Onemda seeks funding to help support a Community Café enterprise to create more employment pathways for young adults with intellectual disability. Through the program, participants are developing skills in customer service, food preparation, financial management and business operations, preparing them for sustainable employment and successful transition into hospitality and related industries. Young adults with intellectual ...
The Onemda Association
Serving Up Success: Creating Employment Pathways for Young Adults with Intellectual Disability
GOAL
$15,000
Australia > VIC > Metro
Field of Interest
- Community and economic development
- Education/training and employment
Target Population
- People with a disability, illness or disease
The Onemda Association
Onemda is a leading NDIS-registered disability service provider in Victoria, specialising in supporting adults with intellectual disability.
For 55 years, Onemda has delivered high-quality, evidence-based group learning programs and integrated therapy services focused on life skills, learning, social connection, and wellbeing.
With eight campuses across eastern and northern metropolitan Melbourne, our skilled team of program managers, educators, support workers and therapists create inclusive, welcoming environments for participants and their families. We take pride in fostering meaningful social connections and a sense of belonging that supports the person's learning and growth.
Onemda offers a range of group learning programs and individualised therapy services tailored to the diverse needs of adults aged 18-65. We collaborate closely with those we support and their families to understand and work towards their personal goals.
Feedback is central to the ongoing development of our programs, ensuring we continually provide enriching experiences that empower individuals to lead fulfilling lives. This is the Onemda way.
Our dedication to innovation drives us to invest in research and translate the latest evidence into effective practice. In 2019 Onemda established a Research & Innovation Centre, and we have extensive experience working collaboratively with academic institutions, community organisations, and other partners to improve outcomes for people with intellectual disability.
Our recent highly successful 2024 NDIS Accreditation Audit with no non-conformities found, underscores our commitment to quality, service excellence and continuous improvement.
Project Summary
Onemda seeks funding to help support a Community Café enterprise to create more employment pathways for young adults with intellectual disability. Through the program, participants are developing skills in customer service, food preparation, financial management and business operations, preparing them for sustainable employment and successful transition into hospitality and related industries.
Young adults with intellectual disability face unemployment rates significantly higher than their peers, limiting access to financial independence, social connections, and personal fulfillment that meaningful work provides.
The Glenroy Community Hub Café addresses this critical gap by creating a supportive training environment where participants develop real-world hospitality skills. Selected by Merri-bek Council as the preferred provider, Onemda brings proven expertise in hospitality training for people with intellectual disability. Building on our successful café trailer program launched in 2017, which has operated across eastern metropolitan Melbourne at council depots, schools and community events, this permanent café is the next step in our employment pathway continuum.
The Community Café will explore expansion from 3 to 5 days based on feasibility, striving to meet community demand while maximising participant work skills development opportunities.
Funding will support a Café Manager role and employ a Project Worker for six months to develop transition pathways into mainstream employment, contributing to a sustainable model that transforms lives whilst serving the Glenroy community.
Project Outcomes
Program Strengthening and Expansion
Onemda will strengthen and expand the Community Café's established operations at Glenroy Community Hub through:
• Training delivery – continuing to train 8-12 young adults with intellectual disability annually
• Skills development – further developing comprehensive hospitality operations programs
• Individualised support – creating personalised training and employment plans for new participants
• Local partnerships – establishing stronger relationships with community suppliers and businesses
• Employment pathways – building connections with mainstream employers and clear transition routes.
Success will be measured through:
• Participant skill assessment and progress tracking
• Customer satisfaction ratings
• Documented advancement toward independent café management
• Successful transition into external employment opportunities.
Café Manager Role
The dedicated Café Manager focuses on:
• Program enhancement – refining operational procedures, menu offerings, and supplier relationships
• Health and safety compliance
• Training delivery
• Assessment and planning – conducting initial skills evaluations and creating individualised development and employment plans
• Mentorship provision – providing ongoing support while gradually increasing participant autonomy
• Operational expansion – exploring five-day-per-week operations
Employment Transition Support
A six-month Open Employment Project Worker will focus on:
• Partnership development – establish relationships with local mainstream employers
• Job matching services – connect participants with suitable employment opportunities
• Transition support – provide ongoing assistance for successful workplace integration.
Financial Sustainability
The café will progress toward financial self-sufficiency, with reinvestment into:
• Program expansion initiatives
• New participant training opportunities
• Equipment upgrades and facility improvements.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $104,151
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| State Trustee Grant | $20,000 |
| Onemda | $40,000 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cafe Coordinator - 3 days a week | $75,245 |
| Open Employment Project Worker - 1 day a week for 6 months | $18,571 |
| Equipment | $3,270 |
| Program Resources | $4,891 |
| Marketing & Promotions | $1,700 |
| Administration | $474 |
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