New Report Unveils a Win-Win: Strengthening Hospitality Through Disability Employment
Despite a severe workforce shortage, the Australian hospitality sector continues to overlook one of its most valuable talent pools, people with disability. A new report, Equal Opportunity: A Blueprint for Disability Employment in Hospitality, has been released today by All Things Equal (ATE), setting out a practical roadmap for change, calling on hospitality leaders to take immediate action.
Leveraging global research, case studies, and industry insights, the report outlines a scalable 10-year strategy for expanding meaningful employment in the hospitality sector.
ATE, a leading social enterprise in inclusive employment, has already demonstrated what’s possible, creating 31 job pathways for people with disability, paying over $511,000 in award wages, and helping nine team members transition into mainstream hospitality roles. Now the report sets a bold target: 1,100 jobs for people with disability and 4,500 hospitality employers trained in inclusive hiring by 2035.
Hospitality Must Act Now
With people with disability making up 23% of the Australian population yet remaining significantly underrepresented in the workforce, the report highlights the cost of inaction while spelling out the need and opportunity: 21,400 additional hospitality workers are needed by 2028, with 20% of hospitality businesses reporting severe staff shortages impacting operations and service quality.
Jess Colgan, CEO of All Things Equal, is calling for industry-wide change. “We need to stop seeing inclusive hiring as a ‘nice to have’ and recognise it as a business imperative. The workforce crisis demands bold solutions, and disability employment is the answer hiding in plain sight. The industry must move beyond good intentions and take real action, integrating inclusive hiring into mainstream business operations and ensuring people with disability are no longer an afterthought in workforce planning.”
Why Inclusive Hiring is the Future of Hospitality
The report highlights several barriers preventing disability employment, including outdated employer attitudes, a lack of understanding of simple workplace adjustments, and inflexible job structures that fail to accommodate diverse needs. It also demonstrates that hospitality businesses that embrace inclusive hiring see higher staff retention, as employees with disability often stay in roles longer, reducing turnover, while benefiting from improved culture, morale, and enhanced customer experiences.
Contributor to the Equal Opportunities report, David West, Director of Human Resources at W Melbourne, has witnessed firsthand how inclusive hiring strengthens business performance. “When I joined W Melbourne, turnover was 52%. By the end of the year, we reduced it to 33%—and inclusive hiring was a key part of that. All the research shows that hiring people who identify with a disability is actually great for commitment, culture, and turnover.”
All Things Equal’s trainees and employees tell it better than most. For Bridget Maycock, securing a role at ATE has provided independence and a strong sense of purpose. “I’m proud that all the working staff have my back. This makes me feel safe, calm and supported.”
“We want to work, so please be more supportive and inclusive, so people with a disability don’t feel left out or cast aside. We want to be strong, find our feet, and live a good life,” says Bridget.
Key Recommendations from the Report
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Sector-wide disability employment reporting – Introducing transparent reporting to track progress and hold businesses accountable.
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Committing to 1,100 jobs in hospitality for people with disability by 2035 – Driving industry-wide targets to create systemic change.
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Scaling inclusive training – Delivering disability employment training for 4,500 hospitality employers by 2035.
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Creating structured career pathways – Ensuring employees with disability progress beyond entry-level roles.
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Maximising NDIS funding – Increasing employer awareness of NDIS-funded employment supports.
The Path Forward
This report serves as a call to action for hospitality leaders to step up and build a more inclusive, sustainable workforce. The industry has a unique opportunity to lead the way, creating workplaces that reflect the diverse communities they serve.
“We are setting ambitious yet achievable goals for a sector that is uniquely positioned to evolve into a more inclusive and forward-thinking industry,” Colgan says. “I’ve had the immense privilege to witness the world expand when the right structures and supports are put in place to unlock a person’s limitless potential, it’s time to stop talking and start hiring.”
All Things Equal, 26th March 2025
