Rubie Ozcan is the cafe manager of STREAT RMIT University. Image by Troy Nankervis
A new branch of the popular STREAT café chain in the busy RMIT University hub will give homeless youth a pathway to develop employability skills.
STREAT spokesperson Ian Johnson said the fifth cafe site would help support the 100 young people aged 16 to 25 who complete STREAT training programs each year.
“All of these sites are much better for training, which means quite a lot,” he said.
Mr Johnson said many trainees have long-term exposure to family violence, physical and mental health issues.
A snapshot of youth homelessness
Since 2010, STREAT has taken over 200 young homeless people through its award winning training programs, which last anywhere from one week to nine months and include Certificate I and II in Hospitality qualifications.
More than half of participants pursue further education or start their first job.
“For all of them it’s a big shock, their lives are a bit chaotic, and we say to them, ‘turn up at nine thirty, clean, sober and tidy’ to do a shift in a café,” said Mr Johnson.
“We have long term studies on the results of our work, and we are seen as having significant impact on youth unemployment, long term unemployment, [and] on youth stability.”
STREAT RMIT will be located in the “hub”. Image by Troy Nankervis
Making a difference
Rubie Ozcan is the manager of the new RMIT STREAT cafe and said trainees start on a four-hour shift.
“Having the youth on board, showing them around the café and seeing their progress from when they first start out, to within a few weeks’ time, seeing their skills and confidence enhanced is great.
Ms Ozcan recalled worked closely with a young girl over several months, too anxious to even step inside the Melbourne Central site on her very first shift.
“Her progress within those weeks that she was with us was really dramatic,” she said.
“It was really good to see. We know we make a difference with all of the trainees that come through with us.”
Homeless youth will learn barista skills at the RMIT STREAT cafe. Image by Troy Nankervis
How anyone can help
Supporting the STREAT youth programs and can be as simple as buying a coffee, with profits used to fund the training programs.
“Just within that one visit to STREAT, they’ve contributed threefold, which I think is why we have a really loyal customer base. People are aware of their contribution to the program.”
The new STREAT RMIT café also comes off a recent announcement of a forthcoming facility to be launched in Collingwood, which will provide a state of the art training program for up to 250 homeless youth each year.
