We are a social enterprise delivering individualised training, work readiness, and wrap around support to Tasmanians with disability, neurodivergence, and mental health concerns.
Who we are
About us
Hamlet is a registered charity and a Tasmanian based social enterprise dedicated to creating meaningful employment opportunities for people who face barriers to work due to disability, neurodivergence, and mental health concerns.
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Who we are
Our impact
Our purpose is that people with disability have agency, opportunity and tailored support to participate with confidence in Tasmanian workplaces and communities.
To date, we have provided:
- 56,173 hours of training to
- 780 Tasmanians, and
- 68% of our program graduates last financial year secured employment or moved into further training opportunities
Who we are
Our vision
Our vision is for a Tasmania where people with disability have the opportunity to thrive, connected to their community, confident in their skills and valued for who they are.
Tasmania has the highest rates of disability in the country, yet people with disability continue to experience some of the lowest employment outcomes. Many face barriers that make it difficult to access training, gain experience, or find workplaces that understand and support their needs. At the same time, the Tourism and Hospitality sector is experiencing a significant skills shortage, with businesses across the state struggling to find and retain trained staff.
Hamlet exists at the intersection, aiming to be part of the solution to both issues.
We provide practical training and wrap around support that help people develop the confidence and skills they need to enter the workforce. By building a talent pipeline of job-ready, supported individuals, we also help industry fill critical workforce gaps.
Our work strengthens lives, strengthens businesses, and strengthens our community – creating a more inclusive, skilled, and sustainable future for Tasmania.
Hamlet is a social enterprise cafe located near the leafy Hobart rivulet. All revenue is directed back into supporting our community and helping to create positive change in the lives of Tasmanians with disability, neurodivergence and mental health concerns. We achieve this through;
Hands on Training
Learn in real hospitality settings, our café, catering, and production kitchen gaining practical skills while on the job.
Individualised Work Readiness
Tailored programs build confidence, communication, teamwork, and other essential workplace skills.
Wrap Around Support
One-on-one guidance, mentoring, and access to services ensure participants overcome barriers and stay on track.
Industry Connections
Local hospitality and tourism partners provide real world pathways and help address workforce shortages.
Pathways to Employment
Participants move into meaningful work or further training with the confidence and skills to succeed.
Impact in Action
Every shift, every catered event, and every cup of coffee helps participants build skills, gain confidence, and step into meaningful employment.
Hamlet began with a simple idea: combine great hospitality with real opportunity. When Emily Briffa moved to Tasmania, she saw two pressing challenges, high rates of unemployment, and a hospitality and tourism sector struggling to find skilled staff. She believed these problems could potentially solve each other.
Starting with a small café, Emily and her team created a space where people could learn, train, and gain real work experience while serving local, seasonal food. Those first shifts weren’t easy; long days, busy kitchens, and the challenge of balancing training with running a business, but the results were transformative.
People who had struggled to find work, or faced social and personal barriers, began to thrive. Hesitant trainees gained confidence, developed skills, and moved into meaningful employment. Each coffee served, event catered, or gift purchased became an opportunity for someone to grow, learn, and succeed.
Over time, Hamlet evolved and launched additional social enterprises including catering and corporate gifting all designed to create inclusive training and employment opportunities. Today, Hamlet continues to be a place of opportunity, where skills are developed, and lives are changed, proving that business can be a powerful force for social impact and community growth.
Hamlet is a social enterprise, meaning the majority of our work is self-funded through our café, catering, and corporate gifting operations. Unlike charities that rely primarily on donations or grants, our income comes from the services and products we provide, creating a sustainable model that directly supports our training programs and inclusive employment initiatives.
We do require additional funding to deliver the high level of training and support that allows us to reach the number of participants we do. Currently, we receive support from the Tasmanian Government, which helps us maintain and expand our programs, ensuring participants gain the skills, confidence, and work-ready experience they need to succeed.
Every meal served, event catered, and gift purchased contributes to inclusive employment and real opportunities in our community.