28 March 2018

By Ree Maloney

St Thomas Aquinas School, Norlane, is serving coffee and life skills at its onsite shipping container cafe. Known as Cafe de Plume for its location in Plume St, it was the idea of a group of parents seven months ago and brought to life with money raised by the school and its parents and friends association.

Family, school and partnership leader Tracey Lunnon-Talbot said the initiative aimed to provide parents with training and skills to help them gain employment while giving families a place to socialise. 'It’s about looking beyond the school gate and recognising our role and responsibility in the broader community,' Ms Lunnon-Talbot said. She said the group hoped to offer training in areas such as computer skills, adding Norlane and surrounds 'is rich in untapped human resources'.

'We’re trying to build aspirations,' she said. 'They can start their journey in an environment that’s safe and familiar.' Vince Manganelli, the school maintenance coordinator, fitted out a shipping container and then art teacher Cam Plapp and students decorated the exterior. The baristas will receive a nationally recognised barista and food handling training certification.

This article was originally published in the Geelong Advertiser on 17 March 2018.