Ask Mattie Michael about his business, and his face lights up.
“Cookies!” he exclaims, pointing to a plate of warm, gooey chocolate chip creations. He makes sure everyone at the table has one. It’s clear he’s incredibly proud of what he’s made.
Mattie is the founder of Social Moments, a cookie business based in Melbourne that supplies hand-baked treats “made for a difference.”
The name Social Moments came from the simple joy cookies bring through sharing them with friends over a cup of tea or coffee. But for Mattie and his team, the term also reflects the magic of every part of the process: buying ingredients, baking together, delivering orders, and chatting with customers. Each step creates opportunities for connection, learning, and joy.
Empowering an entrepreneur
Mattie lives with autism and complex needs. Like many neurodiverse individuals, he has faced significant barriers to entering and remaining in traditional employment—even in inclusive workplaces.
That’s where EdAble comes in. A social enterprise with charitable DGR status, EdAble supports people with neurodiversity who have a passion and want to turn it into a meaningful business or role in society. EdAble connects individuals and groups with the support, resources, funding, and networks they need to thrive, by raising the bar and helping them meet it.
Mattie’s success with Social Moments shows just how high the bar was raised, and how he met it.
With EdAble’s backing, Mattie has taken charge of every aspect of his business. From sourcing ingredients and tracking stock to baking, quality control, packaging, invoicing, and delivering, he’s hands-on at every step. At each delivery, he adds a personal touch with a cheerful call of “enjoy the cookies!”
Mattie proudly offers a variety of cookies, including regular and gluten-free options. Each stage of the business has been tailored to suit his unique learning style, allowing him to build skills and confidence. When he first began, these processes were completely new to him; but he has picked up each new skill.
Connecting through cookies
With the support of his team, including support workers and volunteers, Mattie has showcased Social Moments at major events like the Employment Expo at Jeff’s Shed and AGL’s inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Marketplace, where he was one of just 12 vendors invited.
He now supplies cookies to a growing list of cafes, hospitals, and universities around Victoria. Many of these customers have been loyal since the business began three years ago.
Giving back with heart
Mattie ensures that each production run includes extra cookies that he donates to people experiencing homelessness, whom he affectionately calls the “hungry people.”
Looking ahead, he dreams of expanding Social Moments by inviting other neurodiverse individuals to join him, whether as team members or shareholders. He even imagines collaborating with another neurodiverse entrepreneur to launch a cookie-and-tea project called The Brew & Bite Collective – sharing the journey of independence and opportunity.
To find out more about Social Moments, email enjoysocialmoments@gmail.com or call 0412 291 092