Killara Cafe, an Indigenous social enterprise, celebrated its official grand opening on Saturday, June 4.
Killara Cafe is a project created in partnership with Stockland Mt. Atkinson, the Killara Foundation and Edmund Rice Services Mt. Atkinson (ERSMA) on McKinley Drive in Truganina.
The cafe is a social enterprise run by the community, providing opportunities for employment, on-the-job training, and education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The cafe officially opened its doors during National Reconciliation Week, with Elders hosting a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony.
The community enjoyed free coffee in the new space, which includes a large round table created from reclaimed redwood timber representing a Yarning Circle, as well as themed arts and craft sessions, face painting, reptile experiences, and games.
Stockland Development Manager, Philip Wan, said it was “great to see the cafe come to life alongside the community and our partners”.
“Killara Cafe has been designed to support and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It will be a social hub for the growing Mt. Atkinson community and act as a shared space for storytelling, knowledge sharing, connection to place, education, and respect,” he said.
“Thank you to The Killara Foundation and Edmund Rice Services for their work alongside Stockland on this project. We look forward to seeing the Mt. Atkinson community enjoy its newest cafe.”