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On one side, staff shortages. On the other, a group wanting to work that’s often overlooked. The untapped potential of people with a disability has been the driving force of All Things Equal since the social enterprise cafe opened in 2021. But this year, it brought that idea into sharp relief with its Equal Opportunity Blueprint, packed with data on the benefits of employing people with disability – and the missed opportunities in not. The report came with an unapologetically bold ask of the hospitality industry: commit to employing 1100 people by 2035. While the Balaclava cafe continues to train and employ young people – 93 since 2021 – this was the year All Things Equal dreamed big: taking the cafe to the Australian Open, partnering with three major mainstream employers, and mapping out a plan that will bring independence and purpose to the lives of marginalised young people – and solve a persistent problem for hospitality.
