Coffee Vibes, a cafe and social enterprise located at the West Gippsland Arts Centre (WGAC) in Warragul marked its first birthday last week.
The cafe employs young local people of all abilities and is a collaboration between Baw Baw Shire Council and Victorian disability service provider Knoxbrooke.
Coffee Vibes is one of four social enterprise operations that Knoxbrooke runs and offers supported employment opportunities for young people of all abilities to build their skills and confidence and to assist them to enter the workforce.
The cafe has had a triumphant first year in operation. Knoxbrooke expanded its team in August last year, when it welcomed six new supported employees, bringing the total to eight. Coffee Vibes also has three prospective staff members on the waitlist to join the team.
Over the past 12 months the team also has participated in various events and programs at the arts centre, including the open day, Forecourt Fridays and International Women's Day. The growing popularity of the cafe is seen by the increase in patronage in the past 12 months with monthly patronage increasing from 1300 to 2000.
Baw Baw Shire mayor Cr Annemarie McCabe attended the celebration, along with staff and fellow Crs Tricia Jones and Farhat Firdous.
"The team at Coffee Vibes have created such an inviting and welcoming atmosphere that goes beyond the café walls and assists in making the arts centre a thriving community hub for both theatre patrons and the general public," Cr McCabe said. "The energy and enthusiasm you feel at Coffee Vibes is contagious, and I applaud the team there for their hard work and encourage anyone who hasn't yet visited to pop-in for a coffee – you will always be greeted with a big smile.
The partnership is set to continue. "After this successful year, Council and Knoxbrooke are renewing their agreement for the WGAC to host Coffee Vibes and we are actively looking at other opportunities to further work together with the Knoxbrooke team and their incredible teams and staff," Cr McCabe said.
Staff member Bella, who is known in the cafe as the 'milkshake queen', spoke at the celebration, and said what a difference the opportunities provided through Coffee Vibes had given her.
"I have loved the opportunity to work, just like my sisters and parents do, and I am currently learning how to make coffee," Bella said.
All profits generated through Coffee Vibes are reinvested back into Knoxbrooke's local disability support services and other social enterprises. The café is open Monday to Friday between 8am and 3pm.