108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
For 15 months, 21 year old Kara Craig submitted job application after job application.
Yet even with a construction traineeship under her belt, Kara said that no-one would give her the chance she needed to break into the workforce.
“Every email I put in would be unsuccessful or I didn’t hear from them,” Kara said.
“I just said to Mum, what more can I do?”
But Kara was determined to break the cycle of unemployment plaguing her family, and in November 2025, her luck changed.
With support from her employment agency, Kara scored an interview at New iMAGE Laundry. The Bundaberg-based social enterprise, owned by IMPACT Community Services since 2013, is dedicated to offering meaningful job opportunities to people facing employment barriers.
When Kara got the call to say the job was hers, she was ecstatic. Now, nearly four months on from her official start at the laundry in January this year, she’s come a long way.
New iMAGE Laundry Team Leader Marika Svenson, who joined the team just weeks before Kara, said that the two of them learned the ropes directly alongside one another.
“Kara and I spent quite a bit of time together on the folding table,” Marika said.
“A towel is not just a towel; there are different qualities that you don't even think about until you start immersing yourself in the work.”
“If Kara was hesitant and didn't understand something, I took the time to work with her and explain the process.”
For Marika, training Kara has been worth the investment. She said that witnessing and nurturing the growth in Kara’s confidence and ability to tackle new tasks has been incredibly rewarding.
“When she first started, she was a little bit timid and needed reassuring,” Marika said.
“Now if you ask her to do something new, she is keen to learn a new skill, whereas before she was quite daunted by the whole working environment.”
Much of the laundry’s equipment is manually operated rather than automatic, maximising its capacity to employ real people in need of work.
Kara recalled the feeling of learning how to use this equipment for the first time.
“A few months ago, I never knew how to do all this stuff,” Kara said.
“I was always scared to use the big washers when they’d go off.
“For the first couple of weeks, I had someone next to me, watching me pull it out until I was comfortable doing it on my own.
“Now when they go off, I’m like, I got it.”
It was a similar story with the ironing machine, which Kara initially approached with caution as she learned the process step by step.
However, that apprehension is a thing of the past, with Kara now building her confidence feeding pillowcases and napkins into the ironer as she works her way up to larger items like sheets and tablecloths.
Further opportunities for development await Kara as she continues to gain experience, from catching the linen at the tail end of the ironer to administrative work and customer service.
The philosophy at New iMAGE Laundry centres around getting to know everyone’s capabilities and challenges and helping them to take the next step.
Marika’s background in compliance and quality within the disability sector puts her in good stead to champion this open-minded approach. She said that her experience has bolstered her empathy, helping her truly understand that everyone’s unique, including each member of the laundry’s team.
“We have a diverse group of people here, with different capabilities,” Marika said.
“Every single person has limitations or something that they're not confident in doing.
“It's about finding the best way to overcome that and grow their confidence to learn new skills”
The laundry strives to improve employees’ skill sets by doing everything from putting measures in place to ensure the employee can perform a given task to translating work instructions into employees’ native languages.
As for Kara, opportunities to grow her confidence and experience are key. Marika said that, thanks to New iMAGE Laundry’s support, Kara already has the qualities she needs to be an asset to any employer.
“It excites me to see the changes in Kara's confidence in such a short time,” Marika said.
“She's a very good fit here because she's willing to work and learn new skills.
“She will do anything asked of her and is always happy to work extra hours if needed.”
With her amiable personality, it’s no surprise that, above all else, Kara’s favourite part of the job is the people she works with every day.
Looking to the future, Kara doesn’t see herself leaving New iMAGE Laundry any time soon, but she does dream of the potential careers on her horizon.
“Maybe eventually construction or something with animals or woodworking where I can build,” Kara said.
“But for now, I’m happy here.”
Are you a jobseeker in a similar boat to Kara? Or are you a local Bundaberg business in need of commercial laundry services and looking to give back to the community?
As a social enterprise, New iMAGE Laundry is always open to new opportunities to connect and grow its impact. Visit the website to find out more and get in touch: https://newimagelaundry.com.au
Two of Bundaberg’s leading social enterprises, New Image Laundry and the IMPACT Recycling Hub, have received global recognition for their commitment to social and environmental excellence, achieving People and Planet First verification via the Good Market platform.
Both enterprises are proudly operated by IMPACT Community Services, and form part of its portfolio of purpose-driven initiatives that prioritise people, planet and purpose over profit.
New Image Laundry was first verified in 2024 and has once again been approved as a People and Planet First enterprise, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to social and environmental impact. Since opening in 2018, the laundry has provided employment to over 70 individuals who may have otherwise struggled to find and maintain work.
“The laundry is more than a business that provides commercial services, our team is a family that offers one another a sense of belonging,” said Rob Campbell, Acting Laundry Manager.
“This renewed verification is a testament to the incredible team at New Image Laundry and the values we live every day.
“We’re proud to be recognised for our commitment to our people and planet.”
The IMPACT Recycling Hub has achieved People and Planet First verification for the first time, marking a major milestone for its operations. The Hub includes ABC Recycling, the Material Recovery Facility, and the Containers for Change Refund Point at University Drive.
“We’re proud of the meaningful employment opportunities the Hub creates, including roles for people with disabilities, while also driving environmental sustainability,” said Gavin Steele, Recycling and Collections Manager.
“Being verified is a big achievement for our team. It validates the work we’re doing to make recycling not just environmentally impactful, but socially inclusive.
“We’re proud to be part of a movement that proves business can be a force for good.”
These verifications place both establishments within a global network of social enterprises working toward a better future. IMPACT Community Services continues to seek new and better ways to support people and the planet over profit.
New iMage Laundry has proudly received ‘People and Planet First’ verification from the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), a recognition that affirms its commitment to social and environmental excellence.
As a purpose-driven venture within IMPACT’s social enterprise portfolio, New iMage Laundry goes beyond providing professional commercial laundry services—it serves as an employment pathway for vulnerable individuals in the Bundaberg community.
“We are thrilled and honoured to receive this verification from SEWF,” said Brendan Laws, Manager of New iMage Laundry.
To be People and Planet First verified, an organisation must prioritise purpose, people, and planet over profit in operational decisions as it works to solve a social and/or environmental problem through a self-sustaining revenue model that reinvests profits into this purpose.
New iMage Laundry is committed to maintaining the highest standards of operation, continuing to innovate, and deepening its impact on the community and the environment.
"Since opening in 2018, the laundry has employed 72 people that may have otherwise struggled to find meaningful employment, providing them not just with a job, but with a supportive community and sense of belonging," Mr Laws said.
This verification reflects IMPACT's unwavering dedication to driving positive social and environmental change in the local community through its commercial laundry service—proof that business can be a force for good.
Every Tuesday, amidst the steady rhythm of machines at IMPACT Community Services’ New iMage Laundry, you'll find Ann Duffy stationed diligently at her ironing post. At 80 years of age, and with a career spanning an impressive 65 years, Ann has weathered many storms.
Yet, a few weeks ago, she found herself facing a challenge unlike any other. "About four weeks ago I had a complete meltdown," she confides, reflecting on a moment of vulnerability. "I've never been through anything like that before."
In her time of need, Ann turned to Brendan Laws, New iMage Laundry Manager, seeking solace and support. "I came into work on the Tuesday, and I just went to Brendan, and I said, 'I'm in a bad way and I need to talk to someone,'" she recalls.
What happened next is a testament to the remarkable culture of care and support that defines the laundry, and IMPACT more broadly.
Brendan wasted no time. "Fifteen minutes later, he's down at my ironing station and he says, 'I've got the Chaplain, Lynne, coming over to see you in about an hour.'"
"Lynne came and she sat down, and she talked to me. Next thing I know, Brendan's here again after Lynne's gone, and he says I've got Marta (Mental Health Worker from IMPACT) coming to see you. Marta was wonderful."
Ann continued to receive consistent care and guidance. "Every morning Brendan would come in and see how I was," Ann shares. "There's not many companies that would give you that kind of help."
"Brendan is a top boss," Ann affirms. His leadership style, characterised by genuine concern for his team's well-being, sets the tone for the entire workplace. It's an ethos that permeates every aspect of New iMage Laundry—a place where kindness, community, and compassionate leadership is not just corporate speak, but a lived reality.
What sets New iMage Laundry apart is its culture of solidarity and empathy. "Everyone down there does seem to help one another," Ann observes. In this nurturing environment, employees don't just work alongside each other; they support and uplift one another through thick and thin.
Ann's journey is a testament to the transformative power of support. "If I hadn't had the help I got from work, I don't think I could have done it," she acknowledges. “I genuinely mean that.”
Her resilience, coupled with the unwavering backing of her colleagues and management, enabled her to navigate through adversity and emerge stronger.
As Ann looks ahead, she does so with renewed determination. "I'll be ironing for quite a while; I've no intentions of retiring," she declares.
For further information about IMPACT's social enterprise laundry, as well as our diverse array of programs and support services, feel free to reach out to us at 1800 179 233, visit the New iMage Laundry website, or simply complete the Contact Us form.
