Broadbeach 6729 Bakery's 'profit-for-purpose' strategy provides employment to disabled people

A tiny profit-for-purpose business is helping fund training and employment to those with disabilities and other significant barriers. Here’s where you can find it

IN her first week at work Ally Robinson would cry and run out the shop every day.

Two months on, the autistic 22-year-old says Broadbeach’s 6729 bakery is her haven.

And there are 81 students who work out the back at various times of the week who all agree.

Aside from making dough, the Main Place store is changing lives.

“It is quite difficult to find anywhere to give you a chance,” says Ms Robinson, a receptionist.

“I never had the opportunity for experience – let alone a job – before I came here. It has been life-changing.”

6729 is a profit for purpose bakery providing employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities and other significant barriers. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The bakery is a profit-for-purpose business. When the public buys goods, they are helping fund training and employment to those with disabilities and other significant barriers.

Since 2016, 6729 has found the perfect recipe for success for more than 4500 Gold Coasters – six cups of hard work, seven teaspoons of determination, two kilograms of believing in yourself and nine weeks of practical training.

Owner Amelia Gow says her bakery is the start of promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

“I want to make sure diversity is not a percentage target employers have to hit – employers just hire the right person for the right job,” she says.

Amelia Gow is the founder and owner of 6729 bakery at Broadbeach and is advocating for diversity in Gold Coast workplaces.

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Ms Gow says her motivation to promote inclusivity in the workplace stemmed from her own experience as a drug-addicted teen.

“I was one of these guys. I needed to get back on my own two feet and it was really hard to get a job.

“It was hard to see past my perceived barriers and to see I had some really good skills to get employment. So I wanted to create a hub and a place for people to come regardless of what their history tells them.

“Everybody is employable.”

Staff members L to R: Zach Mansfield, Ella Beischer, Amelia Gow, Cheryl McMillan, Brett Casey, Cathy Jane-Bagnall, Ally Robinson. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Ms Robinson says completing her Certificate III in Food Processing and the bakery’s

life skills and employability program was confronting.

“This place is not a solution for my anxiety and it is not going to fix everything, but it has been invaluable. I love my job now and am passionate about administration.”

Former bakery student Cathy Bagnall, who graduated from bakery student to bakery trainer, says: “This place gives me hope and is the first place that has believed in me.”

“I would not be where I am today without the bakery.

“I just would not be employed and this place has given me a purpose.”

The aim of the bakery is to ensure every pupil gains employment or has the skills to go on to further study.

When the public buys goods, they are helping fund training and employment to those with disabilities and other significant barriers. Photo: Supplied

Ms Gow says several Gold Coast businesses have employed students, including Bakers Delight, Broadbeach restaurants, Gold Coast Airport, Main Events Catering, and Gold Coast Health.

Main Events Catering’s Lisa and Frank Caccavar say 6729 students are “some of the most enthusiastic and committed employees”.

“We had quite a few at Magic Millions this year,” Mrs Caccavar says.

“I love what it does for the rest of our workplace, they lift our morale.

“To normalise different abilities is the key for us.”

Teagan Harris was in the first 6729 training course and now works full-time Photo: David Clark

Ms Gow says the bakery is just the start of a revolution.

“We are planning to expand the bakery and have other establishments. We are thinking a car wash might be next.

“Every single human being needs a chance and every human being is employable.

“We just need to spread the word.”