New pilot Hospitality programme for students with disabilities

Five students from Rescare Home Trust, the residential community for people with an intellectual disability, are joining our Level 2 Certificate in Hospitality programme this year as part of a pilot programme to give greater access to students with disabilities.

School of Hospitality lecturer Dell Griffin, who developed the pilot initiative, met up with the five students at Pakuranga-based Te Tuhi Café in December last year, along with School of Maritime lecturer and co-ordinator for the School of Hospitality, Sandra Pearce.

Together, they celebrated the meet and greet by decorating gingerbread people. The students had a great time and are super keen to start the programme next month and learn new skills.

Te Tuhi’s café is Aotearoa’s first training café for people with intellectual disabilities, run in partnership with Rescare Homes Trust and the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland.

The café provides in-house training and paid employment for people with intellectual disabilities through a community-based programme.