Hamlet Cafe opens door to job opportunities for inexperienced workers

YOUNG jobless Tasmanians have inundated a Hobart cafe offering work experience to people facing barriers to ­employment.

Hamlet cafe founders Emily Briffa, left, and Millie Pardoe. Pictures: LUKE BOWDEN

YOUNG jobless Tasmanians have inundated a Hobart cafe offering work experience to people facing barriers to ­employment.

More than 100 people struggling to find work have applied to volunteer at Hamlet Cafe, a not-for-profit social enter­prise, since it opened its doors four months ago.

The need for work experience is so great that the cafe has a work experience waiting list of up to two months.

General manager Emily Briffa said 123 people had ­applied to work for free since the cafe opened in April.

About 50 are undertaking work experience and 33 are waiting for an induction.

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Ms Briffa said many of the participants had come to the cafe with no previous experience, but their skills had built rapidly.

“By working in a service ­industry, people learn to talk to a wide variety of people and this really builds up their confidence,” she said.

So far, 18 cafe volunteers had gone on to find paid employment elsewhere.

Most applicants are 16-30, with some older trainees trying to get back into the workforce.

‘A lot of them are just desperate to learn and have never been given the opportunity.’ – Hamlet Cafe general manager Emily Briffa

Hamlet Cafe is the brainchild of Ms Briffa and Millie Pardoe, who is the volunteer co-ordinator. It offers experience to the long-term unemployed, migrants and people with disabilities. As well as practical experience, they help with creating resumes and preparing for interviews.

Many applicants are sent from organisations such as the Migrant Resource Centre, Workskills, Mission Australia and the Red Cross.

Millie Pardoe, left, and Emily Briffa show volunteer staff member Leonardo Malaguti the ropes.

The cafe, which has about five paid staff, helps train ­people in kitchen and front-of-house skills. Ms Briffa said the workers were committed and ­professional.

“This is a beautiful working environment,” she said. “People are not here ­because they have to be, they are doing this because they ­actually want the experience.

“A lot of them are just desperate to learn and have never been given the opportunity.”

Beacon Foundation chief executive Scott Harris ­applauded the work of the Hamlet Cafe and said work ­experience was vital for helping young people become job-ready and develop networks.

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Mr Harris said Beacon was creating links between industry and schools to facilitate work experience.

“Giving our young people exposure to the world of work is critical,” he said.

Mr Harris said it was generally easier for students to gain work experience while still in the school system.

“For someone who has left school, trying to get work ­experience can be a real battle,” he said.