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Brewing skills and opportunity at 2nd Shot Café
TAFE Queensland is making great happen in Toowoomba, one coffee at a time. In a powerful collaboration with BASE Services, TAFE Queensland is delivering hands-on hospitality training at 2nd Shot Café, a social enterprise located on the Toowoomba campus. The initiative is more than just a training program; it’s a life-changing opportunity for people experiencing disadvantage to gain real-world skills, confidence and a nationally recognised qualification.
Toowoomba’s hospitality industry has been facing a shortage of skilled workers, while many local jobseekers have struggled to find meaningful employment due to barriers such as homelessness, disability and cultural or linguistic differences. Recognising the potential to address both challenges at once, BASE Services saw an opportunity to create something meaningful: provide quality food and coffee to TAFE Queensland’s Toowoomba campus community while also creating a training ground for people who needed a second chance.
Together, BASE Services and TAFE Queensland are delivering paid Certificate I in Hospitality (SIT10216) traineeships through the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. Over 18 to 26 weeks, students complete 17 training sessions guided by TAFE Queensland’s industry-experienced educators. The program blends weekly campus-based learning with workplace visits to both 2nd Shot Café and the BASE Soup Kitchen, giving participants practical, hands-on experience in food preparation, customer service and workplace safety.
What makes this program truly impactful is the wraparound support provided to participants. Mentoring, on-the-job coaching and job-readiness workshops help students build the confidence and skills needed to transition into sustainable employment.
“The support from TAFE Queensland will help us provide meaningful training and employment opportunities to people experiencing homelessness, and barriers to employment and training,” said Tiffany Spary, Co-Founder of BASE Services.
The results speak for themselves. Eighteen participants from the first intake recently graduated, leaving with real-world café experience and a nationally recognised qualification, ready to contribute to Toowoomba’s hospitality industry. The initiative has already earned recognition as the Queensland Training Awards’ Community Training Initiative of the Year. It’s helping local employers access a pipeline of skilled, motivated team members, while transforming 2nd Shot into a cuppa-with-a-cause destination for students and staff.
“We’re committed to ensuring our training aligns with current and emerging workforce needs in the Toowoomba region, and this partnership is a great example of turning that commitment into action,” said Kate Venables, General Manager - South West.
Looking ahead, TAFE Queensland and BASE Services plan to continue strengthening the 2nd Shot Café model, helping more individuals gain the skills and confidence to enter long-term employment.