Mentally

By Bridget Cook
MADCAP Café opened its doors at Westfield Fountain Gate yesterday (Wednesday), offering people dealing with mental illness a chance to break into the workforce.
The Café aims to provide work opportunities for people, including those experiencing mental illness and works towards giving the community a better understanding of the illness.
The café will employ local residents, Eastern Regions Mental Health Association (ERMHA) clients and Disability Employment Service clients who have been refereed to ERMHA.
MadCap Café, which also runs in Dandenong, was born after ERMHA noticed that many of their clients wanted to get back into employment.
All ERMHA clients complete a six month, on-the-job, traineeship at Madcap where they become equipped with life skills including time management, presentation and communication, as well as food and beverage preparation, hygiene and storage.
MadCap Café project manager Anthony Cheeseman said the venture was a transitional café. He said the aim was that after the ERMHA employees complete their traineeship, they could move onto to another employment of choice or even start a TAFE course.
Mr Cheeseman said with one in five people were diagnosed with mental illness in Australia.
“Even in good economic times, funding employment and holding down a job isn’t easy for many people with mental illness,” he said.
“A lack of understanding, as well as the stigma still associated with mental illness, means they are often overlooked by employers.”
Mr Cheeseman said Madcap aimed to give these people an opportunity to break into the workforce.
MadCap Café in Westfield Fountain Gate was able to open its doors after ERMHA secured funding from the Federal Government.
For more information or if you would like to be in partnership with MadCap, contact Mr Cheeseman on 9706 7388 or email a.cheeseman@ermha.org.