The 2025 Australian of the Year Local Heros are Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, co-founders of Cafe Stepping Stone. ACM is proud to be a media partner for the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Wow. Thank you all so much. It's a very big privilege to be standing up here and receiving
00:06this award. We would like to give our congratulations to all of the other nominees that are here
00:11with us tonight. All of your work is beyond inspiring. It's also an absolute honour to
00:17be here receiving this award in our beloved hometown, the land of the Ngunnawal people.
00:23It always was and it always will be Aboriginal land and we are so proud to live in a country
00:27with the longest continuing living culture.
00:37Growing up in Australia and thanks to our families, we were both afforded many privileges.
00:42We are so lucky to have had quality education, security and a safety net which allowed us
00:47to explore and try new things. In recognising our privilege, we felt compelled to use our
00:52skills and experience to help those who hadn't had the same opportunities. It's cheesy but
00:57at 21, I was inspired by the quote, be the change you want to see in the world. This
01:02was the driving force to start our work integration social enterprise, Stepping Stone.
01:07The World Economic Forum, United Nations and the European Union all agree that the future
01:13of business is social enterprise. By putting people and planet first and using profit as
01:19a means to achieve it, social enterprise is the most effective way to improve society.
01:24We all have the responsibility to create change.
01:28We employ and train cowed women from migrant and refugee backgrounds for whom the workforce
01:33participation rate is less than 50% as they face multiple barriers to employment. We help
01:39women from war affected areas who have experienced unspeakable trauma and loss and who arrive
01:44in Australia full of hope for a fresh start only to face new challenges. Creating a home
01:49in Australia is not always easy. Finding economic security, community, support and
01:55a sense of belonging is hard and often women can become very isolated and vulnerable. My
02:00own grandmother experienced this and I wanted to minimise this for others.
02:05Through cafes, Stepping Stone provides employment, training and community. Connecting through
02:09food, women can share their knowledge and culture, enriching our society through diversity.
02:15It's about providing opportunities, stability and hope to people who just like us, just
02:21want a chance to make something of their lives. Everybody deserves a fair chance to thrive.
02:27Feel safe and have access to meaningful work and be part of a community.
02:32In four years we've employed over 60 women from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Collectively
02:36they've earned almost $2 million in wages and for most this is their first job. After
02:42working with us they've increased financial security but also confidence, skills, the
02:47ability to speak English and make connections out of the home. They now have the autonomy
02:52over their path forward.
02:54Australia, when we lift others up everybody benefits. As a consumer every dollar you spend
03:00is an investment in the world that you want. Choose social enterprise. You have the power
03:05to create change. Stepping Stone is only what it is with the support of so many people,
03:11the incredible women that we work with, our volunteers, the ACT government and all of
03:15our customers.
03:17We dream of a society where diversity is celebrated, where all people are empowered and able to
03:22live the lives that they choose. The work we're doing is far from over and we'll continue
03:26to create a Stepping Stone for others who need it.