VMCH CAFES PUT OPPORTUNITY ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY MENU

Teenager Olivia Scott has just secured her first paid job and, while part-time employment is a rite of passage for most teens, as a female with disability her achievement is all the more significant.

This week marks International Women’s Day, a time to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity.

Unfortunately, gender is not the only precursor for discrimination, with a recent national survey showing 91% of those with a disability (72% of whom were women) believed they did not have the same employment opportunities as their non-disabled peers.

Sonya Smart, CEO of for-purpose aged and disability organisation VMCH, says her team will mark International Women’s Day by celebrating females of all ages and abilities who achieve great things.

“The majority of our staff, volunteers and people we support are female, so it’s important for us to keep that conversation going around equity, respect and inclusiveness,” Ms Smart says.

“We also need to act, so we remain committed to putting our time, energy and strategic focus into providing those meaningful opportunities for people to reach their goals, no matter what their gender.”

Olivia says her time as a trainee at one of VMCH’s two social-enterprise cafes – Where Is My Coffee? in Wangaratta – was the boost she needed to get her first job at McDonald’s last month.

Olivia is one of five women who have secured paid work following their traineeships, with eight more to move on soon.

Since the cafe opened in December 2021, 24 people with a disability (including 15 women) have begun traineeships at the cafe, with another four at VMCH’s Torquay cafe.

“I wanted to be independent and buy myself things instead of asking my parents,” Olivia, aged 17, says. “I used to be insecure but after the traineeship I feel more confident to get a job.”

A lack of access to traineeships and employment support is a huge barrier for people such as Olivia.

VMCH says it is continually expanding its job skills programs across retail, hospitality and horticulture to give people with disability meaningful training opportunities. It aims to support 100 people to find and sustain award wage employment by 2025.

“Supporting people in their role with job skills like food prep, coffee making and customer service is just one part of our aim here,” Cafe Team Leader Corneilius Scott says.

“Ultimately, we’re preparing them for the paid workforce; building their confidence, helping with resumes, linking them with local businesses, conducting mock interviews, and supporting them after they’ve left their traineeship to ensure they’re tracking well.”

Mr Scott says Olivia’s commitment to her traineeship was great, and even during the school holidays she kept working, when others took a break.

Her hard work paid off when she received a call back from McDonald’s last month.

“I was relieved and over the moon,” she says. “I am very grateful for everything I learned during the traineeship.”

If you have a disability and would like more information about seeking employment or developing a career, visit.

For more details on VMCH job skills programs, visit.