We’re stepping inside one of Melbourne’s most heartwarming hospitality spaces, All Things Equal, a café doing far more than serving up seriously good food. Tucked into Carlisle Street in Balaclava, this bright and buzzing spot is creating award-wage jobs and meaningful career pathways for people with disability, all while dishing out top-tier toasties and community connection in equal measure.
We sat down with Bianca Stern, Head of Impact, to chat about how a grassroots idea became a movement making waves on the world. All Things Equal is living proof that hospitality can be a powerful vehicle for change and spoiler alert: they’ve got a second café in the works.
Keep reading to feel inspired, rethink what “job ready” looks like, and fall in love with a team that’s changing the game one flat white at a time.
Hi Bianca, we’re so excited to be visiting All Things Equal Café on Carlisle Street, Balaclava. For those who may not be familiar, can you start by telling us what All Things Equal is all about, where did the idea first come from, and what inspired you to bring it to life?
Hello! Yes absolutely. All Things Equal is a social enterprise empowering people with disability through award-wage employment, training and pathways to rewarding hospitality careers. Everyone knows us for our café on Carlisle Street which is the training ground for the work that we do. We believe everyone deserves the same opportunities to thrive, contribute, and feel proud of their work.
It started as a grassroots idea with parents and community members wanting to see better employment outcomes for their loved ones. I came on board at the start when the idea was still a concept in early 2021. The social enterprise has grown exponentially since then and we have the most unbelievable team. Honestly, we couldn’t be prouder.
At what point did you realise that inclusive hiring wasn’t just possible, it was powerful? Was there a particular moment or experience that sparked that realisation and why do you believe the hospitality industry is the perfect industry to lead the way in inclusive employment?
I remember one of our very first trainees joining All Things Equal after being told by the system that he wasn’t “fit to work”, and that he had too many barriers for employment. But we saw things differently. With the right support and the guidance of our Head Chef, he found his feet, grew in confidence, and became a much-loved part of our team.
Then one day, I got a call from his mum. She told me he couldn’t work with us anymore because he’d landed a full-time job in a school canteen that he’d sourced totally independently.
Watching someone go from being told they’d never be able to work, to getting their first ever paid opportunity with us, to then landing a full-time job on their own, it literally doesn’t get more powerful than that.
Hospitality is fast-paced, team-driven, and grounded in human connection. There’s a role for everyone, whether it’s greeting customers, or prepping in the kitchen. It’s also an industry facing massive staffing shortages, so it just makes sense to widen the talent pool and rethink who we see as “job ready.”
We’d love to hear more about your incredible team, who makes up the All Things Equal crew, and what makes it so special to work with them?
Our team is a mix of people with and without disability: trainees, hospitality professionals, trainers, and mentors. What makes it special is the energy and pride that every person brings. There’s no ego. Everyone wants to do good work, support each other, and have fun while doing it.
What are some of the most-loved dishes on the menu, and who’s behind creating them?
My personal favourite is the roasted mushroom dish on sourdough with pickled Shimeji, tarragon cream, and gremolata. Our corporate catering also gets rave reviews (seriously, it’s so good). We’re a vegetarian/pescatarian café, so there’s something for everyone, cooking with love by our diverse team!
How has the local community embraced All Things Equal since opening? What kind of response have you seen?
Our local community has been amazing since day one. They’ve supported us from when we were just a nice idea, and they’ve stuck with us as we’ve grown into a professional, fast-paced hospitality business. It’s been pretty awesome.
Running a values-driven business can be incredibly rewarding, but also demanding. What keeps you motivated and inspired on the hard days?
The people. Watching our trainees grow in confidence, take on new challenges, and land jobs in mainstream venues is what we exist to do. Hospitality definitely has its challenges, but when you're surrounded by a team that’s so genuinely awesome, it makes every day so great.
Can you share a moment where you’ve really felt the impact of what you’re doing with All Things Equal and what advice would you give to other business owners looking to embrace inclusive hiring in their own workplaces?
Without a doubt, the Australian Open.
In January, we hosted our own All Things Equal-branded food and beverage outlet at one of the biggest sporting events in the country. It was the kind of moment dreams are made of.
To see people with disability working front and centre on an international stage was epic. It showed the world what we’ve always known: that our team is energised, capable, and ready to thrive in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
The advice I give would be start small, but just start. You don’t need to have it all figured out, just be open, be willing to learn, and bring in the right support. Inclusive hiring is a mindset shift, not just a policy. It’s about asking, “What’s possible here?” instead of “What are the barriers?”
