Café Taste: Building Skills and Safe Spaces for People with Special Needs

As parents, we all want our children to feel confident, included, and prepared for the future. But for many families of young people with additional needs, the path to independence can feel unclear.

You might be asking yourself:

• “How can my child practise real skills without pressure?”
• “Where will they find a safe environment to learn?”
• “How do I know they’ll be supported and understood?”

We hear you. That’s why we created Café Taste: Design for Success — a gentle, supported program designed especially for students with additional needs who are still at school.

Over 8 weeks, students will:

• Learn barista and customer service skills in a calm café environment
• Practise teamwork, time management, and hygiene basics
• Join safety and boundaries workshops, learning how to recognise unsafe situations and speak up
• Explore workplace readiness activities like communication and self-advocacy
• Celebrate progress at a graduation showcase with family and community
  

This program is trauma-informed. Each session begins with grounding (to help settle nerves) and ends with gratitude (to celebrate growth). No one is rushed, mistakes are seen as learning, and encouragement is at the heart of everything we do.

💚 Free for families and schools, thanks to the support of Fairfield Council and Cabravale Club Resort.

⚠️ Eligibility: This program is open to Fairfield LGA residents only.