Project Overview

Kick Start Café is a not-for-profit social enterprise that was established by PAYCE and is now being incubated by the PAYCE Foundation.

The café employs young people in a 6-12 month pathway program that is tailored to meet individual needs and provide holistic care to the participant. With the support of Riverwood Community Centre and National Training Organisation, participants receive accredited training, work experience, case management and mentoring, so that on exiting the program participants are well equipped to create an active and fulfilling life for themselves.

Organisation

PAYCE

Team

PAYCE - Dominic Sullivan
PAYCE Foundation - Andrea Comastri
PAYCE Foundation - Paul Borghetti
Kick Start Caf - Shane Hillard
Schibello Caffe - Ross Schinella
National Training Organisation - Penny Huynh
Dasco Australia - Dany Nicolas

Project Brief

Since its inception in 2016 at Washington Park in Riverwood, Kick Start Café has employed and trained 13 young people and three currently in training. Following completion of the program, trainees are supported to find employment or continue their education.

PAYCE Foundation supports the operations of Kick Start Café, working towards a business model that is both sustainable and replicable. The aim is to partner with construction and development companies to provide on-site cafes to service workers and the local community while providing employment and training opportunities to young people.

Kick Start Café has been supported by a number of local and strategic partners including Riverwood Community Centre, Stretch-a-Family, Schibello Caffé and Dasco Australia.

Kick Start Café has proved such a success there are now plans to roll it out across Sydney construction sites.

Project Innovation/Need

The idea was conceived when PAYCE was developing a social housing site at Riverwood in Southwest Sydney, Washington Park, and it was identified that youth unemployment and disadvantage was an issue.

Kick Start Café has now progressed to Melrose Park and will soon be in additional locations throughout Sydney. The Melrose Park site was officially launched by Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee, in April 2019.

Kick Start Café is staffed by young people who live in social housing. They spend up to a year doing paid hospitality training and getting the confidence and skills they need to enter the workforce.

The trainees to date have been referred by the Riverwood Community Centre and are supervised by chef Shane Hillard during their shifts. He guides them as they prepare "typical tradie food" of beef or chicken burgers and schnitzel wraps.

Design Challenge

Trainees also bake everything on site, including brownies and muffins.

Shane Hillard the Chef and mentor understands that a lot of the trainees haven’t had any opportunities, that is why Kick Start Café engages with them.

Shane teaches the hands-on, practical parts of the Certificate III in Hospitality, originally from within the four small walls of the shipping container-turned-café, now in the custom-built mobile van.

The program also includes professional barista training, qualifications in serving alcohol and responsible gaming, plus first aid training and career guidance support.

Ravin Lotomau, 21, got involved with Kick Start in May 2016 and took to the course so well that he was asked to stay on to mentor new trainees. He now also works part-time as a youth worker and is keen to study marketing. He said the biggest change he saw in himself and other trainees was a stronger work ethic.

Future Impact

“The café is a very safe and comfortable place to learn. The chef doesn’t just teach us about cooking, he’s also a great mentor in preparing us for the workforce.” - Ravin Lotomau, Graduate

“I saw the Kick Start Cafe as an opportunity for me to take control over my life and be able to do the things I couldn’t do before.” - Paniora Nukunuku, Graduate (now employed as a youth worker at a Youth and Resource Centre)

“As a local MP, it is great to see opportunities for people to learn new skills and make a start on new careers.” - The Hon Geoff Lee, MP Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta

“Kick Start Cafe provides a great opportunity for our local youth, to engage and learn practical skills to build towards a successful career. The young people with no prior working experience receiving training and support to join the workforce.” - Mo, Youth Worker, Riverwood Community Centre

“A lot of these kids haven’t had any opportunities that’s why we take them on.” - Shane Hillard, Chef and Mentor

“Every major construction site needs a café or canteen facility to cater for its workers and we are collaborating with other construction and development companies to roll out a fleet of similar food trailers on building sites over the next few years.” - Dominic Sullivan Director, PAYCE