The Bread Collective: Good News, Great Impact
At some point in our lives, many of us are lucky enough to be given a chance before we’ve fully proven ourselves. For refugees arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand, that chance can be the difference between starting again and struggling to move forward. The Bread Collective exists to offer exactly that chance, the kind that can change everything.
From Lived Experience to Action
Founded by Ana Djokovic, The Bread Collective is a programme supporting former refugees into employment through bread baking, helping them gain access to a job in their new home.
Ana’s motivation is both practical and personal. Having experienced the challenges of settling into Aotearoa New Zealand herself, she understands many of the systemic barriers people face, including language, unrecognised qualifications, limited local experience, and a lack of networks. These challenges can make it incredibly difficult for anyone, including former refugees, to find work.
What made the difference for Ana’s family was simple: someone gave her parents a chance. That opportunity changed everything.
When Ana visited Sydney's Bread & Butter Project in 2019 and saw how reducing common barriers could create meaningful pathways into employment, she set out to create real pathways into work through The Bread Collective.
More Than Just Bread
The Bread Collective programme is delivered over Summer School at AUT’s City Campus, where students learn in a commercial kitchen alongside professional bakers. Each week, a different baker leads the teaching, creating opportunities for students to build networks, a critical part of finding work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The choice of bread baking is intentional; it is universally meaningful across cultures and can be learned through repetition and practice. At the same time, a skills shortage of bakers in Aotearoa New Zealand means there are real employment opportunities at the end of the programme.
The programme goes far beyond baking. It is designed to reduce barriers so students can fully participate. Participants receive wrap-around support addressing everyday needs, including access to laptops, transport, clothing, English language lessons, and food, creating an environment where they can build confidence, skills, and a sense of belonging.
Backed by Belief
The Bread Collective’s connection to AUT began through a chance meeting with School of Hospitality and Tourism Senior Lecturer Arno Sturny, when both completed their master’s degrees and first began discussing the idea. With the support of AUT, that idea soon began to take shape. As Arno explains:
“AUT took a chance on an idea before it was proven, and that has made all the difference.”
That foundation of belief continues to drive the programme today. As Ana reflects:
“The Bread Collective gets to be that ‘one person’ for our students – the one that says, ‘we see you, we believe in you, we’ll give you a shot.’ Just as AUT was that for me. Just as Arno was for me.”
This support continues to grow. Last year, The Bread Collective featured in the Food & Hospitality Zone at the AUT Innovation Showcase, a highlight of Te Wiki Rangahau (Research Week). Freshly baked bread was shared, bringing their inspiring initiative to life for a wider audience and further strengthened the connection to AUT’s innovation ecosystem.
Good News, Great Impact
Since its launch, the programme has been delivered across six cycles and has recently received the support from Foundation North, a philanthropic trust that funds community initiatives across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Success is reflected in its alumni, many of whom have successfully moved into employment, including a recent placement at Daily Bread, a milestone that speaks to the programme’s real-world impact.
The Bread Collective is a powerful reminder of what happens when we back people early, and exactly the kind of story Good News, Great Impact exists to share.
Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity, one person willing to back potential, and one open door.