Kingfisher Inclusive Cafe - by Blending Our Futures

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

EVANSTON Park’s inclusive café enterprise, Blending Our Futures, is set to create more opportunities for young people living with disability following the announcement of a new location inside the Hewett Centre.

The new venture, named Kingfisher Café and operated by Blending Our Futures, will open its doors for the first time this month.

Laura Waldhuter, the founder and owner of Blending Our Futures, said the sister café will offer a smaller, tailored environment to help people living with disability build skills, confidence and experience.

“Our Vadoulis café is a vibrant and busy operation, and we’ve seen firsthand the positive impact employment and training opportunities can have,” she said.

She said the smaller venue could serve as a perfect stepping stone to build vital hospitality skills.

What began as a single coffee trailer opened to help her daughter find employment has now grown to support 24 employees and trainees.

“We continue to receive wonderful feedback from customers and currently average around three new participant referrals every week,” she said.

Light Regional Council chief executive officer Darryl Whicker welcomed the news, labelling the new venture as a prime example of how organisations, council, and businesses can work together to make a difference.

“The Kingfisher Café will not only provide valuable training and employment pathways for people with disability, but it will also create another welcoming space for our community to come together, connect and support one another,” he said.

“We are proud to support initiatives that foster inclusion, participation and belonging while bringing new life and activity to important community spaces such as the Hewett Centre.”

The community is invited to join Light Regional Council Mayor Bill Close and Mr Whicker for a coffee at the grand opening on Friday, July 10 from 8am.

The café will then be open twice a week on Mondays and Fridays from 8am to 1pm.

05/07/2026

Our mascot needs a name!

Drop your name suggestions below and our trainees will vote to find the winner 🏆

The person who nominates the selected name will get a FREE coffee and cake at our new Kingfisher Inclusive Cafe at the Hewett Centre

01/07/2026

Who LOVES our logo?

Bringing Blending Our Futures and our new Kingfisher Inclusive Cafe together, ensuring people know that they are still with a team they love and trust.

I think our little bird friend needs a name though.

Add your suggestions below and if your name is chosen, you'll score yourself a FREE COFFEE & CAKE at the new location 🥳

01/07/2026

📣 THE SECRET IS OUT 📣

We’re thrilled to be able to officially announce that we’re opening a second location!

Open Mondays and Fridays from 10th July.

The Kingfisher Inclusive Cafe will be our primary traineeship location whilst we support people to build the skills needed for supported employment.

We’re currently accepting new referrals for our Employment Pathways Program. More info can be found at blendingourfutures.com.au

☕💙 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞!

We’re excited to welcome the 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐞́, operated by Blending Our Futures Inclusive Café creating meaningful training and employment opportunities for people with disability while bringing great coffee and community connection to Hewett.

Open two weekdays (Mondays & Fridays) from 8am–1pm, the café provides a supportive environment where participants can build hospitality skills, confidence and experience on their pathway to employment.

Join us for the 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 at the Hewett Centre and experience this wonderful new community space for yourself.

Drop in, 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥'𝐬 𝐂𝐄𝐎 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐫 and grab a coffee, support a local initiative and help celebrate a more inclusive community. ☕✨