MELBOURNE, Today: A new social enterprise has opened in Greensborough, Melbourne, giving pre-loved LEGO® a second life while creating meaningful job opportunities for young neurodivergent and dyslexic people.
The Good Brick AUS combines sustainability with social impact, sorting and reselling donated LEGO® while running structured training programmes that provide supported and fairly paid employment for its neurodivergent team.
Shoppers can browse curated LEGO® sets, bulk bricks, minifigs and vintage pieces, available both in-store and online.
The initiative also highlights the employment barriers many neurodivergent young people face despite the strengths they bring to workplaces.
According to 2022 Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the unemployment rate for autistic people was 18.2% – more than twice the rate of people with other disabilities and almost six times the rate of people without disabilities.
“We are incredibly proud to have social enterprises in Banyule like The Good Brick AUS, who are opening employment pathways that support local neurodivergent young people to secure and sustain meaningful work.” – Sherbourne Ward Councillor and Mayor of Banyule, Alison Champion
Working with businesses, government and other social enterprises, The Good Brick AUS delivers a Supported Employment Model designed to help young people build confidence and workplace skills.
At the centre is the Good Brick AUS Skills Passport, a six-month training programme for neurodivergent and dyslexic young people aged 16–25 facing barriers to traditional employment.
Participants develop practical skills, workplace confidence and employment readiness through hands-on learning inside the social enterprise.
The organisation also supports the circular economy by keeping toys out of landfill through reuse and resale.
A report by the Australian Toy Association and Sustainability Victoria found that 51% of the toys imported into Australia and Victoria in a year will eventually become waste.
Through its circular model, donated LEGO® is sorted, cleaned and quality-checked by participants as part of the training and employment programme.
“We are incredibly proud to have social enterprises in Banyule like The Good Brick AUS, who are opening employment pathways that support local neurodivergent young people to secure and sustain meaningful work,” said Sherbourne Ward Councillor and Mayor of Banyule, Alison Champion.
“Our mission is to build confidence, skills, and opportunity — one brick at a time.” – Andrew Kitchen, Visionary founder, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Good Brick AUS
“Banyule was the first council in Victoria to have a dedicated strategy and action plan for social enterprises – so we can’t wait to see organisations like The Good Brick AUS thrive. We wish them every success for their brand-new store in Greensborough.”
Andrew Kitchen, Visionary founder, Co-Founder and Managing Director of The Good Brick AUS added, “Our mission is to build confidence, skills, and opportunity — one brick at a time.”
“By donating and purchasing LEGO® from The Good Brick AUS, you’re not just reducing waste — you’re helping young people gain real-world work experience in a safe, structured, and supportive environment.”
“Whether it’s a small tub or a large collection, each contribution helps us grow our impact and support more young people into meaningful employment.
“Long-term open employment is a key factor in reducing a neurodivergent individual’s potential reliance on the NDIS, which is already chronically underfunded.
“By offering supported, tailored training to neurodivergent youth, we aim to set them up for employment success in the broader community for life,” concluded Kitchen.
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