Tasmanian social enterprise Hamlet Cafe has secured its future for the next four years through a $1 million funding commitment from the state government.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff announced the funding injection, which will be included in the upcoming 2025-26 Budget, during a visit to the Molle Street cafe this morning.
“Hamlet does an extraordinary job training people facing barriers to employment with a focus on those living with disability,” Rockliff said.
The social enterprise provides hospitality training with a 75% employment placement rate for graduates, helping to address staff shortages in Tasmania’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
“From customer service to a career in cooking, trainees learn job-ready skills at Hamlet’s commercial kitchen and café,” Rockliff said.
Hamlet CEO and founder Emily Briffa said the funding certainty would transform operations for the small organisation.
“For organisations in the community services sector, especially small ones like ours, having certainty of funding is a bit of a game changer,” Briffa said.
“It means that the next four years, we’ll really be able to focus on doing the work that we want to do.”
The organisation currently has 21 participants in its training program, with four more joining next week.
The cafe has established employment pathways with major employers including MONA and MACq 01, who have committed to hiring program graduates.
James Mackey, who joined Hamlet two years ago after suffering a stroke, said the organisation had given him purpose.
“I started out doing the kitchen program and then I moved to front of house and now I’m on the coffee machine. .. That’s what I love to do. That’s my passion,” Mackey said.
“I suffered a stroke a while ago but I’ve been coming to Hamlet for two years and now those two years have been like a meaningful part of my life.”
The funding will allow Hamlet to expand its training program and increase employment outcomes for participants with disabilities, while reducing time spent pursuing grant applications.
