February 9th, 2026Kim: The person you wish you could create

Good businesses don’t fail – they leak.
Not because the work isn’t good. Because follow-ups slip, details drift, and visibility fades while you’re flat out doing the job.
That’s why Kim James has created The Wombat Collective – an initiative designed to strengthen the middle layer – the systems, touchpoints and consistency that protect revenue, reputation, and repeat work.
Ballarat born and bred, Kim is a down-to-earth animal lover who’s worn many business hats. Over the years, she has learned that clear communication and solid customer care matter far more than chasing new sales.
After a career working with small businesses in Melbourne, Kim is bringing back those skills to the Central Highlands region to help business owners strengthen their systems, from customer follow-through and operations to simple digital tools where required.

“They are the things that connect local businesses to the people in the town, quietly protecting the local economy and keeping money, skills and confidence in the community.” Kim said her aim was to be the “person you wish you could create” when starting or running a business — someone who can step in flexibly, whether the work is hands-on or technical, and identify the missing pieces that often make or break small businesses.
She said many businesses don’t have every skill in house or the capacity to outsource fully, and that her approach allows specific pieces of work to be handed over affordably to someone who understands how the business actually operates.
“A local who understands how things work in the town, someone who speaks plainly and can actually sit with you and help to keep your business thriving with local people supporting local business. We don’t need to lose business to Melbourne. We have everyone here.
“I see The Wombat Collective eventually being a shared hub for businesses where help is available without the usual cost barriers.” She added that she kept her fees affordable for small businesses and would “help create a really sensible flow of support in the town”.
Kim said most small businesses were born from passion and the region is full of skilled, creative people. But being a wonderful tradesperson did not always translate to keeping a website up and running or being on top of quotes and emails.
The name The Wombat Collective came from her love of wombats, a symbol of the region, and being grounded. Literally. “The Wombat Collective is also grounded, not flashy and unattainable. The Collective came from a vision that this is about sustaining the local, circular economy. Being able to learn from each other, which is the great opportunity we have in these smaller towns.”
For anyone running a small business who could use a hand, in the first instance give Kim a call on 0435 905 962 for a free, no commitment, chat.
Or head to www.thewombatcollective.com.au Advertorial