New Lismore café Sprout provides jobs and training for people with disabilities

A NEW café, art gallery and community hub has opened its doors in Lismore, offering more than just great coffee — it’s providing employment and training opportunities for people with a disability.

Named Sprout to symbolise a fresh start after the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods, the space is located on Magellan Street in a building that once housed a bank. Before the floods, it served as office space for local community organisation REDinc.

The building is owned by local disability service provider Multitask, which led the restoration project.

The 75-seat venue features polished timber floors, exposed brick and cement walls lined with artworks by local artists, which are available for purchase, and hanging plants. There’s also a collection of board games, toys and books available for customers to use, and plans are underway to host community workshops in the future.

A front-entry ramp ensures easy access for wheelchair users, as well as parents and carers with prams.

Multitask CEO Jody Cheetham said Sprout marks the return of a valuable training space for their employees, many of whom worked in the organisation’s kitchen before the floods hit.

“Before the flood the kitchen was a really good place for people with a higher skill set to work who want to get into the hospitality industry,” Cheetham said. “We have had a few go on to get jobs at fast food outlets. It’s a good training centre so I really wanted to bring that back.”

After the floods the organisation’s supported employees were redeployed to other roles, including assembling needle kits for NSW Health’s drug programs and tying ropes for a local meat processor. The opening of the café restores an avenue for them to pursue hospitality careers.

Among the staff at Sprout is 29-year-old Ryan Bourne from Alstonville, who was affectionately known as the “Muffin Man” due to his passion for baking sweet treats prior to the floods. He is now working as an all-rounder.

“I wasn’t in the kitchen for two years so it’s good to be back,” he said.

He works alongside Sandra McGuire, 50, who has been with Multitask for three decades. Both Ryan and Sandra are part of the three-person team of employees with disabilities working at the café, which has a total of seven staff. They’re also learning new skills in customer service and how to use the cash register.

Ms Cheetham said there are plans to refurbish the rear courtyard to add outdoor seating in the future.

The building also has two flood storage sheds for kitchen equipment, which can be elevated on hydraulics in the event of another flood.