Desperately needed: employment options for refugees and people with disabilities
There are many people in our community who need and want work yet cannot find a suitable position. Others are aware of positions they could fill, but they are screened out in the application process due to discrimination and other barriers.
Our solution: create flexible employment opportunities
Sleepy Bear Books creates work for people who have never worked in Australia before. We actively look for ways to engage our workers and create meaningful ways they can contribute to our business. Our success is measured by how much work we can generate for our employee and contractor. When our employee Andrew started work with us we imagined that he would only be preparing packing material. With a combination of flexible thinking and Andrew's superpowers he now creates and edits photographs, loads images to our listing templates as well as preparing pack material. What a legend!
Our Team
Natasha is store owner and manager of Sleepy Bear Books. She has studied literature, music and theology. Since starting a family she has become acutely aware of the challenges facing people with disabilities. She has been involved with disadvantaged young families in her community through volunteering.
One day Natasha cleaned out a cupboard and started selling books online. Soon she was hooked on selling books and sewing patterns. This grew into the Sleepy Bear Books social enterprise.
Andrew has an intellectual disability and he works with us as an employee. This is his first job since finishing high school more than four years ago.
Soraya is a Kurdish Iranian refugee and she is our listing services contractor. She works independently from home which fits well around her responsibilities as a parent and carer. When she started work with us she had been in Australia for six years.
The Sleepy Bear is stuffed. The original Sleepy Bear was a toy teddy. When Natasha’s children were diagnosed with a disability she went on a research spree. She read that children with autism have limited imaginative play. So when her daughter put teddy to bed for the first time, she snapped a photo. This was our store’s first ever profile picture. The Sleepy Bear is our inspiration.
We love making accommodations, but we’re not into limitation.
Get Involved!
We've recently been invited to exhibit at the
Fair@Square Ethical Lifestyle Festival in Melbourne's Federation Square
which is a fantastic opportunity to promote Sleepy Bear Books to a wide audience. Support us here at Start Some Good to help cover our costs!
Support Sleepy Bear Books on Start Some Good
Love reading, sewing or cooking? We're sure to have something you'll love!
Click the on Sleepy Bear to shop.
Sleepy Bear Books and Patterns
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