming a far more common payment mechanism for online transactions, with many global online businesses adding the functionality,” Mr Boutros said.  “We’re proud to be the first major Australian online retailer offering the Bitcoin payment system and we look forward to it making our growth in the new markets in the US and the UK later this year even easier,” he said.  All products in the Millennius site are now available for purchase using Bitcoin. Credit card and Bank Transfer payment functionality also remain for those customers that prefer them.  “We’re also enabling a similar digital currency, Litecoin. For Litecoin transactions, customers will need to email litecoins@Millennius.com.au with the product they’re after and Millennius will respond to with its best rates within 24 hours,” Mr Boutros said.  Millennius believes it is the first online retailer globally to accept Litecoin payment through its site. “Millennius is all about creating great products at great prices, and offering the best deal on brand name consumer electronics. The addition of Bitcoin and Litecoin as payment options can only help with our ability to offer great deals to wider customer base,” Mr Boutros said.

2013-06-12T03:58:31Z monster-music-implores-readers-please-sign-the-commit-to-community-radio-petition

Perth, WA, June 12, 2013 - Last March, representatives of community radio stations all across Australia banded together to drum up support for a campaign to save digital community radio. The campaign, called Commit to Community Radio, is raising awareness of a $1.4 million shortfall in government funding to help community radio stations switch from analogue to digital. An estimated 37 community radio stations across Australia are considered to be at risk of being unable to switch over to digital broadcasting. Advocates of community radio cite the fact that approximately one in four Australians listens to community radio on a weekly basis, and are disappointed in last year’s budget cuts that resulted in a $1.4 million shortfall for community radio. If funding is not restored in the next budget, which is determined this May, many digital stations could go under. Stations considered to be in danger of closure include 3RRR in Melbourne, which garners 329,000 listeners every week to go with 14,000 subscribers, and Light Melbourne, which broadcasts to 364,000 listeners for FM, and another 158,000 for its digital channel each month. Noongar Radio in Perth, RPH in Adelaide, 4EB Global in Brisbane, and FBi in Sydney are also considered to be at risk. The Commit to Community Radio campaign has started an online petition, which currently claims 39,600 signees, as of this writing. Adrian Basso, President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, is grudgingly optimistic. He cites a positive and enthusiastic response to the petition and several meetings with key government figures as reasons for optimism. Basso also cites the National Cultural Policy, and it’s infusion of over $200 million into the arts as both encouraging and a possible indication the government may fully understand the importance of community radio to Australians. Danny Achurch, musician, teacher, and founder of Monster Music, hopes that every musician, student, teacher, and those who read his blog sign the petition and make their voices heard. Achurch has studied the numbers concerning this issue, and it is very surprising that the situation has become as dire as it is now. According to Achurch, “The money is there. The government is already giving $134 million to free-to-air TV stations in license rebates to help them convert to digital broadcasting. Meanwhile, community radio is only asking for $1.4 million. Since 25% of Australians listen to community radio on a weekly basis, the situation is even more ludicrous than it would appear, without context.” Achurch continued, “In addition, over $200 million is pledged to the new Creative Australia effort, and the Australian Music Radio Airplay Project (AMRAP) received $250,000 from the budget last year in a last-minute decision similar to this one. It cannot be denied that community radio is extremely important to the health of the Australian music scene. Most Australian artists get their first airplay on Australian community radio stations. Without this medium for exposure, much of the great work that is being done by Creative Australia will have been done in vain.” Achurch concluded, “If you care about Australian music and community radio, please take the time to visit the Commit to Community Radio website and sign the petition.” Monster Music provides drum, singing, guitar, and keyboard lessons in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and most Australian cities, as well as lessons on most popular instruments. To find out more about Monster Music, please visit their website: http://www.monstermusic.com.au/ or call 08 9335 8881.

2013-06-12T01:51:03Z ripple-suspended-massage

Ripple Massage has launched suspended massages to aid women who are victims of domestic violence. More information is at www.ripplemassage.com.au Ripple’s suspended massages borrow from the tradition of suspended coffee, which began in Naples about ten years ago. In essence, a “suspended coffee” – or caffe sospeso in Italian – is a cup of coffee that a customer buys anonymously for someone who can't afford to buy one themselves. The customer pays for the coffee in advance and the cafe “suspends” it, later making the coffee for someone who could needs it. Ripple is the first massage business in Australia to have extended this concept to the massage industry. The concept is simple. Any customer can simply add $5 to their massage booking (or simply donate $5) which will pay for a fifteen minute massage for a woman who has been subjected to domestic violence. Ripple Managing Director, Alison Shaw, believes that a big part of being a massage therapist is the concept of giving back to the community. The suspended massage is an extension of the “Ripple Effect” programme already run by Ripple. “At Ripple, we have a deep sense of gratitude for our good fortune to be able to do such beautiful work. The suspended massage is a way that the kindness, that has been shown to us, can be forwarded to women who are in desperate need for some positive touch,” said Ms Shaw. “The issue of domestic violence is one that is close to our hearts here at Ripple. In the past month, the opportunity to help three women who have been subjected to violence in the home has crossed our paths, and it has prompted us to expand out programme of giving massages to those in need on a wider scale,” she continued.  “Anyone can give a suspended massage. Simply call Ripple on 0438 567 906 to donate one, $5 will pay for a fifteen minute massage for a woman who has been subjected to domestic violence, or you can donate one online at www.ripplemassage.com.au . It’s that inexpensive and it’s that easy. It is a very simple concept that pays forward some of the kindness and good karma with which Ripple has been blessed.” Ripple provides a unique mobile day spa service to women, men and couples throughout the Gold Coast, Mt Tamborine, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Byron Bay, Hervey Bay, Melbourne, Yarra Valley, Great Ocean Road, Mornington Peninsula and Geelong regions. Also all Sydney, and Tasmania. For more information on Ripple or to make a booking please phone 0438 567 906 or visit the website www.ripplemassage.com.au -Ends- We welcome journalists trying out any of our massage styles, please contact us for details. High res pictures available. Alison Shaw - 0434 991 879     alison@ripplemassage.com.au         www.ripplemassage.com.au    Twitter : www.twitter.com/rippleali   Facebook : www.facebook.com/ripplemassage

2013-06-07T02:02:18Z cubewise-appoints-retail-analytics-manager

Cubewise is excited to announce the appointment of Peter Dailey to the position of Retail Analytics Manager. Peter is well known throughout the Retail industry as a seasoned professional and joins the Cubewise team with close to 20 years of experience working for iconic retailer, Target, where he was responsible for one of the largest TM1 systems, by data size and users in Australia. His solid understanding of the Retail channel includes experience in important areas, including Stores Management, Regional Sales Management, Stores Division Business Project Management, and Merchandise Systems Management. Peter’s appointment is an important enhancement of Cubewise’s well-established footprint across the Retail industry and will focus upon the growth area of Retail Analytics, which harnesses the power of large data sets in retail operations. Peter’s expertise of Retail combined with TM1 solutions represents a dynamic opportunity for retailers to convert this data into decision-assisting information that is capable of streamlining business processes and maximising operational efficiencies. When asked why he made the decision to join Cubewise Dailey commented, “they have a well-established retail client base, coupled with a deep level of expertise and ability to deliver not just solutions - but effective solutions to retailers”. He added, “the Cubewise approach is all about strategically enabling their clients to achieve their own solutions, and actively developing their knowledge and skills. For me, their goal of strategically building their clients’ success, and not viewing them as a means of revenue speaks volumes”. Cubewise director, Ben Heinl commented on Dailey’s appointment, “Peter’s combination of broad retail experience and real-world understanding of TM1 functionality represents a valuable addition to both our customers and staff”. He added, “Retail Analytics is a dynamic growth area, with an increasing number of retailers understanding how it can positively impact upon their intelligence infrastructure. With new additions of this calibre, Cubewise is well positioned to continue providing real and ongoing value to our customers”.

2013-06-06T06:46:03Z new-motor-insurance-brand-youi-achieves-most-recommended-status

Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing today released findings from their annual Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study for the motor insurance sector announcing the motor insurers most likely to impress their customers. With a Net Promoter Score of 14 per cent, Youi motor insurance customers are far more likely to recommend them to friends and colleagues. This is a great achievement for a relatively new player in the competitive motor insurance industry. Further illustrating the competitive nature of the industry, their closest competitor, with a score of 12 per cent, was the previous loyalty leader Apia. Engaged Marketing CEO Christopher Roberts said that Net Promoter Score is widely recognised by the world's leading organisations because it is one of the most accurate measures of customer advocacy. It's more robust than mere satisfaction, and importantly is a proven predictor of business growth. "This year's research shows 19 per cent of motor insurance sales are primarily sourced via recommendations from peers, making word of mouth a critical marketing channel in this category"  "Organisations need to ensure they offer an end-to-end positive experience, as every single negative comment made about a motor insurer requires around four to five other positive comments to negate the damage it causes," Mr Roberts said. In the motor insurance category the Australian category average only reached a score of a -8 per cent which pales in comparison to the +41 per cent achieved by the US, +8 per cent by UK, +4 per cent by France, and -4 per cent by Germany. A company's Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is based on customers' likelihood to recommend the company's product or service.   "In these times if you want to drive growth via loyalty and recommendation it is not enough to aim for mere customer satisfaction, you need to develop experiences and propositions that are worthy of recommendation," Mr Roberts said. And just in case you thought the importance of word of mouth had lost its edge, according to the Engaged Marketing study, recommendations from friends or family still has the greatest influence on purchase decisions by a mile with a staggering 51.9% of consumers choosing word of mouth as the greatest influence on their purchase decision in comparison to other marketing mediums.  "There has never been a more critical time to go back to basics and focus on the customer as opposed to the more common and much less effective strategy of cost-cutting. The continued strong utilisation of social media injects an additional element of urgency," he said. In the study 2,640 motor insurance customers were invited to rate their experiences. Results identified consumer likelihood to recommend a brand to others. Ten of the biggest motor vehicle insurers in Australia were assessed in the innovative study, including the loyalty leader Youi as well as AAMI, Allianz, Apia, Budget Direct, GIO, NRMA, RACQ, RACV and Suncorp.  Engaged Marketing is a business consultancy focused on helping businesses grow by developing fresh customer, marketing, and organisational strategies. Engaged Marketing is an approved Net Promoter® Loyalty Partner. The complete 2013 Motor Insurance Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study is available from Engaged Marketing. Net Promoter, NPS and Net Promoter Score are registered trademarks of Satmetrix Systems Inc., Bain & Company and Fred Reichheld.

2013-06-06T02:41:39Z life-insurance-direct-press-release-income-protection-insurance-from-as-little-as-1-0-of-your-salary

You can take out income protection insurance from as little as 1.0% of your salary according to leading life insurance comparison website Life Insurance Direct.

2013-06-05T23:20:38Z apia-wins-most-recommended-property-insurance-brand-for-the-fourth-time-in-a-row

Brisbane consulting firm Engaged Marketing today released findings from their annual Consumer Recommendation and Loyalty Study for the property insurance sector announcing the property insurers most likely to impress their customers. Apia maintained its winning streak within the property insurance sector once again with a Net Promoter Score of 13 per cent, crowning them the Australian property insurance loyalty leader four years running. Second place went to Suncorp with a score of 3 per cent. Engaged Marketing CEO Christopher Roberts said that Net Promoter Score is widely recognised by the world's leading organisations because it is one of the most accurate measures of customer advocacy. It's a higher measure than mere satisfaction, and importantly is a proven predictor of business growth. "This year's research shows 22 per cent of home insurance sales are primarily sourced via recommendations from peers, making word of mouth a critical marketing channel in this category"  It seems that Australian property insurers in general may have a lot to learn from their US counterparts in terms of providing great customer experiences. The Australian NPS category average was a disappointing -13 per cent compared to the impressive category average of +41 per cent achieved by the US. A company's Net Promoter Score, or NPS, is based on customers' likelihood to recommend the company's product or service."In these times if you want to drive growth via loyalty and recommendation it is not enough to aim for mere customer satisfaction, you need to develop experiences and propositions that are worthy of recommendation,"  Mr Roberts said. And just in case you thought the importance of word of mouth had lost its edge, according to the Engaged Marketing study, recommendations from friends or family still has the greatest influence on purchase decisions by a mile with a staggering 51.9% of consumers choosing word of mouth as the greatest influence on their purchase decision in comparison to other marketing mediums.  "There has never been a more critical time to go back to basics and focus on the customer as opposed to the more common and much less effective strategy of cost-cutting. The continued strong utilisation of social media injects an additional element of urgency," he said. In the study 2,422 property insurance policy owners were invited to rate their experiences. Results identified consumer likelihood to recommend a brand to others. Ten of the biggest property insurers in Australia were assessed in the innovative survey, including the loyalty leader Apia as well as AAMI, Allianz, Budget Direct, CGU, GIO, NRMA, RACQ, RACV and Suncorp.  Engaged Marketing is an insight driven business consultancy focused on helping businesses grow by developing fresh customer, marketing, and organisational strategies. Engaged Marketing is an official Net Promoter® Loyalty Partner. The complete 2013 Property Insurance Consumer Recommendation & Loyalty Study is available from Engaged Marketing. Net Promoter, NPS and Net Promoter Score are registered trademarks of Satmetrix Systems Inc., Bain & Company and Fred Reichheld.