First among equals as cafe wins hospitality award

Social enterprise café All Things Equal has been recognised at The Age Good Food Guide Awards, taking home the prestigious “Food for Good” award for its leadership in inclusive employment and social impact through hospitality. The award celebrates visionaries who use food to create positive change.

“To be acknowledged alongside some of the most respected names in Australian hospitality is both humbling and energising,” said CEO of All Things Equal (ATE) Jess Colgan, who accepted the award at the ceremony. “This recognition affirms that inclusion and diversity aren’t side projects; they’re central to the future of hospitality.”

Held at The Timber Yard in Port Melbourne on October 27, the awards brought together hundreds of guests from across the hospitality industry to celebrate excellence, creativity and innovation.

Since opening its Balaclava café in 2021, ATE has trained and employed 93 young people with disability, providing award-wage employment, skills development and pathways into the broader industry. The organisation has also built partnerships with major hospitality employers, launched catering and event initiatives, and this year, took its inclusive model to the Australian Open.

ATE’s impact was further highlighted with the release of its landmark Equal Opportunity Blueprint, a bold, data-driven call to action highlighting both the social and economic benefits of inclusive hiring. The blueprint urges the hospitality industry to collectively employ 1100 people with disability by 2035.