School’s coffee van brews up work skills

SENIOR Damascus College students will be expert baristas in 2021, following the launch of a new teaching and learning asset; the Café DMAC coffee van.

Within their work-related skills course, VCAL pupils will experience hands-on hospitality learning, operating the coffee machine and the van’s small kitchen.

As their confidence grows, the baristas will have the opportunity to serve brews to staff and peers at break times, and eventually take bookings to sell hot drinks at broader community events.

Applied learning coordinator Belinda Dwyer said practical skills classes and integrated studies are more popular than they have ever been at Damascus.

“All of our year 11 and 12 VCAL students, that’s 80 kids, have just been through a food handler’s course this week, and they’ll get their barista ticket next year,” she said.

“As part of their course and voluntary work, we’ll get them working in the van in shifts at recess and lunchtimes, and we’re wanting to get in touch with our school community at events like the athletics sports day, before we branch off into bigger and better things with the public.”

Year 12 Zoe Watts and 10 of her peers planned the official launch of the preloved van, cleaning it up, organising water connections and “bringing it back to life.”

“We gathered teachers and students to enjoy hot chocolates and coffees, and we served food that students had made,” she said.

“If you’re going to be part of the van, it helps you gain work and life skills. You have to be on time, organise the machine, take orders correctly, develop an efficient process and schedule, and clean it up after each use.

“I didn’t know how to make coffees before I was taught for the van. We’re really lucky with what we get to do with VCAL at Damascus, and the little opportunities we get to step outside our comfort zones on a project like this.”

Ms Dwyer said the students have a “sense of belonging and ownership” over their hands-on learning and are proud of the life skills they’re developing.

“To prepare for the launch, there’s been a lot of maintenance, the kids have researched to understand the codes and regulations that need to be met, and that they need to be compliant with, including occupational health and safety.

“They’re excited about the program, and the younger students coming through the ranks have something to look forward to as well,” she said.