Sixty young people from across Surf Coast Shire have fine-tuned futures as baristas and food handlers with completion of free training courses in Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea.
Surf Coast Shire Council’s Youth Development Team organised the work skills program for participants aged 14 to 25 and had to double the number of sessions to meet demand.
The barista courses held in Anglesea and Lorne were run by The Coffee School Bus mobile training unit, and the food handling courses were run by RSA For Schools at Winchelsea’s former shire hall.
Young participants rated them as great value.
“It was really educational and helped me learn how to make coffee and how to make it taste good,” Finn, 15, from Anglesea said.
Dharma, 16, from Anglesea said: “This coffee course was really beneficial because we learnt how to make all different sorts of coffee. This will help me in the future if I ever want to get a job at a café.”
And Noah, 14, from Moriac: “Really fun course. Nice educators.”
Mayor Libby Stapleton said the courses, run during the September school holidays, were supported by funding from the Victorian Government’s Engage! Program.
“The courses aimed to upskill our young workforce and encourage young people to prepare for local summer job opportunities, and it was so pleasing to see the enthusiastic response,” Cr Stapleton said.
“There were a few participants who already work in cafes and wanted to expand their skill sets to making coffees, but the majority were in the 14 to 16-year age group looking to go into local hospitality work.
“They were really excited to better equip themselves, and aside from their learning they also made great social connections and importantly gained valuable confidence.”
