Coles has fitted out a fully functioning supermarket at St Lucy’s School, an independent school for students with disabilities, to assist in teaching students practical life skills.
Located on its Wahroonga, NSW campus, the shop is designed to provide a guided work experience environment for senior students who will carry out a range of tasks such as stocking shelves, customer service and ensuring the shop is a fantastic environment for customers.
Junior school students will be able practice shopping for themselves or helping their family on supermarket visits in an authentic and familiar setting.
Coles Chief Marketing Officer and co-chair of the Coles Accessibility Steering Committee Lisa Ronson says helping Australians living with disabilities is one of its key priorities.
“Our team is so proud to be supporting the mini store at St Lucy’s and we think the program is fantastic to teach students valuable life and future employment skills,” says Ms Ronson.
Coles General Manager and fellow co-chair of the Coles Accessibility Steering Committee Martin Smithson says: “Gainful employment is a pathway to security and autonomy and as one of the country’s largest employers we know we have an important role to play. Coles is always on the lookout for ways that we can assist people with disabilities through providing employment opportunities through our partnerships with services like Disability Works Australia.”
Earlier this year, Coles announced its involvement in the $2.43 million RecruitAble pilot scheme in partnership with the federal government that seeks to create more job opportunities and inclusive workplaces
The RecruitAble pilot is a partnership between Get Skilled Access, founded by Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott AO, and national recruitment agency Randstad Australia.