A coffee van owner in Perth’s North is training up his newest recruit on how to make the perfect brew. Teaching the budding barista has become the highlight of his week, and he is urging more businesses to open their minds to the possibility of employing people with disabilities.
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00:00Dave Macquarie can spot a buddying barista a mile away.
00:07How are you going Andy?
00:10Are you ready for today?
00:12So when he noticed Andy Cooper watching him make coffee from his van in Eglinton, he made his move.
00:18When Andy comes on a Wednesday for me, I feel like I'm just helping him and it makes me feel better.
00:24Him being around me gives me a bit of happiness.
00:28The 37-year-old has Down syndrome and recently got his basic level barista certificate,
00:33dreaming of making coffees in real life one day.
00:37But he wasn't able to find a business in Perth's north to take him on,
00:41until he met Dave, who's training him up an hour a week, building up to more.
00:46It's so nice to come and go sometimes and make more people happier.
00:52Andy's carer has noticed a big change in his confidence and people skills since he started the training.
00:58The state government has just launched a pilot program that aims to give people with disability more opportunity
01:05by identifying skill gaps and providing specialised support to ensure a smooth transition into the workforce.
01:11The 12-month program, AbilityLink, will work with businesses like Dave's
01:16that are wanting to provide ongoing work for people with disabilities and helping them find a suitable match.
01:22Particularly understanding what a person's aspirations are, what their abilities are,
01:27what contribution they can make and being open to making the changes in the business
01:32that might accommodate those differences.
01:35If we look back over history, the percentages of people with disability who are seeking employment
01:40but are unable to do it, hasn't changed.
01:43So there needs to be that genuine commitment and champions in government and the business sector
01:48to bring about some meaningful change.
01:50Back in the van, Dave plans to put Andy on the books when he's ready,
01:55enjoying the sampling while they're at it.