INDUSTRY FEATURE The Next Shift Begins
L-R: HAMLET NEXT SHIFT COORDINATOR ALICE CHUGG, HAMLET CEO EMILY BRIFFA, HOSPITALITY TASMANIA’S ANGIE MCMAHON & HAMLET IMPACT AND INCLUSION OFFICER AMY LAWLER
Ten years ago, Hamlet set out to prove that hospitality could be about far more than food and coffee. A decade later, the Tasmanian social enterprise is not only transforming lives through employment pathways, but helping lead a wider conversation about how hospitality can become one of the state’s most inclusive industries. W hat began as a social enterprise café with a mission back in 2016 has grown into one of Tasmania’s most important pathways programs, helping people with disability, neurodivergence, and mental health concerns build confidence, develop skills, and secure meaningful employment in an industry that thrives on human connection. In an environment where hospitality businesses continue to battle workforce shortages and retention challenges, Hamlet’s latest initiative, Next Shift, arrives at a critical moment – not just for participants, but for the broader tourism and hospitality industry. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Hamlet is marking the milestone not by looking backwards, but by opening more doors forward.
“It’s a pretty big milestone,” Hamlet CEO Emily Briffa says. “I think it’s a big milestone for any hospitality business, but especially for an organisation like ours, which is tackling such a big issue in the state. “We’re very excited to have made it to 10 years, and that’s thanks to the ongoing support of the State Government and our community over those years.” Over the past decade, Hamlet has become far more than a café. It has become a training ground, a confidence builder, and for many participants, the first place they have truly felt seen within a workplace environment. The café’s warm atmosphere may be what customers notice first, but behind the counter is a carefully designed environment where people are supported to learn at their own pace, make mistakes safely, and build the confidence needed to step into the workforce. For many graduates, that safe space is life changing. Michael Rees, 22, knows that firsthand. Before Hamlet, he found the process of applying for jobs overwhelming.
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Tasmanian Hospitality Review June/July Edition
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