It’s been wonderful to see the continued growth of our Farm Shop and, most importantly, the expanding opportunities it is creating for our social enterprise participants. It is a place where participants are building confidence, learning new skills, and really expanding what they’re capable of.
With consistent, skilled support now embedded in the shop, participants are being given the time and encouragement to undertake new tasks in a meaningful way. That continuity is making a noticeable difference, particularly for Zac, whose participation in the Farm Shop has continued to grow in scope and confidence.
Zac has always had a great connection with customers and a natural ease at the register, which has been wonderful to see. More recently, he’s been extending himself further into the broader running of the shop, taking on merchandising tasks and trying his hand at some of the more administrative responsibilities. This includes using the computer to prepare invoices, download reports, and process customer billing through the online ordering system. These are practical, real-world skills that are building independence and capability over time.
What’s just as exciting is the way this is inspiring our other young adults in the Discovery Program. The Farm Shop has become a space where participants want to give things a go. Recently, while Zac was away on holiday, Ben, Sergio and Harley each stepped into his usual shop floor role. They served customers, worked the till, and had a go at entering data.
For one participant, there was a clear moment of nerves before stepping behind the register for the first time. But once he got started, that quickly turned into confidence and then pride. You could really see the impact of being given the chance to try.
The Farm Shop continues to be a place where participants are supported to stretch, learn at their own pace, and discover what they’re capable of when the opportunity is there.
