70 coffees for one great cause – Dom’s Place!

February 11, 2026

Dom’s Place supports men, women, and children experiencing homelessness or social isolation. Part of that support now includes a hands-on initiative – the Dom’s Place Coffee Cart.

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, the sound of conversation blends with the hiss of steamed milk and the grinding of coffee beans. Visitors who are now trained as baristas take orders, call out names, and manage the flow of customers, gaining practical experience in a safe and supportive environment.

Eight Dom’s Place visitors recently completed barista training, and the cart gives them the chance to put their new skills into action. The coffee cart isn’t just about serving coffee – it’s a practical way for them to develop pre-employment skills while contributing to the community. The idea grew naturally from the work already happening at Dom’s Place.

“We wanted to support Dom’s Place visitors to gain pre-employment skills and opportunities that are both achievable and safe,” says General Manager Angela Whitby. “We were already working with them on CVs, literacy and computer skills, and the coffee cart was the next step.”

Learning by doing

The coffee cart provides hands-on experience in a real working environment. Visitors learn how to serve customers, manage waitlists, handle pressure, and follow hygiene and food safety standards, all skills that translate directly to employment. The barista training was provided by Jay at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Community College, who guided the visitors through the practical skills needed to work confidently behind a coffee machine. “It’s a practical way for visitors to build skills while also giving them the chance to contribute back to the community,” Angela says.

A safe space for opportunities

For many visitors, accessing training or employment can be challenging, particularly for those with a history of incarceration. “Many of our visitors have spent time in prison and would not otherwise have access to training or employment opportunities because of their criminal history and the judgement they often face,” says Practice Manager Rebecca Holton. “Dom’s Place is a safe and trusted environment for them. By offering this opportunity here, we are meeting people where they are at.” Keeping training onsite allows visitors to focus on learning and building confidence in a familiar and supportive environment.

Laurence’s next step

Laurence is one of the visitors who completed the barista training, attending one day a week for eight weeks. Before this, he had never made a coffee. “There were people in my life who owned cafes and it was always something I wanted to do, but I never had a way of getting into it,” he says.

While in prison, Laurence decided he wanted to complete a barista course. When the opportunity came up at Dom’s Place, he signed up. “I loved the training and I loved the people I did it with,” Laurence says. “I want to get a job as a barista one day. For now, I’ll keep getting work experience here at Dom’s and practising my skills. I’ll come every day we are open.”

The Dom’s Place Coffee Cart officially opened on Tuesday 10 February 2026, and the launch was a huge success. Visitors served 70 coffees, raising $380, all of which goes back into the coffee cart to keep the initiative running. The launch celebrated months of training, preparation, and teamwork, showing how practical opportunities like this can build confidence, skills and pathways to employment.

The coffee cart now operates every Tuesday and Wednesday from 11am to 1pm, providing ongoing workplace experience for visitors while serving the local community. If you are near Dom’s Place located at 9 Leonard Street Hornsby, please pop by and support the cart!