How IDSS Created The Deli Café: 6 Years of Inclusive Jobs for People with Disabilities in Bundaberg

A Bold Idea, A Beautiful Impact

Six years ago, IDSS set out to do something that was "bold". Bold for Bundaberg. Bold for the local food scene. Bold for the community.

But for our mission? It just made sense.  Our mission has always been about creating real opportunities for people with disabilities. And one of the biggest barriers they face is meaningful, paid work. Too many people get overlooked when all they really need is a chance. So, we decided to be that chance.

That’s how The Deli Café was born. Our first social enterprise café, where good food and inclusion go hand in hand.

How it all Started: From Cooking Class to Café

When IDSS first opened our doors in Bundaberg, the first ever group activity we ran was Cooking with Kahli. A simple idea: bring people together, cook up a storm, and enjoy learning (and eating!) side by side. It was an instant hit. Every session, participants would proudly show off what they’d made and say, “We’re so good, we should open a café!”

They weren’t wrong. Add in the fact that our co-founders Michelle and Kahli are massive foodies — the kind of people who daydream about cheese boards and fresh platters delivered to your door — and you’ve got the perfect seed for a big idea: what if we really did open a café? And what if it created jobs for people with disabilities? And from there, things just began to fall into place. Including the perfect management team. Hayley was a support worker at IDSS at the time, and loved the idea of helping people build skills through real work. As luck would have it, her partner Ashton was a chef. A chef, a support worker, a community hungry for purpose, and a dream of good food. That's how The Deli came to life.

A Social Enterprise That Just Made Sense

Opening a social enterprise café might have been bold for Bundy, but for IDSS, it was just the next step in our promise to close the gap for people with disabilities. From day one, The Deli Café has been a place where our participants can learn real skills, earn a real wage, and feel proud of the contribution they’re making to their community.

More Than Just Good Food

Over the last six years, The Deli has been so much more than just a place to grab a sandwich. It’s been a training ground for dozens of people with disabilities to build skills they can take anywhere. Our team members have learned how to run the floor, make coffee, assist with big catering orders, and handle the busy lunch rush like pros (most days!).

They've learned how we plan menus, work events, and see how the whole operation runs behind the scenes. Skills that open doors long after they leave The Deli.

Some of our crew have moved on to new jobs, new promotions, or just a new level of confidence. That's what it's all about.

A Reuben Worth Bragging About - And a Community Like No Other

We’ve lost count of how many people have told us The Deli does the best Reuben in Bundy. We’ll take that win, thanks. But what really makes us proud is the community that’s grown around it all.

None of this happens without the people who show up every day, our loyal locals, our regulars who bring their mates, the travellers who pop in before a flight. You’re all part of this story too. Every coffee sold and every cob loaf ordered helps us deliver on our mission: more independence, more inclusion, and more opportunities for people who deserve them.

More Cafés, More Inclusive Jobs, More Impact

From one café on Targo Street, The Deli Café has grown to reach even more people. We opened up at the Bundaberg Airport, so people have fresh, tasty food before they take off, and so we can create even more inclusive jobs. Our newest location at the university fuels students and staff, while also showing future leaders what an inclusive workplace really looks like.

Whether you’re grabbing a coffee at Targo Street, the airport, or the uni, you’re seeing people with disabilities represented, confident, and part of everyday community life. That’s exactly what we want.

Six Years Down — And Just Getting Started

From our very first cooking group to now, The Deli reminds us what’s possible when you back your mission with real action. It’s one thing to talk about inclusion, it’s another thing to make it happen.

To everyone who’s supported The Deli, thank you. You’ve made a difference with every cob loaf, every kind word, every repeat visit. Here’s to six years of good food, good people, and real jobs — and to the many years (and cheese boards) still to come.