Second Beginnings coffee van launched at International Women's Day event
iReach Rural Health plans to start a coffee service as a way of helping locals with mental health or addiction issues get back into the workforce.
A new coffee van will soon be seen around Murray Bridge, but it won’t just be for serving coffees.
More importantly, it will offer second beginnings.
Local rural health service iReach held an International Women's Day event last Thursday, announcing their plan to create a safe working environment for people with mental health issues.
Clinical services manager Lisa Courtney said they had noticed that work was an important factor for many of the people they were helping with mental health and addiction issues.
Second Beginnings would be about hope, community connection and recovery, she said.
“Interpersonal skills are a bit harder; having a safe environment to be able to practise those skills isn’t catered for in a mainstream work environment,” Ms Courtney said.
"There's a purpose to everyone and everything.
“We thought that a social enterprise involving a cafe, op shop and kitchen garden might be the way to go.”
The feedback from the community had been amazing, with more than 100 responses in two weeks, she said.
In 2022 iReach – formerly the Murray Mallee GP Network – was granted $40,000 to explore and research the concept further.
Unfortunately they weren't able to receive enough support to start a cafe so they decided to meet in the middle and create a coffee van.
“The plan for now is to run it to cover costs and do our best, and see where it goes,” Ms Courtney said.
iReach have also just received a rural health innovations grant, which they plan to use to run weekly social impact groups with cooking and coffees for people that are struggling.
Ms Courtney said there were plenty of ways to help with Second Beginnings, including:
- volunteering
- donating
- spreading the word
- buying the products
- hosting the van at your workplace
- being part of the community
International Women's Day celebrated
The International Women's Day 2025 theme was March Forward: For All Women and Girls.
Guest speaker Pauline Walker shared her story on the different but important connections she's had throughout her life.
"When you have a messy childhood, you don't often have the tools that you need to be the person that you are," she said.
"I believe the connections that I've had has been a great foundation for who I am today.
"I've always been the kind of person that likes to ask others what their opinions are, I've known so many great women in my life and I would say majority of them were my family.
"My grandmother and aunties have helped me become the person that I am today," she said.
