NOTICING a gap in the community, Café on Corporation has developed a program to meet the needs of locals' NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) plans.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Afternoon Program will provide an opportunity for people living with a disability to gain some essential life skills in a workplace environment.
Café on Corporation project manager Carol Smith and support worker Carolyn Greenhalgh said they wanted to create something that they felt was missing in the community.
"It's creating opportunity for a more inclusive environment for people with a disability who otherwise wouldn't be in a position to be utilising their plans to build that capacity," Ms Smith said.
"In the Afternoon Program we'll be prepping food, providing capacity building type activities, community connection, finance, serving clients, how to measure things, how to calculate things.
"If you've got an NDIS plan and it's got a specific goal or objective that says 'I want to find a job' or 'I want some workplace experience' ... this provides the opportunity to utilise that."
ALSO MAKING NEWS: Reckless Brewing negotiating lease for brewery at Bathurst's Crago Mill
The café had just introduced the program prior to COVID hitting and soon had to pull the pin.
Luckily, they were still able to provide an opportunity for one-on-one sessions and currently have nine people with a disability on their roster.
Now that business has picked up, Ms Smith said they want to expand and offer this opportunity to more people.
The cafe's hours will be extended and instead of closing at 2pm, it will close at 4pm Monday through to Thursday.
This will allow the participants in the program to learn some skills without the stress of a lunchtime rush.
"From 2pm, we will do a reduced menu and an activity that builds preparation and that sort of thing," Ms Smith said.
"Shifts will depend on the ability of the specific person ... there could be up to four guys in a day and if it's one-on-two, even more."
To register an expression of interest, email the cafe at cafeoncorporation@gmail.com or pop in and see Ms Smith.