Two weeks before Christmas, while most of Canberra was easing toward the end of the year, Embrace Disability Group received disheartening news. The ACT Government advised that the Meals in Schools program would not continue in its current form and that Embrace’s involvement would cease in just two weeks.
For thirty-three staff, seventy eight per cent of whom live with disability, the impact was instant and deeply personal. Their work preparing nutritious, individually tailored meals for ACT students was not simply a job. It was a pathway into independence, stability and confidence. Several had shared that this would be their first Christmas where they could buy gifts for family with money they had earned themselves. That milestone, once full of excitement, is now overshadowed by uncertainty.
The issue was not only the change in program model. It was the lack of notice. Despite ongoing engagement and multiple attempts to plan proactively, confirmation arrived at the last possible moment. Decisions had clearly been forming for some time, leaving EDG with no meaningful opportunity to prepare alternative employment or transitions for their team.
The Human Cost Behind the Headlines
Cheif Operating Officer for Embrace Disability Group, Matt Morrissey expressed the immediate emotional and financial toll on the workforce.
We are extremely disappointed that the decision to end our contract was communicated with only two weeks’ notice. Many of our team members live with a disability and require additional support and time to transition to and secure new employment. They deserved better.
Some of our staff were looking forward to buying Christmas gifts for their families with money they had earned themselves. This is not just a lost job, it is a loss of independence, pride and stability at a time when people deserve certainty and respect.”
For people with disability, employment is not simply about wages. Research consistently shows that meaningful employment improves mental health, social inclusion and long term participation. Supported workplaces like Embrace help individuals develop skills and confidence that carry into future work. Abruptly removing that structure can undo years of progress.
Understanding Embrace Disability Group and Why Their Work Matters
Embrace Disability Group is more than a catering business. They are a purpose built social enterprise that provides real jobs, real training and real inclusion for people with disability. Their model is structured and intentional, and the outcomes proven.
Just last week we shared a video about Poppy for International Day of People with a Disability. When she started at Embrace she was only comfortable working a few hours because of nerves and a history of challenging work environments. But the confidence and skills she has learned in her role has seen her progress to now working full time and being a leader for others who join the team. Matt tells us,
Poppy is a great example to others with a disability what working with Embrace might mean for you.
This situation raises a difficult but necessary question. Why did it come to this?
The decision itself is not the central issue. Programs evolve, budgeting priorities shift and government pilots are often redesigned based on new data. What matters here is how the Education Directorate communicated and implemented this change.
Good governance asks that decisions affecting vulnerable workers are handled with foresight, clarity and care. In this case, despite months of engagement and repeated attempts by Embrace Disability Group to seek forward planning information, formal confirmation arrived only two weeks before the program ended. By that point, it was clear that decisions had been progressing within the Directorate for some time. The absence of timely communication placed Embrace in an impossible position and removed the opportunity for thoughtful transition planning.
This is not about casting blame. It is about recognising the governance lesson in front of us. The Education Directorate holds significant influence over programs that reach deep into the community, and with that influence comes a responsibility to ensure transitions are respectful and transparent. When decisions are made without adequate notice, the consequences fall hardest on those who depend on consistency and supported environments.
The Directorate now has an opportunity to reflect on this outcome and to consider how future program changes can be handled in ways that honour the dignity and stability of all impacted workers.
A Community Response: How Canberra Can Support EDG Right Now
Amid this disappointment, Embrace has been clear about one thing: they are determined to protect as many jobs as possible. Their immediate request to the community is simple and achievable.
Workplaces, families, community groups and event organisers can directly support inclusive employment by choosing Embrace for Christmas celebrations, summer gatherings and new year events. Every order contributes to keeping staff employed while long term solutions are created.
Hosting an event and need a food van? Give them a call!
Matt Morrissey expressed this call warmly.
“Canberra has always rallied behind purpose-driven organisations. Right now, the best way to help is simply by choosing Embrace Disability Group for your catering. Every booking helps keep our team working and included.”
This is not charity. It is a considered, practical choice that keeps people connected to the workforce and the wellbeing benefits that come with it. It reinforces that Canberra values inclusion and the people who sit at the centre of it.
A Way Forward, Together
As the year closes, the message is simple and it is powerful. When thirty three people lose their jobs abruptly, our city has the capacity to respond with compassion and action. Embrace Disability Group has spent years building opportunities where few existed. Now they need the community they have served to stand beside them.
This Christmas, we can help make sure their staff stay connected to work, hope and purpose.
Book their catering. Share their story. Choose inclusion.
