After months of planning, a North East disability support organisation's mobile coffee van has hit the road.
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The Little Vintage Van has appeared at Wodonga's Les Stone Park this week and will be staffed by participants at ConneXtions.
The not-for-profit is based in West Wodonga and purchased the coffee van from a Corowa-based business last year, with the intention of utilising it for training and employment.
ConneXtions employee Rochelle Smith has been preparing the van for deployment.
With support of Wodonga Council, Ms Smith began operating this week and hopes to bring participants on board very soon.
"We're doing a test drive at the moment, and then we'll be able to get participants in the van," she said.
"There are two participants in particular we have in mind.
"It's all about giving them new opportunities by expanding what they already know and playing on their strengths.
"People who are really interested in coffee will definitely be involved."
Ms Smith began working at ConneXtions earlier this year and was excited for the van to find a location after attending the RSPCA 4 Paws Walk.
"COVID hit and there were a few logistical things to work through," she said.
"But we're here now and it's very exciting.
"A coffee van is a totally new adventure for them - it's come from our employment options team.
"We have two parts to that; there's gardening and outdoor work and this is the second part of it coming to fruition now.
"It was a really awesome opportunity - they wanted me to give some training to people and help them upskill."
ConneXtions was founded by Toni Reeves in 2017, after a two-year consultation process with families and people in North East Victoria and Southern NSW.
The business acquired what was an industrial shed on Moorefield Park Drive in 2020, opening a social learning hub.
Ms Smith, who recently moved back to the Border after living in Batemans Bay and managing a cafe there, has enjoyed being part of the ConneXtions team.
"They're the best people and it's such a great opportunity," she said.
"I do have the best job in the world - I get to talk to people and training people is fun.
"What they get out at the end of it is something else."
The van will be at Les Stone Park until midday, Mondays to Wednesdays.
Ms Smith welcomed interest from those wishing to book the van for events or functions.
