Cafe Stepping Stone co-founders Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello have been recognised for their social enterprise, Cafe Stepping Stone. Photo: AOTY.
Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello, who co-founded the Canberra social enterprise Cafe Stepping Stone, have been named Local Heroes in the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards.
Their cafes operate at Strathnairn and Dickson.
Hannah and Vanessa’s inclusive employment practices involve targeting female workers who are the sole income earners in their household, new arrivals to Australia, those with limited English or minimal employment history, and those experiencing homelessness.
“In Australia, there are so many services and organisations that exist to help people through the settlement process, but unfortunately, there’s still a lot of people that are slipping through the gaps,” Vanessa said.
“You can provide someone with healthcare or housing, but if you’re not providing them with a community and an income, then it’s really hard for them to feel like they’re also participating in their own settlement process.
“We want new arrivals to Australia to be able to feel like they’re part of Australian society and we think the best way to do that is through employment.
“We’re really proud of the impact that we’re been able to make in each of their lives.”
Founders Hannah Costello (second from left) and Vanessa Brettell (far right) with their team at Stepping Stone Dickson. Photo: Stepping Stone Dickson.
The employees are supported in gaining skills and experience, facilitating their entry or return to the workforce, and other essential life skills.
“Cafe Stepping Stone is more than just a cafe,” Hannah explained.
“What we really aim to do is to create an environment where women feel welcome to learn. We do this through training in-house … but also externally so we have a cohort of volunteers that come in and give English classes.
“We’ve been able to give financial literacy classes with grants, and the aim as we grow is to be able to provide more training opportunities outside hospitality.”
Hannah and Vanessa have been running Cafe Stepping Stone at Strathnairn Arts Centre since 2020 and opened at Common Ground Dickson in October 2022.
“We aim to demonstrate the efficiency of social enterprise in working with the government and community to improve social outcomes,” Vanessa said.
The Australian of the Year was awarded to AFL legend Neale Daniher, a co-founder of Fight MND, a charity that has raised over $115 million for research into motor neurone disease through the Big Freeze.
Since his diagnosis in 2013, Neale, with the unwavering support of his family, has been battling the debilitating effects of the disease in the public eye, tirelessly campaigning and raising awareness of MND. The annual Big Freeze event at the MCG embodies Neale’s ethos of turning adversity into an opportunity for celebration and hope.
A former AFL player with Essendon FC who went on to coach the Melbourne Demons, Neale has drawn on these team-based experiences to galvanise the community Australia-wide to join the fight against MND.
Dr Katrina Wruck is the Young Australian of the Year.
Based on her research, Katrina has set up a profit-for-purpose business, Nguki Kula Green Labs, which is poised to transform the consumer goods sector by harnessing the power of green chemistry, while inspiring others to step into STEM.
A proud Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman who has long advocated for First Nations knowledge, Katrina also participates in community engagement programs.
Brother Thomas Oliver Pickett has been named Senior Australian of the Year.
He co-founded Wheelchairs For Kids in 1996 to provide adjustable wheelchairs and occupational therapy expertise for children in developing countries, free of charge,
Since then, more than 60,000 custom-built wheelchairs have been gifted to children in over 80 countries.
With over 250 retiree workshop volunteers, Wheelchairs For Kids is one of Western Australia’s largest (and with an average age of 74, one of Australia’s oldest) volunteer-led charities. A further 550 people from aged care and community groups sew covers for wheelchair soft supports, and crochet rugs and soft toys.
Thomas also spearheaded the development of an innovative, low-cost wheelchair design to World Health Organization standards that grows as the children do – a world first.
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