A café with a cause opens shop in East Melbourne 

Melbourne based not-for-profit STREAT has opened a new café in Melbourne, not only providing the community with a new place to eat but also opportunities for disadvantaged youth. 

STREAT is a social enterprise that provides disadvantaged young people aged between 16 and 24 with on-the-job training and supported pathways in hospitality.   

The Gate 8 STREAT cafe is located at 88 Jolimont St East Melbourne and is now open to the public from Monday to Friday between 8am and 3pm, serving coffee, handmade pastries and sandwiches, salads and slices and muffins.

STREAT co-founder and CEO, Rebecca Scott OAM, said that they aim to make difference to young people who face a range of barriers and disadvantage. 

“We aim to provide a sense of connection, safety and belonging to our young people,” she said. 

We want our young people to thrive in all parts of their lives. We want them to feel a sense of belonging at STREAT, and know deeply that we’re here to help them achieve a healthy self, healthy job and a healthy home.

Since 2010 STREAT has worked with more than 3000 young people, who have helped the organisation make over three million meals and coffees for Melbournians. 

The social enterprise has a portfolio of 10 hospitality businesses guided by more than 90 industry experts, social workers and youth workers who provide wraparound support services and and work readiness skills to those who need them most.

According to Ms Scott, “people” and the “planet” are the centre of everything they do at STREAT, and its overall business is both socially and environmentally friendly towards local communities, with 100 per cent of its profits reinvested in the enterprise’s work with young people.   

“We know we’ve done transformative work with individual young people.  We haven’t however, transformed the system around our young people - this will be a key focus of our upcoming decades.” 

With limited cafe options in the surrounding area, the Gate 8 STREAT cafe will provide a great opportunity for businesspeople and locals to come in, enjoy the delicious offerings and be doing socially impactful purchasing every time they place an order.  

“We are delighted to be servicing the East Melbourne community and continuing our work with marginalised youth.  Every delicious meal or coffee helps fund our youth programs, we look forward to meeting you,” Ms Scott said. •