Innovative course creating opportunities for budding baristas

• Fourteen new baristas from CaLD backgrounds complete training course on the road to jobs in the hospitality industry
• Australia Arab Association's pop-up café has supported 40 people to gain qualifications since 2017
• Minister announces $40,000 support for upcoming Australian Arab Festival

The program, which is supported with $30,000 through the Office of Multicultural Interests' Community Grants Program, aims to help young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds break into the competitive hospitality industry.

The aspiring baristas have honed their skills in the Australia Arab Association's pop-up café, which is a regular fixture at local community events. Upon completion, participants may transition into employment with a number of local businesses who have partnered with the program. Forty people have completed the training since it began in 2017.

Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Paul Papalia presented certificates to Perth's newest coffee makers at a ceremony at the Australia Arab Association centre in Gosnells this week.

The Minister also announced the State Government would provide $40,000 support for the Australian Arab Festival to be held in March 2020.

The festival, hosted by the Australia Arab Association, is a celebration of Arab cultures in Western Australia and will attract visitors from the Eastern States and overseas, as well as the wider local community.

This funding for the Australia Arab Festival includes $15,000 from the Office of Multicultural Interests and $25,000 from Lotterywest.