Teen chases dreams with support from social enterprise cafe

28 October 2022

28 Oct 2022

A Wangaratta teen has her eyes set on the 2024 Paralympics after cleaning up at the inaugural Australian Country Championships in Darwin in early October.

Olivia Miller, aged 19, now holds the title of ‘Australia’s Number One Multi-Class Country Swimmer’ in 100m freestyle at the championships, which recognise the top regional swimmers across Australia. She also nabbed four silver medals and one bronze medal in backstroke and butterfly events.

Olivia began swimming as a toddler, taking it up more seriously at age 14. She wakes at 4.30am each morning to train, and has a part-time traineeship role two days a week at local social enterprise café, Where Is My Coffee?

Opened in December 2021 by for-purpose organisation VMCH, Where Is My Coffee? gives people with disability the chance to gain work experience on their pathway to finding paid employment.

Olivia’s mum Cheryl believes her role at the café has played a huge part in her daughter’s success and happiness, both in and out of the pool. Olivia says she enjoys making coffee and helping with food prep, and has just conquered her biggest fear, serving customers at the till.

“I was really nervous at first,” Olivia says. “But now I like doing it.”

Olivia at one of her swimming comps.

Interacting with customers is something Cheryl thought she’d never see Olivia do, and she’s thankful for staff members who’ve encouraged Olivia along the way.

In public, she’s just been burnt over the years and lost her confidence, but the kids (trainees), staff and customers have been so nice. Now she realises people are not judging her – and slowly, slowly – she’s come out of her shell.

Other changes, including shopping independently, being dropped at the café without a chaperone, and marshalling (pre-race positioning) solo at swim meets, have Olivia one step closer to her dream. Soon, she plans to move from Wangaratta to Geelong to live independently, find paid employment, and train for the Paralympics.

I’m proud of what I’ve achieved so far but I won’t really be happy until I make it to the Paralympic team!” Olivia says. “I will work hard to achieve this goal.

Olivia says she’s “excited but nervous” to move out, but her experience at the café has given her the confidence to handle any challenges that come her way.

She would also like to encourage anyone who wants to participate in any sport, especially swimming, to “just do it”.

VMCH has recently opened a second social enterprise café and training hub, Star Café, at its Star of the Sea Aged Care Residence in Torquay.

On behalf of VMCH, congratulations Olivia and good luck for the future!

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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 Straight Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.