In this special feature, CityNews speaks with some of the ACT finalists of the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards.

Telstra has unveiled 31 ACT finalists of the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards, part of a national awards program that celebrates and recognises small and medium-sized businesses.

There were more than 22,000 nominations nationwide this year, across six categories – Accelerating Women, Building Communities, Championing Health, Embracing Innovation, Indigenous Excellence, Outstanding Growth and Promoting Sustainability. 

Categories are designed to capture the diversity, successes and experiences of all kinds of small and medium businesses. 

In this special feature, CityNews speaks to some of the outstanding local businesses that have been recognised for their efforts to keep pushing the boundaries of success. 

ACT winners will be announced on September 26, with State and Territory winners being invited to the national judging in Melbourne on November 27, followed by a gala dinner celebration where the national winners will be announced on November 28.

The Telstra Best of Business Awards program continues Telstra’s legacy of more than 30 years in supporting Australian small businesses, celebrating their achievements and the people behind them, and giving them the opportunity to learn from Australia’s best business minds.

“It is a real honour to recognise and celebrate the small and medium-sized businesses that are driving the Australian economy forward and making a positive impact in their communities,” says Amanda Hutton, group executive, Telstra Business.

“The remarkable number of nominations speaks volumes about the passion and drive of Australia’s small business community, and how much they value the opportunity to celebrate their achievements with their teams.”

Space to connect, share knowledge and heal

XTend Yourself is a registered NDIS disability provider, that delivers counselling, mental health respites and retreats, and a range of other community and disability social supports, such as home help and mental health services, nationwide, says Vendra Begonja, CEO, founder and mental health clinician.

“It is about people. We build connections with people, so they talk about their lives. When we do this with our welcoming and peaceful environment it promotes all kinds of conversations,” says Vendra.

She says there is humility in being able to listen to people and give them enough time to think about who they are, and about what they want and don’t want in their life.

“The assistance we provide is quite simply about communicating with people, the conversations, and the connections,” she says.

As she moved through the awards process, Vendra says she never thought a business like hers would have a chance in the most prestigious business awards in 2024. 

“It is still sinking in, I am grateful,” she says.

“There have been a lot of barriers, living with a range of disabilities myself, being able to stay doing what I am doing, a place of personal strength for me, and it has been a tough journey. 

“I have a team of people to support me, [so] I also acknowledge my team’s contribution.”

XTend Yourself, 219/1 Mouat Street, Lyneham. Call 0412 830386 or visit xtendyourself.com.au

Cyber security solutions for any challenge

Excelium Consulting is a boutique-style, cyber security solutions provider, offering services in strategic cyber advisory and consulting, critical infrastructure security, security framework compliance and assurance, and offensive security services, says partner and head of clients and growth, David Watson.

Although only starting up in July 2021, he says Excelium Consulting has proven itself as an organisation of high quality, being named as a finalist for the Telstra Best in Business Awards: ACT Finalists, in the Outstanding Growth category. 

“I think it’s great recognition of the good quality work we’ve done for our clients over the last three years,” he says. 

Matt Lefebvre, managing partner and director, says he had seen enough of bad, irrelevant and unachievable cyber solutions and poor advice to clients, with cyber security often being too black and white in implementation. 

Matt says he believes it has to be more nuanced, and should take into consideration budget, risk appetite, actual threats and likelihood, as well as internal capability and capacity to implement and sustain cyber remediation.

David says the Excelium Consulting team is driven by a desire to protect Australia’s sovereign assets, in particular, those of small to medium enterprises.

“We’re very focused on the private sector, as well as the public sector, with a view of making sure that every organisation has access to the right cyber capabilities, and sets their cybersecurity up in a way that will ensure people’s data is kept private,” he says.

Excelium Consulting, ground floor, unit 2, 14 Brisbane Avenue, Barton. Call 1300 542405 or visit excelium.com.au

Cleaners that push boundaries

Founded in 2014, Spec Services is a female-led commercial cleaning company operating across the ACT and regional NSW. 

Recently, managing director Katie Hale says they expanded services to include asbestos removal.

But, it is their commitment to encouraging women to excel in all levels of leadership that has seen them recognised at the Telstra Best in Business Awards for the Accelerating Women category.

“We’re very excited, and very proud to be recognised,” says Katie. 

“It’s definitely something that we’ve really worked in a targeted way to achieve.”

She says the team at Spec Services are champions of compliance and social governance, with a particular emphasis on their Women in Leadership program.

“Prior to 2021 we put together some KPI’s on gender parity in our leadership roles, and in 2021 we reached gender parity,” says Katie.

“We have over 50 per cent of women in leadership at the executive level, management level and field supervisor level, and we obviously work hard to maintain those levels as well.”

Spec Services have also signed a contract with the Australian Institute of Management, which Katie says will allow them to put a number of female employees through nationally recognised leadership courses.

Katie says they also employ lots of innovative technology, allowing them to achieve their goals in a future forward manner, and maintain a focus on Indigenous procurement. 

Spec Services, call 1300 999885, email office@specservices.com.au or visit specservices.com.au

Nature-based play provides holistic growth

Woden Valley Early Learning Centre is a community-based, non-profit centre that provides a nature-based learning experience for childrens aged zero to five, says director Paulina Jagus.

The curriculum is designed to incorporate the natural world into children’s daily lives, with nature-based play allowing the children to be adventurous, to connect with the environment in a meaningful way, and to enhance their problem-solving skills.

Paulina says the team are thrilled to be recognised as a State Finalist in two categories at the Telstra Best in Business Awards this year. 

The centre has been recognised in the Building Community category and Promoting Sustainability, which Paulina says is a testament to the commitment of the educators. 

“This is our first time at the awards,” says Paulina, “and it honestly just feels really great that the judges recognise all the hard work of our educators.”

Paulina says the early learning centre has dedicated education leaders, who demonstrate sustainable living to the children.

“They show the children about where their food comes from, they go on nature walks, and they teach them about sustainability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lifestyles.”

Through the emphasis on outdoor play, Paulina says the centre offers children the opportunity to have enriching experiences, such as observing wildlife, engaging in physical activity and stimulating their imagination through multi-sensory play, in turn supporting holistic development.

Woden Valley Early Learning Centre, 1 Dann Close, Garran. Call 6282 6648 or visit wodenvalleychildcare.com.au