Brewing connections: Wollongong cafes serve up free coffees to support inclusion for people with disabilities

For Michael Lavilles, inclusion is more than just a concept — it’s personal.

As the father of 18-year-old Nathaniel, who has Down syndrome, he has witnessed firsthand the profound impact that a welcoming community can have on his son’s confidence and sense of belonging.

This sense of inclusion is at the heart of the Take A Mate campaign, a new initiative organised by the Jesus Club at St Michael’s Anglican Church in Wollongong.

Running from 20-26 September, the campaign invites people to bring a friend with an intellectual disability to one of eight participating Wollongong cafes, where they can enjoy a free coffee, hot chocolate or milkshake.

Campaign co-organiser Anna Cook said the aim was to foster connections within the community and create welcoming spaces for individuals with intellectual disabilities.

She said those who participated in the week-long campaign would also be entered into a draw for prizes, including the chance to share a coffee with St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW players Tara McGrath-West and Keele Browne or two tickets to an Illawarra Hawks basketball game and a photo with the team.

Michael, who is also a coordinator of the campaign, said when Nathaniel came home from the Jesus Club group, he was full of confidence.

“In the last two years he has attended the group he has advanced in his speech and confidence in talking to people,” he said.

“In the group, Nathaniel is accepted as who he is as a person, not because he has a disability, and people running the group genuinely spend time with him which is very rare in his life.”

He said when Nathaniel was at school, he wasn’t invited to birthday parties or to hang out by mainstream kids.

“For me as his dad it is a very big thing when he is invited to something,” he said.

“When a school kid says hello to him in the local supermarket, you can see it in his body – he becomes tall with this confident swagger.

“This campaign is enormous to people with an intellectual disability like Nathaniel to be invited for a coffee. Imagine being taken out by two Dragons players or by two Hawks players.”

Anna said the campaign was to demonstrate that everyone mattered to God, foster safe and loving spaces within the community and spread awareness of Jesus Club as a welcoming and supportive place, which participants weren’t under any obligation to join.

She said the club, which began 18 months ago, offered more than a place to socialise, with games, music, Bible teaching and crafts, all tailored to the needs of its members.

“One parent is particularly thankful for the way her son has developed his conversational skills, which is just lovely,” she said.

“He’s able to initiate a conversation far more comfortably and ask questions of another person, which she didn’t see him able to do before he started coming.

“He feels loved and valued. People are interested in him in a genuine way.”

Organisations like the Illawarra Dragons, Illawarra Hawks, The Disability Trust and Hotel TOTTO Wollongong all welcomed the Take A Mate initiative to create a more inclusive world for people with disabilities.

Choice Mental Health services manager Brendan Reilly said many in the community struggled to find meaningful connections and community.

“How much more challenging is it for people living with an intellectual disability?” he said.

“So let’s grab a mate, grab a coffee together and get amongst it.”

St Michael’s Anglican Wollongong senior minister Mark Smith said, “Jesus’ heart was for those others forgot”.

“Take A Mate aligns with this vision by embracing everyone, including those often overlooked,” he said.

“It’s a place of joyful inclusion for all, and we’re excited to see the community come together.”

Cafes to take a mate to are: Ariel Cafe, Wollongong; Nadia’s Cafe, Wollongong; San Churro, Wollongong; Lower East Cafe, Wollongong; Hotel TOTTO, Wollongong; Plant Room Cafe, Spring Hill by The Disability Trust; Plant Room Cafe, Horsley by The Disability Trust; and Cakes by Rach, Port Kembla.

Learn more about Jesus Club and Take A Mate.