Supported employees with a disability will work in a new café at HammondCare’s flagship Hammondville aged care home in Sydney’s southwest, following the success of the café concept in a dementia care village in the Illawarra.
The Plant Room Café, a social enterprise operated by The Disability Trust, offers barista-made coffee and quality fresh food under the direction of hatted chef Lorenzo Pagnan for residents, their visiting loved ones, staff and the wider Hammondville community.
Hammondville, first established as a housing project for destitute families by Rev Bob Hammond in 1932, is today home of the largest number of dementia-specific residential care beds in Australia, as well as frail aged residents and nearly 130 residents in independent living units.
The new café builds on the successful launch of The Plant Room Café at HammondCare’s Horsley dementia care village in October 2023.
The co-location of a café for supported workers in a dementia care village was an Australian first.
HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn, together with The Disability Trust’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Tarryn Bracken officially opened the Hammondville Plant Room Café at Judd Avenue at a launch event with residents and employees of both organisations on February 27.
Hammondville, with its long history of supporting people in need is an ideal location for a café with great coffee and menu offerings that also helps people with disability learn skills and experience, Mr Thorburn said.
“We are delighted that a wonderful venture like this that can change the lives of supported employees will be part of our Hammondville community,” he said.
“With this café, there is a wonderful alignment of HammondCare’s Mission and Values with those of The Disability Trust. We know from our experience working with The Disability Trust organisation at Horsley that this will be another big success story.”
The Disability Trust’s Chief Operating Officer – Employment & Enterprises Mathew McIntyre said they were delighted to have the opportunity to expand its relationship with HammondCare by bringing its Plant Room café concept to Sydney.
“The Disability Trust’s philosophy is to create a more inclusive world through employees and customers alike having a fantastic experience,” he said.
“Our goal with this venture is to develop the skills and experience of our supported employees so they can pursue open employment in the hospitality industry, should they choose to do so, and to maximise the chances of that transition being a great experience for them and their future employers.”
The Hammondville café is The Disability Trust’s third Plant Room after opening its first at Edney Lane in Spring Hill in 2019 and the Horsley site in 2023.
The Plant Room café at Horsley has provided real-life hospitality experience to many supported employees. The café has received strong support from the wider Horsley community.
The signature chicken schnitzel wrap will be a popular option on the menu. The wrap is comprised of a schnitzel with fresh cabbage, carrot, coriander with a Mexican salsa.
“The cabbage gives it a real crunch. It’s got a real Asian flavour to it,” Lorenzo said.
Two supported employees and two café co-ordinators will be operating the Plant Room at any time. Before joining the team, supported employees outline their goals, including where they’d like to be in 12-18 months. They are also trained in how to engage sensitively with people living with dementia.
Oliver’s dream is to travel the world and “see everything”. Last year he went to Las Vegas and Los Angeles – next is an April cruise to the South Pacific Islands.
The Plant Room Café at Hammondville will be open for coffee, snacks and café food, Monday - Saturday from 8am until 3pm. Everyone is welcome.