The local program supporting people with disabilities, one coffee at a time
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A new local initiative is helping support people living with disabilities by minimising employment barriers, one cup of coffee at a time.
Founded by occupational therapist Ashlee Tronerud, the seed for Grounds for Growth was planted from her work with people living with injury, illness and disability.
Ashlee would often meet clients who desperately wanted to work but often found the path blocked; she wanted to create something that would help lead them to real, valued employment.
“They either couldn’t find a job at all due to a lack of skills or opportunities, or if they did have a job, it was often very short, infrequent shifts doing menial tasks,” says Ashlee.
“I feel really passionate about changing that.”
From there, the idea for a competency-based barista training program to help people develop transferable workplace skills was born.
Ashlee says she noticed that the fast-paced nature of a busy café is one path many of her clients feel barred from, due to the high-pressure environment.
Deciding to use Ground for Growth to remove the pressure while creating a real, rich work environment, the concept is that participants will feel like real contributors, which is what occupational therapy is all about.
“Coffee is something that brings so many Canberrans together, and the skills to make it well are useful in heaps of different settings. I also needed a skill that could be accessible to people with a wide variety of disabilities,” she explains.
“When you learn to make a great coffee, you get an immediate, tangible sense of accomplishment. You’ve created something that someone genuinely enjoys. It’s a real confidence boost.”
Grounds for Growth is a one-on-one program designed for people with disabilities who are motivated to find employment but might need extra or tailored support to build the skills and confidence to get there.
The program runs in local workplaces across eight-to-10-week placements, with participants attending for one hour per week – each session focusing on specific competencies.
The ultimate goal? To be able to confidently make a range of coffees on their own.
“I use my OT skills to really understand each person’s strengths and the supports they need,” says Ashlee.
“Looking ahead, my big vision is to partner with local Canberra cafés that are open to inclusive employment, creating a direct transition pathway from Grounds for Growth into formal, paid work.”
Calling for local businesses to partner with Grounds for Growth as host locations – and to get high-quality barista coffees free of charge – Ashless says it’s a wonderful chance to model and witness inclusive workplace practice firsthand.
“By simply opening their workplace, they provide an incredibly valuable real-world training environment. It’s not a simulation; it’s a real office or workplace with real people ordering real coffee.”
“It’s a rare and powerful combination of structured therapy, practical workplace training, and genuine community partnership, and they are at the heart of it.”
The way Grounds for Growth works is simple.
Ashlee will bring everything needed on the day – including the coffee machine, beans, milks and cups – and will set up in a section of the office. Ideally, five to 10 staff members will order a coffee each session, with the participant making and delivering them.
“It’s a low-stress way to practice the whole workflow. All we really need from the business is some bench space, a power outlet, and access to water. A fridge is ideal but not a deal-breaker,” she says.
“It’s a fantastic team-building moment for the office too!”
Participants who would like to be involved will need the relevant funding in their NDIS plan to cover the therapy sessions, the ability to commit to the same time each week and the motivation and capacity to engage in a one-hour, focused session.
Ashlee says that it’s important that people know that the program is so much more than a barista course. It helps to build the foundations of a professional identity, reliability, communication, and confidence in a real-world setting. For participants, the program is ultimately about being trusted, being visible, and being valued as a contributor.
“That shift in how someone sees themselves is profound,” says Ashlee.
“I truly believe that with the right support and the right environment, everyone has something valuable to contribute. Grounds for Growth is all about creating the space for that to happen, one coffee at a time.”
For more information about participating or hosting in Grounds for Growth, email ashlee@atot.com.au.
