Local businesses invited to explore new work opportunities

Businesses in Wellington Shire including trades, maintenance, professional services, manufacturers and new enterprises can already deliver this work, but often don’t know which opportunities exist or how to access them.

To help bridge that gap, Council, in partnership with the Office of Defence Industry Support -(ODIS – Federal Government Department of Defence), will host a free Defence 101 information and networking event on Wednesday 25 March 2026, from 9am to 1pm, at the Wellington Room, upstairs at the Port of Sale (70 Foster Street, Sale).

With major organisations operating nearby, including RAAF Base East Sale, there is steady demand for trusted local suppliers across a wide range of everyday services. Many local businesses already have the capability, capacity and reliability required, and Defence, like many large organisations, actively looks to source goods and services locally wherever possible.

Wellington Shire Council Mayor Cr Cindy Madeley said the event is about opening doors and showing local operators where they fit. “Our Shire is full of skilled trades, service providers and specialist businesses who deliver quality work every day. Those skills are needed locally, and often by large organisations that people don’t automatically think of as customers. Defence prefers to buy local where it can, and many of our businesses are already a great fit - they just need to know how to get started.”

Businesses from any sector are encouraged to attend, including construction, electrical, mechanical, ICT, logistics, fabrication, consulting, cleaning, catering, printing, training and more. No prior Defence or government experience is required.

The event will include a short information session followed by opportunities to ask questions, connect with industry support partners and better understand how existing services or skills may align with new work opportunities. Light refreshments will be provided.

Registrations are free via Try Booking – https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1528478.

For more information, contact Kirsten Power, Economic Development Officer – Defence and Renewable Energy, at kirstenp@wellington.vic.gov.au.

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