Hi, I’m Kerry.

I’m Ben’s mum.

Ben has autism.

When Ben left school, he struggled to find a job. His dream of becoming a chef slowly slipped further and further away with every interview he attended. No one was willing to give him a chance to learn.

Ben’s dad, Lee, my partner, is a trained chef and had taught Ben to cook from a very young age. So Ben had the passion. He just needed the opportunity.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands.

We knew many other young adults in our community, just like Ben, who weren’t being given opportunities to work because of their disabilities. So we opened a café called The Good Company & Co in Joondalup, Western Australia.

Today, we have 20 adults working with us, all with varying abilities. Some are paid award wages, and some choose to volunteer.

Our journey has been incredible.

We have watched lives transform.

Many of our team were shy, withdrawn, and lacking confidence when they first started. Some were socially isolated. Today, they are completely different people.

They’ve built confidence. They’ve learned real skills. They’ve found connection.

This June, 15 of our team will complete their Cert II in Hospitality. This is something we have supported both in the classroom and within the café.

They love their work. They arrive on time, motivated, and eager to learn.

They are, without a doubt, the happiest workforce I have ever worked with.

We have built this café entirely on our own. No grants. No special government funding, just the Bank of Mum and Dad.

But recently, we’ve hit a major challenge.

In the last two weeks, we’ve learned that government funding for the widely subsidised Cert II in Hospitality has been significantly reduced. The course is now more than $2,000 more expensive than it was before.

And we need help.

Because what we’ve created works.

We have built a model that gives people with disabilities a real pathway.

From learning in a safe, supportive workplace, to gaining a Cert II, moving into a Cert III if suitable for them, and then transitioning into open employment.

When they move on, they make space for someone new to start their journey. This is something that should be accessible across Australia. We know it’s possible. We just need support to make it sustainable.

If you believe in what we’re doing, we would love your support.

Your donation will help us continue to provide training, opportunity, and real pathways into employment for people with disabilities. If you can't donate, then please share it on your socials, or tell someone about us. One conversation could lead to someone's life changing significantly.

People with disabilities have dreams too.

They want to work.

They want to earn a wage.

They want connection, purpose, and a social life.

With your help, we can make this happen.

Let’s make The Good Company & Co a household name.