Bridging the Way

The Bridge Inc boasts a rich history over 50 years originating from a collective vision of parents and community leaders striving to create opportunities for local children with disabilities. Today the organisation has evolved, with multiple offices around South East Melbourne that are dedicated to fostering employment and community connections.

The Bridge Works and Bridge 2Works are located on Cheltenham Rd, Dandenong and employ a diverse workforce within the manufacturing sector. With approximately 70 supported staff and 20 team leaders, these facilities offer a wide range of employment opportunities through collaboration with local, interstate and international businesses.

Work conducted at The Bridge is diverse, as they service a wide range of clients. For instance, some staff work on putting together bowel cancer screening kits for distribution, the team supply approximately one third of Australia's requirements. Meanwhile others are re-packaging products from overseas suppliers for distribution to the Australian market.

One stand-out client for The Bridge Works is a company called Soap Aid. Soap Aid is a not-for-profit organisation that is committed to recycling and distributing soap to communities facing major hygiene challenges. Staff working at The Bridge Works will sort, clean and process soap that is either redundant stocks or recycled from hotels using innovative machinery to create fresh and usable soap bars. These bars are then redistributed to communities around the world.

Beyond soap recycling, the team also assemble catches for shower screens for the aluminium industry at an impressive 4000 per month. Additionally, they contribute to the assembly of in excess of 6,000 car wash bucket kits a month.

The Bridge 2Works represents a new chapter for the company, offering exciting prospects for both staff and the broader community. As the organisation continues to evolve, it will explore fresh ideas and new opportunities that will reinforce its commitment to community support and meaningful employment.

To hear about the good news stories and stay in touch with happenings at The Bridge you can visit their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, take a look at the website Welcome to The Bridge Inc - The Bridge Inc or have a look at their latest newsletter.