Business news and events

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Stay connected with the latest in the business community and be the first to hear about opportunities for your business.

Events

Darebin Economic Futures Network (DEFN)

Local connections, lasting outcomes.

Whether you are looking to expand your business network, share ideas, or simply catch up with fellow business leaders our events are the perfect opportunity to make new business connections, learn from your peers and keep up to date. Our events are free for businesses in the City of Darebin.

See what's on and register for our next event on Eventbrite.

Get free business advice

Got questions about starting, running, or growing your business? Business Victoria's Small Business Bus is coming to Northcote.

Sign up for your free 45-minute session with an experienced business adviser to discuss opportunities, ideas, and strategies to help your business start, grow and thrive.

Business Skills Workshops

Our new 2026 Business Skills Workshop series, hosted jointly by Darebin and Merri-bek Councils, runs from July to December and is open for your registration.

The workshops delivered by local experts offer real‑world business knowledge with practical sessions focused on the challenges small businesses face every day. This will help you stay ahead of trends and make smarter decisions for your business.

Learn more about the workshops

Business eNews

Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter for the latest news and updates about business events, grants, and opportunities.

Subscribe to Business eNews

Business surveys

Our annual business surveys provide valuable insights to Council, about the state of our local economy. They provide a channel for businesses to share what is working well for their business and in which they require support or would like to see improvements.

Download the 2026 Business Survey results(PDF, 190KB) to find out more.