Australian of the Year Local Heroes urge consumers to support social enterprises

By Penny Travers https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-26/aoty-local-heroes-stepping-stone-social-enterprise/104860802

CRS congratulates Stepping Stone Cafe on their Local Heroes for 2025 Australia Day award.

“Ten years ago, the proverb “be the change you want to see in the world” inspired Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello to start harnessing the power of hospitality to help others.

Along with another friend, the pair started a cafe in Colombia where, over three years, they trained more than 40 youth living in poverty.

That venture was forced to close in 2020 when COVID-19 hit, but Ms Brettell and Ms Costello went on to create a new social enterprise in their hometown of Canberra, this time with a focus on migrant and refugee women.

“We employ and train CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) women from migrant and refugee backgrounds for whom the workplace participation rate is less than 50 per cent as they face multiple barriers to employment,” Ms Brettell said.

“We help women from war-affected areas who have experienced unspeakable trauma and loss and who arrive in Australia full of hope for a fresh start only to face new challenges.”

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