Room for All
The Inclusion in Hospitality Podcast
Welcome to Room for All – the podcast where we dive deep into the world of inclusive employment and explore the power of creating opportunities for people with disabilities.
Andrea Comastri, CEO and co-founder of Hotel Etico, Australia’s first not for profit social enterprise hotel and Saraya O’Connell, General Manager of Hotel Etico. will be your hosts as they talk about the importance of breaking down barriers in the workplace with a particular focus on hospitality and other customer facing roles, and how businesses can lead the charge toward inclusion.
At Hotel Etico, we believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed, and we’ve made it our mission to not only provide jobs but to build meaningful careers for people with disabilities. On this podcast, we’ll be sharing success stories, best practices, and inspiring conversations with industry leaders from the hospitality sector, disability sector, other social enterprises, philanthropy and of course our own trainees graduates and staff.
Whether you’re a business owner, an advocate for inclusion, or someone curious about the future of work, this podcast is for you.
So come and join us at Hotel Etico, or as we call it…the Hotel California for the heart. A place where once you have checked in…your heart will never never leave!”
So, let’s get started and open the doors for all.
Room for All
Room for All - S2 E10 - Jenny Crosbie
Innovations in Disability Employment: An Insightful Discussion with Dr. Jenny Crosbie
Join co-hosts Andrea Comastri and Saraya O'Connell from Hotel Etico as they welcome Dr. Jenny Crosbie, a principal industry fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University, to discuss the WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises) model and the unique WISEability model. The conversation includes an in-depth look at social enterprises, the evolution and funding of supported employment in Australia, and the importance of bridging the employment gap for people with intellectual disabilities. The discussion also highlights the live-in component of the Hotel Etico training program, further emphasizing the importance of independent living skills. There's a call for systemic change and collaboration to uplift existing disability infrastructures for better employment outcomes. This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone passionate about social justice and disability employment.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:38 Meet Dr. Jenny Crosbie
03:28 The WISE Model and Social Enterprises
04:15 Jenny's Background and Passion for Social Justice
09:02 Challenges in Disability Employment
14:18 Segregated Education and Employment
20:24 Defining WISE and Wiseability
29:22 Adapting the WISE Model for Intellectual Disabilities
30:43 Challenges in Disability Employment
31:46 School Leaver Employment Support Programs
33:27 In Situ Learning and Training
34:41 Success Stories and Personal Journeys
36:22 Structured Pathways and Customization
40:38 Replicating and Scaling Employment Models
48:42 Funding and Sustainability of WISE Models
53:58 Future Directions and International Perspectives
