Over the past two years, the people and communities of NSW have endured everything from drought and bushfire, storm and flood to a global pandemic.

After such unprecedented challenges, the Get Ready Community Award has taken on special significance.

Applications can be submitted by volunteer groups, community organisations or council, on behalf of the community.

Award finalists will be announced in August. Nominations are open until June 15, 2021, at nsw.gov.au/resilience-nsw

Applications for the Resilient Australia Awards are open until June 3, 2021. Find out more at aidr.org.au/programs/resilient-australia-awards/

Have your say on small business support

Business owners and industry groups are encouraged to have their say on how the NSW government can support small businesses and provide feedback on the government's Business Connect advisory program.

Small businesses are the backbone of communities and it's so important that we support them to stay in business.

The NSW government is committed to supporting small businesses to start, run, grow and adapt as a critical component of its priorities for economic growth.

Even before the unprecedented economic turmoil brought by the COVID pandemic, small businesses valued engagement with programs like Business Connect to enhance their ability to innovate, increase productivity and jobs, and build resilience in the face of disruption and uncertainty.

The Business Connect program and Have Your Say feedback will be evaluated by an external organisation, Accenture, who will provide recommendations on how the NSW government can deliver even better support for small businesses.

To complete the survey, go to nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/business-connect-evaluation-survey. Consultation is open until May 24.