School Café Program

Learning through real experiences, building workplace skills and growing confidence for life beyond school.

Learning in Our School Café

Our school-based Café Program provides students in the Secondary Learning Area with practical opportunities to experience hospitality-related tasks in a supportive and familiar environment.

Through purposeful activities such as preparing drinks, assisting with kitchen duties, serving customers and handling money, students can apply literacy, numeracy and communication skills in meaningful, everyday situations.

Learning experiences are adapted to each student's strengths, interests and goals. With appropriate guidance and support, students practise following routines, making choices, working with others and taking increasing responsibility for tasks. The focus is on participation, personal progress and developing skills that can be useful at school and beyond.

School Café Program photograph 1 — Hospitality Skills

School Café Program photograph 2 — Working Together

School Café Program photograph 3 — Building Independence

Our Café Learning Priorities

The Café Program brings together practical workplace experiences and individual learning goals, giving students opportunities to develop and use important skills in a real-world setting.

Hospitality & Food Preparation

Practising tasks such as making coffee, assisting with food preparation, organising equipment and completing kitchen duties with suitable support.

Communication & Customer Service

Building confidence in greeting customers, listening, responding to requests and communicating using each student's preferred methods.

Functional Literacy & Numeracy

Using reading, numbers and money-handling skills for meaningful tasks such as recognising orders, following instructions and completing transactions.

Workplace Health & Safety

Learning safe practices, hygiene routines and responsible use of equipment in a structured, supported café environment.

Teamwork & Responsibility

Practising cooperation, turn-taking, following routines and contributing to shared tasks as part of a café team.

Independence & Future Pathways

Developing confidence, problem-solving and practical work habits that support greater independence and preparation for life beyond school.

WITH THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Program Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the contributions that helped make our school café possible, including donations from the Sidney Myer small grants program, Kefford Grants and the Commonwealth Bank (Altona).

We also thank the Altona Men's Shed for their work fitting out the café space. Their support has helped create a valuable setting for practical student learning.

Every Skill, Every Achievement

From completing a new task to communicating with a customer or contributing to the café team, every experience is an opportunity to build confidence, recognise progress and celebrate each student's achievements.

School Cafe Program