Employees at Sylvanvale’s Birdcage Cafe at Engadine were delighted when Premier Gladys Berejiklian dropped in.
The staff includes 15 supported employees with disability, who work side by side with experienced hospitality staff.
Birdcage has operated since 2012 in the Sylvanvale Catering premises at Dunlea (formally Boystown).
Originally called Achieve Cafe, it was renamed as part of a revamp in 2017.
Ms Berejiklian, accompanied by Heathcote MP Lee Evans, visited the cafe after making an election announcement nearby.
As well as chatting with staff, Ms Berejiklian met the Coffee Club Men, a group which gets together at the cafe every week.
Sylvanvale created the inclusive cafe to increase participation in the community and expand the skills of supported employees.
Their roles expanded beyond the kitchen into customer service, including serving, taking orders, coffee making, money handling and management skills.
Funds raised from the enterprise go to supporting people with disability to live, work and participate in the community as they choose.
Birdcage Cafe won the inaugural Sutherland Shire Council Access and Inclusion Award at the 2018 Sutherland Shire Local Business Awards.
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