Hero Foundation Launches Mission to  Unlock One Million Job Opportunities

Employment Hero’s Hero Foundation is redefining what opportunity looks like connecting overlooked talent with real jobs, and challenging SMEs to rethink how they hire.

Hero Foundation, the social impact engine of Employment Hero, is shaking up Australia’s employment landscape with a bold mission to unlock one million job opportunities for people facing barriers to work by 2034.

Launched with purpose and powered by Employment Hero’s own tech platform, Hero Foundation is flipping the script on conventional recruitment. In its first six months, it’s already placed four candidates into meaningful jobs and built partnerships with seven social-purpose organisations, all while being 100% founder-funded.

“We’re here to change the system,” says Alexandra Goodenough, General Manager of Hero Foundation. “We know that employment status is one of the key drivers of inequality and it is our mission to provide a pathway to employment for those who have been overlooked, underestimated or excluded from the workforce.”

And there’s a real need. With over 600,000 Australians unemployed and nearly two million underemployed, Hero Foundation is stepping in to close the gap, particularly for groups often left out of the mainstream hiring process. This includes people with disabilities, migrants, women who’ve experienced domestic violence, carers returning to work, neurodivergent candidates and more.

The initiative leans on Employment Hero’s core strength: a robust platform used by over 300,000 businesses. But the impact goes beyond tech. It’s about creating a ripple effect, proving that meaningful employment doesn’t just change a résumé, it can change a life.

Creating Pathways, Not Just Placements

Unlike many traditional employment support programs, Hero Foundation focuses on long-term change. It provides mentoring, education and job-readiness support to over 100 candidates, thanks in part to backing from partners like the Canva Foundation.

“The reality is that SMEs, who make up the bulk of Australian businesses, often don’t have the time or capacity to explore alternate talent pools,” says Goodenough. “That’s where we come in. We’re not just filling jobs, we’re plugging gaps in the system and creating an infrastructure where inclusive hiring becomes the norm.”

SMEs Step Up

For small to medium-sized employers, Hero Foundation is becoming a vital conduit for social impact, without the admin overload. Ed Milne, GM of People and Culture at Air-Met Scientific, recently hired a candidate through the program and says the benefits run deep.

“For people that have faced constant barriers to entry or heard ‘no’ more than any word in their life, there is an innate loyalty and commitment when you provide an opportunity that is supported and enriching,” says Milne. “We need to look beyond labels and barriers, because is it a barrier or a superpower?”

Amber Aged Care CEO Dominique Evele agrees. “As someone born with a congenital disability, equal opportunity has always been core to how I hire. Hero Foundation gave our SME a simple, scalable way to walk the talk and make a tangible impact.”

A Job Can Change a Life

Social impact partner Melanie Greblo, founder of Humans of Purpose, says Hero Foundation is “the missing piece of the puzzle” when it comes to stitching together Australia’s employment support ecosystem.

“There are so many organisations doing great work but we’re all out here looking for great employers for our talented members. The Hero Foundation adds the fuel needed to accelerate our work.”

With its early traction and a clear vision, Hero Foundation is just getting started. The organisation is currently funded solely by Employment Hero CEO and founder Ben Thompson, and supported through Pledge 1%, with EH employees contributing volunteer hours.

“At the heart of Employment Hero has always been a profound belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to access employment,” says Thompson. “We’re grounded in the belief that one job can change a life and we’re on a mission to change a million of them.”.