Iconic Western Australian disability employment and training organisation Good Sammy has opened a social enterprise café in the City of Kwinana.
It’s the first time Good Sammy has extended its cafe model into the community which has only operated from its Canning Vale headquarters until now.
Good Sammy was selected by the City of Kwinana through an Expression of Interest process to take over the existing premises and operate a café within the Kwinana Recquatic.
City of Kwinana Mayor Carol Adams said that the City was very excited to award the contract to Good Sammy and align the values of the two organisations.
“This partnership helps both the City of Kwinana and Good Sammy to achieve their goals of embracing diversity and creating employment opportunities for people living in their local communities with a disability,” Mayor Adams said.
“The café is the first opportunity for Good Sammy to extend their social enterprise café model, run from their Canning Vale headquarters, into the community. We are thrilled to have the café model benefit the Kwinana community and the patrons of the Kwinana Recquatic,” she said.
For locals with disability, the Good Thanks café offers an inclusive environment to refine their skills in the café industry.
“I’m excited to work at the Good Thanks café. I’ve always felt passionately about working in hospitality to show that my disability doesn’t affect my capability to work in an industry I love,” said Good Thanks barista, Tomsie.
Good Sammy Chief Executive Officer, Kane Blackman, thanked the City of Kwinana for their leadership in seeking to deliver disability employment outcomes in their community with the café employing up to 15 locals, of which 50 per cent would be people with disability.
Almost 50 per cent of the entire Good Sammy workforce comprises of people with disabilities.
“We are strongly focused on transforming workplaces and society by creating employment opportunities for people with disability, and the hospitality sector is a great place to deliver those customer-facing roles,” Mr Blackman said.
“The Good Thanks café brand has been established to foster a sense of inclusiveness and belonging for customers and employees. We are committed to curating spaces where everyone is welcome.
Customers should expect to receive quality baristamade coffee, fresh local produce and friendly customer service,” he said.
Kwinana Recquatic is located on the corner of Skerne Street and Robbos Way, Kwinana.
Read more in Issue 126 of Western Councillor.
Acknowledgement of Country
WALGA acknowledges the continuing connection of Aboriginal people to Country, culture and community. We embrace the vast Aboriginal cultural diversity throughout Western Australia, including Boorloo (Perth), on the land of the Whadjuk Nyoongar People, where WALGA is located and we acknowledge and pay respect to Elders past and present.