A new kitchen at The Disability Trust’s Goulburn centre is helping the local School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) group to cook up a storm.
The upgraded facilities were put in place over the Christmas break and the new kitchen is already making significant boosts to a range of programs at the Goulburn centre.
The flooring has been replaced, new bench space and cupboards have been added and, most importantly, an oven was installed.
The Goulburn SLES group already ran a café at the centre which served up barista-brewed coffee but now they are adding more and more fancy meals as a weekly lunchtime service on Fridays.
Pumpkin soup, chicken schnitzel and quiches have been served up on the menu recently as the SLES participants make full use of their new set-up.
The Disability Trust’s Goulburn SLES Facilitator Naomi Douglas said they had never had an oven at the centre and it was a major boost for the young job-seekers.
“It’s opened up a lot of doors. We’re trying to make more complex things because we’ve got the room and the equipment now,” Naomi said.
“That’s enabling us to build more skills for the SLES participants. Rather than just doing the basics we can get a bit more fancy.
“We were making do with little bits and pieces but now it’s a fully functioning kitchen. Now they’ve got ample space. They’re really excited about it.”
The café on Fridays is being inundated with lunch orders from clients, staff and members of the public, while the SLES group make their own meals as well.
The SLES group members plan a menu each week, making sure they suit the specific mealtime plans of their customers.
The kitchen is also being used by other programs at the centre, including Club Trust, After-School Services, 1:1 supports and Community Access.
