Wise Barista Program

When the Wise Barista Program first launched at the Telstra Discovery Store in November 2015, our vision was to provide training and employment opportunities for individuals facing barriers to employment. We aimed to achieve this through bringing corporate partners and suppliers together to create a positive, lasting impact on the lives of vulnerable people, whilst demonstrating the benefits of corporate social impact investment. We recruit our participants through our partners, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Melbourne and the Asylum Seekers Centre in Sydney, working closely with each organisation to ensure that participants are supported throughout the program. At the completion of the program we assist exiting participants in gaining employment elsewhere. The Wise Barista Program has successfully provided a platform for participants to not only gain hospitality based skills, they also receive hands on experience in the Australian workforce, through the support of an established team environment. This opportunity not only benefits participants - employees also play an important role in supporting new participants in their role, many of whom have never had the opportunity to work in Australia or interact with the wider community and promoting the Wise Barista Program to customers. We are pleased to see employees take so much pride in hosting the program in their store, knowing the lasting impact their support and guidance has on maginalised individuals. Wise Barista participants, graduate the program with a greater sense of confidence both professionally and personally. As a result, 73% of Wise Barista graduates (and counting!) have gone on to secure meaningful employment.