More Than a Café.
For 35 years, dal has been creating opportunities through great food, genuine hospitality and meaningful employment.
As a Geelong-based social enterprise, every coffee served, meal prepared and customer welcomed helps create pathways for adults with disabilities to learn, grow and thrive in a real workplace.
Our vision.
For adults with special needs to experience meaningful employment in a commercial environment.
Our mission.
To create a range of innovative employment opportunities for adults with special needs
To provide quality products and service in a caring work environment
To facilitate best practice models that integrate people with special needs into a business environment
To promote community awareness of the value of adults with special needs
The dal
difference.
We're proud to be much more than a café.
As a not-for-profit social enterprise and registered NDIS provider, we combine quality food and hospitality with vocational training and meaningful employment.
Our cafés are real workplaces where people develop practical skills, confidence and independence while serving the Geelong community.
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Founded in 1991 by Marie Kuchenmeister OAM, dal was created in response to the lack of employment opportunities for school leavers with disabilities.
What began as a small café with four employees has grown into a respected social enterprise with two cafés, a thriving catering business, school canteen services and nationally recognised employment programs.
More than three decades later, dal continues to change lives through meaningful work, quality hospitality and strong community connections.
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1991 - dal opens its first café in Little Ryrie Street.
2003 - Expansion into catering and a second café, supporting over 50 employees.
2011 - Winner of the Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award and recognised by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
2013 - Registered NDIS provider and expanded into school canteen services.
2016 - Celebrated 25 years serving the Geelong community.
2019 - Opened our second location at 241 Moorabool Street.
Today - Continuing to grow opportunities through cafés, catering, training and community.
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NDIS Practice Standards Certified (2021)
Australian Disability Enterprise Excellence Award Winner
Regional Employer of the Year Finalist
International presenters on disability employment and inclusion
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The dal Model is our proven approach to creating pathways into meaningful employment.
It focuses on four key pillars:
Choice
Supporting every individual to make decisions about their own future through personalised training and support.Community
Building confidence and connection through real customer interactions and community participation.Training
Providing hands on hospitality experience alongside life skills programs.Transition
Creating supported pathways from school into long-term employment.
