For eight young Australians living with disabilities, including Down Syndrome and Autism, packing their bags to move into the Mercure Canberra represents much more than a simple change of address. It is their first major step toward profound personal and financial independence.
These young adults are the newest trainees at Hotel Etico’s Academy of Independence, a pioneering social enterprise program that is quietly revolutionising the tourism and hospitality sector.
Rather than a traditional classroom, their training ground is a fully operational, high-standard hotel. Here, they live on-site to experience independent living while earning full award wages. Over a 12-month period, the trainees rotate through various hospitality roles, learning the intricacies of hotel operations from the ground up before transitioning into the broader industry.
The Canberra campus marks a significant expansion for the award-winning social enterprise, made possible through a unique partnership with the Schwartz Family Company and Trilogy Hotels.
Andrea Comastri, CEO and co-founder of Hotel Etico Australia, views the expansion as a critical step in a much larger mission.
“We are incredibly proud on this significant milestone which further strengthens our commitment to inclusion and social impact. The new Academy is a true collaborative hub built on partnership, where we’ll create new and exciting career pathways for more Australians with disability and accelerate inclusive employment across Australia,” says Andrea.
Bridging the Employment Gap
Despite the obvious capability and willingness of young people with disabilities to enter the workforce, systemic barriers persist.
“People with disability bring enormous potential to our community, economy and the workforce, yet they remain underrepresented, underemployed and underpaid. We are continuing to change that narrative by empowering more and more young people with disability through our program. Lasting impact is best achieved in partnership and meaningful investment,” says Andrea.
The Hotel Etico model is already proving its efficacy. To date, the organisation has supported more than 50 young individuals, with 82% of graduates now pursuing rewarding careers and utilising life skills that have vastly enhanced their confidence.
The broader hospitality industry is beginning to take note of this untapped talent pool. Scott Boyes, CEO of Trilogy Hotels, sees the collaboration as a blueprint for the future of the sector.
“We’re proud to be part of this visionary partnership. At Trilogy Hotels, we believe meaningful impact happens when great people come together with shared purpose. This initiative reflects our commitment to building diverse, talented teams and strengthening the communities we serve. We look forward to supporting Hotel Etico graduates as they build rewarding careers across our incredible industry,” says Scott.
The necessity of such structured, supportive pathways is echoed by advocacy leaders. Darryl Steff, CEO of Down Syndrome Australia, highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the community.
“We are very proud of the work of Hotel Etico and their vital work in supporting Australians living with Down Syndrome. As people with Down Syndrome continue to face barriers in education, employment and inclusion it is critical that we support and invest in programs that unlock meaningful pathways to employment and empowerment,” says Darryl.
The Long Run to Inclusion
To underscore the physical and metaphorical distance still required to achieve true workplace equality, Hotel Etico has launched the ‘Long Run To Inclusion’ initiative.
As part of this major awareness and fundraising campaign, CEO Andrea Comastri will personally run 400 kilometres from Hotel Etico’s original Academy in Mount Victoria, NSW, to the new Academy in Canberra. The run is designed to raise $400,000 to fund the employment and training of future cohorts.
For the eight young trainees currently settling into their new rooms and roles in Canberra, the finish line is just the beginning of their careers.
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