A top Melbourne Chef, who previously worked for Russell Crowe, has taken a leading role training people with disabilities to become the state's most sought-after hospitality workforce.
Zac Poulier, former Chef and owner of the award-winning restaurant Stillwater at Crittenden, is the new Head Chef of Sage's Cafe at Sages Cottage Farm, a cafe that employs people with disabilities, operated by Wallara Australia.
The opportunity is close to home for Zac who has a 19-year-old daughter with special needs, whom he supported into open employment. He is now part of the supportive team at Sages, helping others living with disabilities to do the same.
"The people at Sages are exactly the same as those that I've hired without disabilities over the last few decades, but they bring so much enthusiasm to the job as they want to be there so badly," Zac explains.
The most recent ABS employment data found only 56 per cent of people living with disabilities are employed.
At the same time, Chefs, bakers, pastry cooks and waiters are all in short supply and are listed on Jobs and Skills Australia's (JSA) latest skills priority list.
Libby Callaway, Associate Professor Occupational Therapy at Monash University says that Australians with disabilities face numerous barriers to employment participation.
"Australia's Disability Royal Commission further highlighted evidence of the discriminatory attitudes people with disability may experience during recruitment and in workplaces, as well as limited awareness of workplace rights, insufficient job availability and lack of employment support services,” she says.
"Addressing these systemic barriers, like the work of Sages Cottages Farm and Wallara more broadly, is crucial for creating truly inclusive employment opportunities."
Zac adds there is a huge need for reliable hospitality staff all over the country and his goal is to make Sages even more of a commercial success to give the employees the same experience as if they were working in open employment.
"I have no doubt these employees will all find opportunities in the open workforce".
Zac is not the only recent top-tier hire for Sage's Cottage with Sal Licciardello, who formerly ran Fifteen for Jamie Oliver in the UK, taking the role of Hospitality Specialist.
Sages Cottage Farm is Wallara's 38-acre heritage-listed property on the Mornington Peninsula. Wallara’s aim is for Sages Cottage to be Australia’s most inclusive farm.
