New social enterprise cafe in Nunawading

17 December 2024

17 Dec 2024

Where Is My Coffee? Nunawading a community-driven initiative.

In summary:

VMCH launches fourth social enterprise cafe.
Where Is My Coffee? Nunawading provides job skills training.
A partnership between VMCH and Whitehorse City Council.
For more on VMCH’s Social Enterprises, click here.

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“We’ve seen the enormous benefits of intergenerational connections fostered through some of our other cafes and garden maintenance businesses – located within our aged care residences and retirement communities – and we have no doubt our new clients at Nunawading will have the same experience here.”
– Sonya Smart, VMCH CEO

A new social enterprise cafe in Nunawading is set to help people with disability gain vital job skills training and opportunities to join the paid workforce.

VMCH, in partnership with Whitehorse City Council, unveiled Where Is My Coffee? Nunawading at the Nunawading Community Hub on Tuesday 3 December.

The launch was part of International Day of People with Disability celebrations – reflecting the 2024 theme: ‘Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future’.

VMCH Board Chairman Julien O’Connell AO and CEO Sonya Smart joined Whitehorse City Council Deputy Mayor Cr Prue Cutts to unveil the bright new cafe – which will provide a safe and supportive environment for people to learn job skills at their own pace, guided by experienced hospitality and disability support workers.

VMCH CEO Sonya Smart said opportunities provided through social enterprises like the cafe are desperately needed.

We know that people with disability are almost twice as likely to be unemployed than those without disability – which is a statistic we can help shift. We’ve seen the incredibly positive outcomes created through our various other social enterprises, with 139 clients having completed job skills training over the past year alone. Thirty-three people have also secured Award-wage work through our Employment Pathways program – which is fantastic to see.”

Ms Smart added social enterprise was part VMCH’s bigger Mission to ensure people with disability feel a sense of belonging within their community.

With this in mind, we are particularly thrilled with the location of this cafe, nestled within Council’s fantastic Community Hub, also home to U3A and sporting groups for various ages.

A woman wearing an apron smiles at the camera

Whitehorse City Council Mayor Cr. Andrew Davenport said Council was “delighted” to partner with VMCH to bring Where Is My Coffee? to its Nunawading Community Hub.

“This is a vibrant site that brings people and new opportunities together,” Cr. Davenport said.

Whitehorse City Council is committed to attracting and supporting dynamic social enterprises in our community. We encourage our Whitehorse locals to come along and support Where is My Coffee? and the employees who benefit from this valuable initiative.”

Where Is My Coffee? Nunawading is modelled on VMCH’s original Where Is My Coffee? café in Wangaratta, which has supported 46 people with training and paid work since opening in late 2021.

Brittney Hall, aged 23, is one of these trainees, and has recently secured her first paid role with VMCH Employment Partner, McDonald’s.

I was pretty nervous when I went for the interview … but when I got the job, I was proud and excited,” the mother-of-one said.

VMCH will continue to support Brittney on her career journey, which she hopes will lead her to further study and a role as a disability support worker.

Where Is My Coffee? is located at Nunawading Community Hub, Level 2, 106 Springvale Road, Nunawading.

“Working here is lots of fun – it’s the best place. Just to watch everyone grow. You see them walk in, shy, scared, and then flourish and become their own person. It’s miraculous.”
– Marguerite, Cafe Coordinator.

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Acknowledgement of Country

We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.