The Rockliff Liberal Government is ensuring Hamlet Café can continue to provide vulnerable Tasmanians with employment opportunities with a $250,000 grant announced.
The Hobart eatery is on a mission to change the lives of Tasmanians living with a disability through targeted training and work readiness support.
Liberal Member for Clark, Minister Madeleine Ogilvie congratulated Hamlet Café on the grant, which will support the growth of the organisation and continue providing opportunities for young Tasmanians living with a disability.
“Tasmania has the highest rates of people living with a disability in the country. We also know that people living with a disability are three times more likely to struggle with employment,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“While the opportunities that Hamlet Café provides may start in the workplace, the impact on individual participants is far reaching.
“Beyond building skills to work in tourism and hospitality, Hamlet Café is a community that engenders a sense of belonging, improving participants’ confidence, self-esteem, level of independence and ability to participate not just in work, but more broadly in community life.”
Hamlet Café delivers targeted training and work readiness support to people facing barriers to employment, with a focus on people living with disability.
As at June 2023, the organisation has worked with 723 participants and delivered 38,732 hours of training through their hospitality programs.
Minister Ogilvie said the funding would enable Hamlet Café to purchase new kitchen equipment that meets accessibility requirements and expand their facilities to create an improved environment for the large number of participants.
“The Rockliff Liberal Government is doing what matters by ensuring that Hamlet Café can continue to create a more accessible learning space for participants, 95% of whom are living with a disability,” Minister Ogilvie said.
“More importantly, these positive outcomes will empower Tasmanians living with a disability to thrive in work and community life.
“Through helping local businesses like Hamlet Café we are creating jobs, boosting the economy and ensuring Tasmanians are getting the job ready skills they need and deserve.”
