Young people with a disability who want to work in hospitality can apply for a new training scholarship under a program available in Canberra.
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Carers ACT launched the scholarship to support the disadvantaged on Wednesday.
It will be awarded to a struggling young person so they can take part in the organisation's Branch Out Cafe program for free.
Carers ACT commercial services manage Jean Giese✓ says the Branch Out Cafe is a transition-to-work program for young people with a disability, which offers hospitality training.
"They come through the cafe and they learn a range of competencies working towards a Certificate 1 in hospitality and then we work to transition them into either open or supported employment," she said.
"It's hospitality based, so it's anything from handling money, making coffee to preparing food and serving customers.
"A big part of Branch Out Disability Services is about linking young people with disabilities into supports to enable them to be more independent in their lives and make friends. It's with the hope that if these young people can move into open employment or supported employment, that they're in a workforce that supports them and they are a real part of the community."
The scholarship, which is open for applications and will be awarded next year, was made possible with the support of the Shaw Building Group, one of Carers ACT's key sponsors.
"It's a continuation of our support that we've undertaken for nine years now and it's another initiative that we see Carers bringing to the front that we think is a very good idea," Shaw Building Group managing director Valdis Luks said.
Mr Luks said programs like the Branch Out Cafe program were important as they helped people transition into the workforce.
Jordan D'Ambrosio, 22, who graduated from the program last year, recently began working at Coffee Club in Gungahlin.
"The Branch Out Cafe is a really nice place for people in the disability community where it helps everyone get the best training in how to develop some skills if they're looking for a job," he said.
He said he loved his new job and being able to give something back to the community.
"My favourite part of this job at the Coffee Club is serving the customers, bringing their food, prepping the food, doing the washing," he said.
Carers ACT also launched a Branch Out Disability Services-branded bus on Wednesday, aimed at raising awareness of disability services available in the ACT.
The Branch Out program was launched in response to the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in the ACT.
