Kick Start Café wins Commission Commendation

(left to right) PAYCE Foundation CEO Andrea Comastri, PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan, Greater Sydney Commission CEO Dr. Sarah Hill, Kick Start Cafe General Manager Paul Borghetti

The innovative program, which is the brainchild of the PAYCE Foundation, provides on the job training for young people in hospitality.

The Kick Start Café program won the commendation in the Commission’s planning for jobs and skills category.

The youth training program was created as part of the Washington Park project which included the building of new social housing apartments at Riverwood in Sydney’s south west.

The judges commented that the program was a good example of creating local employment opportunities while also engaging with the community.

The training program has now gone mobile following the purchase of food trailers, with one program up and running on the PAYCE project at Melrose Park.

Young people get training while hungry construction workers receive a local café option.

Other property developers are being encouraged to join the program.

PAYCE Foundation Director Dominic Sullivan said it was great recognition for the team behind Kick Start Café.

“They have a real passion to help young people get a start in the life and that’s exactly what the program does,” he said.

Mr Sullivan said the project fitted neatly into the awards criteria which stated that entrants must support the concept of a 30-minute city.