The cafe, which will close at the end of this month, has provided training and employment for people with disabilities in the Ballarat region for the last three years.

"The innovation and success of Café BEST has been twofold. It has introduced people with a disability into the workforce and has ultimately provided hospitality businesses with trained, talented and committed employees,"

BEST Community Development general manager HR, marketing and disability services, Jennifer McPherson-Berry, said.

The cafe has worked to debunk myths about employing people with a disability, showing that they are a greatly under-used workforce who can be reliable and committed employees.

Mrs McPherson-Berry said people with a disability were often on the fringes of the workforce, wanting an opportunity to participate, but found it hard to get a foot in the door.

But there are signs attitudes are changing, with several local businesses, including Brown Hill Hotel, Beechworth Bakery and Peter Ford catering, employing Cafe BEST staff.

John McFadyen's job as the second chef at Cafe BEST is due to finish at the end of the month, when his contract finishes.

He has been employed part-time at Brown Hill Hotel since Christmas doing kitchen preparation and cleaning work.

"Having a new start is so important, as it means I don't just fall into a heap after my job at Cafe BEST ends," Mr McFadyen said.

He was employed by Posh Nosh catering owner and Brown Hill chef Ian MacPherson, who worked with him at Cafe BEST.

"With the experience Cafe BEST provided Johnny, I thought he would be a valuable employee," Mr MacPherson said.

"Now he is one of the key members of our business. He is working out fantastically.

"He works like a Trojan. He's a real gem."

Mr MacPherson said as his business grows he hopes to offer Mr McFadyen more hours and would be happy to hire more people with disabilities in the future.

"We have found hospitality employers in Ballarat to be incredibly receptive to the benefits of employing people with a disability, having employed many of our Cafaacé BEST graduates," Mrs McPherson-Berry said.

"We thank those employers and actively encourage other Ballarat businesses who have not considered this option to find out more."

For more information on BEST Community Development's disability-friendly employment framework, call 5329 1505.