An Aboriginal run mobile café in the Tathra area (Yuin Country) is providing new hospitality training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal young people with the support of Aboriginal Affairs NSW.
Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) used a $235,000 Community and Place Closing the Gap Grant to purchase the custom-made trailer and establish the community cafe operation.
The cafe operated from the beginning of January through to Easter this year, to coincide with peak tourist season.
Leanne Atkinson, CEO of Bega LALC said, "Through the grant, we utilised TAFE to teach barista and food handling skills, and a local chef was contracted to provide the initial on the job training."
The café named 'Katt-oo', a Djiringanj word for "near the sea', was based at Lions Park at Tathra Beach and will return this summer.
About 15 Aboriginal young people took part in the program last summer, with employees predominantly recruited from Bega High School.
The café is currently recruiting a new cohort of Aboriginal young people for the upcoming summer season.
"We have a strong focus on trying to build capacity and using the café as a springboard for other opportunities, such as commercial catering and cultural tours," Leanne said.
"We have about six employees coming back this summer and one of the employees will be working as a mentor and leading the project."
"How cool is it that a 15- or 16-year-old can learn how to make coffee, get customer service experience and get paid while they learn?".
The café initiative is one of several youth programs led by Bega LALC. These include the Community Connector program, which aims to support Aboriginal students from Years 10 to 12 to stay in school, and Koori Youth on the Move, a program of tailored workshops to equip Aboriginal young people with driving skills.
Katt-oo Café will open for the summer season from December.
Aboriginal Affairs NSW Community and Place Grants specifically support Community-led programs to advance Closing the Gap outcomes.
