Media Release, 25 June 2015

From finding a carpark and giving to charity, to writing a resume and selling property, there’s a broad diversity of online businesses with a focus on simplifying things for their customers among the 20 finalists in the 2015 Telstra Victorian Business Awards.

Telstra Business Group Managing Director and Telstra Business Awards Ambassador Will Irving said the Victorian finalists are a unique group of businesses making an important contribution to local communities including Mildura, Wodonga, Traralgon and many Melbourne locations, as well as the state economy.

“The Telstra Business Awards reward innovation and celebrate the unwavering passion of Australia’s small and medium businesses. They have poured their savings into a dream of independence and doing what they love in their own way – and they are doing it exceptionally well.”

The owners of a range of start-up and youthful businesses have embraced the Internet and technology to create niche services for local, interstate and overseas clients. Those finalists include:

  • Parkhound, a national online search and booking service that has 20,000 car parking spaces for short-term rent on its books. Described as “the Raiders of the Lost Park” by founders Michael Nuciforo and Rob Crocitti, the service now offers an app with information about on-street parking, costs and restrictions
  • mycause.com.au, an innovative leader in online fundraising and crowd funding created by Tania Burstin. It’s an easy-to-use platform that’s enabled millions of dollars to be raised for thousands of one-off causes and Australian charities
  • Proven Résumé Results, launched by former HR manager Bernadette Innes to provide job-seekers with professionally-written resumes and first interview advice. It offers online services to clients nationally and worldwide from offices in Werribee and Ballarat
  • Wholesale Wedding Supplies, a Clayton South online business that founder Jody Johnston thought would be a hobby while she was on maternity leave. Set up in 2012, it offers a wide range of wedding accessories from seating cards, invitations and stationery to flower girl baskets and toasting glasses
  • GiFang Group, an online property platform based in Melbourne and Beijing. Founder Michael Yang connects Chinese property buyers with Australian developers, property agents and individual sellers and says his websites attract 750,000 unique visitors a month and an average of 200 views per property

Another property-related finalist is Kathy Nunn’s Cheltenham-based Elite Executive Services which manages the relocation process for people moving interstate or overseas. After gaining key corporate clients, the business moved into Asia and Europe after the GFC. More recently it employed local consultants who speak Mandarin and Cantonese and developed an app called Applocation Australia.

The Telstra Business Awards were established in 1992 to celebrated brilliant Australian small and medium businesses. Winners of the 2015 Telstra Victorian Business Awards will be announced at Crown Melbourne on 14 July. Victorian winners proceed to the national Awards held in Sydney on 20 August.

The finalists for the 2015 Telstra Victorian Business Awards are:

Start-Up Award
Furst Electrical Services Pty Ltd, Bayswater
Parkhound, Melbourne
ReadyTechGo, Richmond
Skin Smart Australia, Sommerville

Micro Business Award
Bindle, Richmond
Elite Executive Services Pty Ltd, Cheltenham
Framing Elegance, Traralgon
Proven Résumé Results, Tarneit
Rad Bookkeeping & Business Solutions, Mornington
Wholesale Wedding Supplies, Clayton South

Small Business Award
Cargo Crew Brunswick East
Culture Amp Richmond
GiFang Group Pty Ltd Oakleigh
mycause.com.au Caulfield

Medium Business Award
Appster, Melbourne
Loud & Clear, Melbourne
Melbourne City Institute of Education, West Melbourne
Setec, Knoxfield

Regional Award
Family Time Australia, Mildura
Framing Elegance, Traralgon
Hicks Hydronics, Wodonga
Proven Résumé Results, Tarneit
Rad Bookkeeping & Business Solutions, Mornington
Skin Smart Australia, Sommerville

Awards information and tickets to the Victorian Gala Dinner can be purchased by visiting telstrabusinessawards.com or by calling 1800 AWARDS between 9am and 7pm AEST Monday to Friday.