Regional New South Wales is now home to Australia's first nationally-accredited Introduction to Distillery Safety course, delivered through a unique collaboration between industry, government and a national registered training organisation.

The course is designed to meet the expanding needs of craft distillers, setting a new benchmark for safety and professionalism in one of Australia's most dynamic sectors. It ensures distillers and their teams are equipped with practical knowledge in workplace health and safety, with a focus on regulatory compliance and hands-on application, with participants receiving an industry-first, nationally-recognised Statement of Attainment.

Co-convenors of NSW Distillers Association, Eddie Brook (chief executive, Cape Byron Distillery) and Christian Young (co-founder, Lord Howe Island Distilling Co.), expressed pride in what the initiative has delivered since its commencement earlier this year.

“We are proud that this initiative not only addresses skills shortages but does so in a way that reflects the industry’s values of collaboration, regional equity, and innovation,” said Brook.

“This program clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when industry, government, and education providers work in true partnership,” Young added.

Four in-person training sessions were delivered in the Northern Rivers, Southern Tablelands, Hunter Region, and Shoalhaven from March to April attracting strong regional participation from 54 students, representing 46 distilleries across New South Wales.

For many small and emerging distilleries, this was the first opportunity to train staff in a program specifically tailored to their workplace environment. The course is helping build a safer, more confident workforce and opens clear pathways for further vocational training in areas such as business operations, sensory analysis, and advanced distilling techniques.

This program directly supports the Australian Distillers Association’s national vision for a safer, better-educated workforce. It positions New South Wales as a national leader in craft distillery safety standards, strengthening the industry’s professionalism and contributing to its long-term sustainability.

The Introduction to Distillery Safety course is proudly delivered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Department of Education under the Targeted Workforce Development Scheme, in collaboration with NSW Distillers Association (a division of Australian Distillers Association) and the National Distilling Institute.

Key Insights from the Archie Rose eCommerce Webinar with Will Edwards

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent NSW | ACT Distillers eCommerce webinar, hosted by Will Edwards of Archie Rose. For those who couldn’t make it here are some key takeaways.

1. Avoid Custom Websites:

2. Value of E-Commerce:

3. Mailing List is Key:

4. Pre-Sale Subscriptions:

5. Segment Your Mailing List:

6. Managing Inventory with E-Commerce:

7. Lessons from Early Mistakes:

Calling all distillers! The Sydney Royal Easter Show, Australia’s largest annual ticketed event, is just around the corner. With over 854,000 attendees on average, this is a prime opportunity to showcase your spirits, connect with new customers, and build brand awareness. Whether you’re launching a new product or growing your customer base, the Sydney Royal Easter Show provides unmatched exposure.

Exhibitor opportunities are still available—find out more below.

FIND OUT MORE

A huge congratulations to all the winners at the inaugural Sydney Royal Distilled Spirits Show, hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW. With 14 champions crowned across categories ranging from traditional gin to single malt whisky, it was a showcase of the remarkable talent and passion across Australia’s distilling scene.

Highlights include:

The competition saw over 270 entries, with 88% of those entries receiving medals, a testament to the quality being produced by Australian distillers. For those craving more details, all the results can be found below.

RESULTS

October is NSW Small Business Month—a fantastic opportunity to sharpen your skills, network, and expand your knowledge. This year’s program includes a range of events tailored to help small businesses thrive, plus a series of expos taking place across eight regions. Whether you're looking for networking opportunities or expert-led workshops, NSW Small Business Month has something for you.

Explore the full program and register below.

FULL PROGRAM

A massive thank you to Cam Hogan, founder of Dollars Making Sense and CFO for hire, for delivering a fantastic webinar on financial mastery. The presentation made navigating the world of dollars and cents feel much easier. If you missed it or want a refresher, the slides are available here.

Check out Destination NSW website as they deliver online webinars that offer ‘how-to’ insights on a range of topics for visitor economy businesses.

Events Run By Destination NSW

The NSW Visitor Economy Forum is returning for 2024, with the event to take place on Thursday 3 October at the ICC Sydney.

Registrations are now open for the full-day event, which will provide visitor economy stakeholders with an opportunity to come together, share insights and hear from industry experts to further understand what will shape the year ahead and drive growth in the NSW visitor economy.

In 2023, NSW Visitor Economy Forum participants heard from representatives from Google, McCrindle, Tourism Australia and the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner alongside industry leaders in events, wellness travel, culinary experiences and more.

The forum is free to attend and open to all visitor economy stakeholders including operators, trade partners, industry representatives and government colleagues.

We're all about fostering a strong, supportive community among our distillers, and our private Facebook group is the perfect place to connect. It's a space just for us, where you can share stories, ask questions, and support each other as we navigate the exciting world of distilling. Remember, it’s a members-only space, so feel free to share your experiences and insights! Find us on Facebook search NSW & ACT Distillers and answer the questions to join.

We’re pleased to share an exciting opportunity for distillers to join the vibrant scene at Organic Food Markets across various locations. Whether you're interested in becoming a permanent stallholder or just want to pop in occasionally, there’s a spot for you. The markets offer a fantastic platform to showcase your products directly to consumers, and with the added foot traffic, it's a win-win!

Here are the weekly market details:

Additionally, there's a special opportunity to trade at the Mona Vale Spring Festival on Monday, 7th October (Public Holiday) from 10 AM to 4 PM. The stall fee is $250 for the day.

To secure your spot, you can book through the Organic Food Markets website or contact their office directly.

A huge shoutout to Byron Bay Spirits for receiving funding from Investment NSW. This support will help them showcase their innovative products to global buyers, expand their export reach, and create new jobs and opportunities right here at home. They’ll be taking centre stage at the Fine Food Australia 2024 tradeshow.

You can read more about their success here, and don't forget to check out their offerings at Byron Bay Spirits.