In the heart of Northbridge, Perth, is a new social enterprise café changing lives one coffee at a time.
Operating out of the refurbished Schruth’s heritage-listed building, 1905 provides employment and hospitality training for employees with a mental illness or disability. The staff work as baristas, kitchen hands and cooks.
Established by Workpower, 1905 combines commercial activity with a social purpose. “We hope that by providing people with employment opportunities in our café, we can equip them with the skills, confidence and experience that will further their careers in the hospitality industry,” says Julie Burnett, 1905 Café Manager.
Future training being planned includes a Certificate I Hospitality course. This will include an offsite training component and onsite industry exposure model.
1905 will act as a pilot model for potential expansion to two other cafés over the next three years.
The café’s espresso bar serves Fiori Coffee’s house blend, that Julie describes as “quite rich with a nice chocolate flavour and aroma”.
In addition to their coffee offerings, 1905 serves breakfast and light lunches with a variety ranging from gourmet baguettes, BLTs, quiches, burgers and a popular corn frittata.
Julie says the café has adopted a modern feel in its interior. It features vibrant colours against the rich dark floors, funky furniture, exposed brick, timber features and a courtyard for customers to enjoy.
“We have a great dedicated team working hard to make this business a success,” says Julie. “I hope this café can continue to offer more jobs for those who need it and make a difference to people’s lives.”
