more than a job – a pathway to your future
At Embrace Disability Group, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build a meaningful career. Through real work, personalised support and hands-on experience, we help people develop the confidence, skills and independence needed to thrive in hospitality and beyond.
Whether you’re taking your first steps into the workforce or building towards long-term employment, our Learn. Try. Fly. pathway provides genuine opportunities to grow in a supportive and inclusive environment. From cafés and catering to events, administration and marketing, you’ll gain valuable experience while being part of a team that celebrates your strengths.
LEARN.
Build skills. Grow Confidence.
Every great career starts with learning. During the Learn phase, you’ll develop practical hospitality and workplace skills while gaining confidence in a supportive, hands-on environment.
Over approximately 12-15 weeks, you’ll work alongside experienced mentors, learning the fundamentals of customer service, food preparation, teamwork, communication and workplace expectations. It’s a chance to discover your strengths, build new skills and prepare for the next stage of your employment journey.
TRY.
Turn learning into experience.
The Try phase is where your skills come to life through meaningful, paid employment. Over 6-12 months, you’ll work as a supported employee, taking on real responsibilities while continuing to receive guidance from our team.
You’ll gain valuable experience across different areas of the business, helping you identify where your interests and talents shine while building the confidence needed for long-term employment.
You may have opportunities to work in:
- cafés and commercial kitchens
- corporate catering
- functions and events
- food delivery
- school canteens
- food vans
FLY.
Take your next step with confidence.
When you’re ready, it’s time to Fly.
Whether your future is with Embrace Disability Group or another employer, we’ll support you to achieve meaningful, sustainable employment. Through our Beyond Embrace employment pathway, we work alongside you and your employer to ensure a successful transition, providing ongoing support when it’s needed.
Our goal isn’t simply to help you find a job—it’s to help you build a career, develop independence and create opportunities that last a lifetime.
Do I need NDIS funding?
For the Learn Program, participants need relevant NDIS funding that can be used for 1:1 Job Coach support during shifts under Assistance with Social, Economic and Community Participation. This funding helps cover the support needed to build confidence, workplace skills and independence. If you are unsure whether your current plan includes this, our team can help guide you. If funding is not currently in place, we can also provide information to support your next plan review.
Is Learn paid employment?
No. Phase 1: Learn is an unpaid Workplace Trainee program for approximately 15 weeks focused on skill development, workplace exposure and understanding support needs. It is designed to help participants safely explore employment options within a hospitality business, identify their skills, support needs, build confidence and prepare for future paid opportunities.
At the end of the Learn program you will be assessed to progress to our “Try” program which is paid employment for 6-12 months.
What happens after Learn?
At the end of Learn, each participant completes a Support Assessment to better understand how they work best, what support they need and what the next step may look like. This may include progressing to Phase 2: Try, where participants move into paid supported employment, or exploring other employment or skill-building opportunities that better match their goals.
What if I don't have NDIS funding in my current package?
That’s okay. Beyond Embrace is about finding the right pathway, not rushing the process. If now isn’t the right time, or funding and supports are not yet in place, we can still provide guidance, future planning support and information for your next NDIS review so you can work towards joining when you’re ready.
What locations do you work across?
EDG is a multi-site business operating across the Canberra region, with opportunities varying across cafés, catering, events and hospitality locations. Specific locations and shift opportunities may change over time based on business operations, participant goals and support needs.
Our team works with each participant to identify suitable environments and travel capacity.
What will I wear to work?
You will be provided with an Embrace Disability Group t-shirt to wear during your shifts.
You will also need to wear long clean pants (not jeans or leggings) and enclosed, comfortable shoes. This helps keep you safe while working in hospitality environments such as cafés, canteens, kitchens, food vans and events. Your polo is navy, the colour of your pants can be black, tan or navy.
Can I bring my own support worker?
Unfortunately, no. LEARN includes support from an Embrace Disability Group Job Coach.
A Job Coach is different from a general support worker. Their role is to help you build workplace skills, understand hospitality tasks, practise communication, and work towards employment goals.
Because LEARN is a structured work experience program, the Job Coach needs to observe your skills, provide consistent workplace coaching, and help track your progress across the program. This helps us understand what support you need, what you enjoy, and what pathway may suit you best after LEARN.
Your regular support worker can still support you outside the program, such as helping you get ready, travel to and from shifts, or talk through your goals.
What experience do I need?
No prior hospitality experience is required.
We do ask that participants apply for the required safety checks, including an ACT Working with Vulnerable People card and Working with Children Check, so you can safely attend canteens, schools and community-based work sites.
Your Job Coach can help you understand what is needed and support you through the process.
What if I am nervous or not ready?
That is okay.
LEARN is designed for people who are building confidence. You do not need to be perfect, fast or experienced. You just need to be willing to try, learn and communicate with your Job Coach.
Your first shifts will focus on getting comfortable, understanding the environment, meeting people and learning simple routines.
What if I don't like a task?
That is part of learning. We ask that you agree to try.
Your Job Coach will talk with you about what you liked, what felt hard, and what support might help. Sometimes a task feels difficult at first because it is new. Other times, it helps us understand that a different type of work may suit you better.
You will not be expected to do everything perfectly.
Will I have the same Job Coach every shift?
Where possible, we will try to keep support consistent so you can build trust and confidence.
Some Job Coach offer specialist skills in particular areas of the business so you may work with different Job Coaches so you can learn different things. When this happens, we will make sure they understand your goals, support needs and progress.
What support will my Job Coach provide?
Your Job Coach will help you:
- understand your shift plan
- learn tasks step by step
- practise workplace communication
- ask questions
- build confidence
- understand safety and hygiene expectations
- reflect on what you learned
- identify your strengths and interests
- work towards your employment goals
They are there to support your learning, not to do the work for you.