Episode 122: STREAT - Collingwood

In this episode of ArchiTel we are showcasing a beautiful project by Six Degrees Architects, the STREAT cafe and training facility in Cromwell Street, Collingwood Victoria. We talk to architect Simon O’Brien.

STREAT is an organisation setup to support and help homeless and disadvantaged youth across Melbourne and Australia by giving them the help they need to gain skills and experience in the hospitality industry. STREAT was started in 2009 by Rebecca Scott & Kate Barrelle.

STREAT’s Youth Programs Team is multidisciplinary so that they can tackle a young person’s issues on a variety of different fronts. The team is made up of youth workers, social workers and is supported by a clinical and forensic psychologist. At STREAT they want to see teenagers and young adults thrive in every part of their lives, and help them to do that by working with them to address their needs, and by supporting them to aim for and achieve their aspirations.

The building we are highlighting in this weeks episode is STREAT’s flagship site, Cromwell STREAT. STREAT’s scaling is progressing very well and with the opening in September 2016, the organisation now runs seven interconnected businesses (four cafes, a catering company, an artisan bakery and a coffee roastery). Cromwell STREAT will enable them to triple their turnover and triple the number of youth helped each year – to 365. It will also bring STREAT to the point of financial sustainability. This $6.5 million project has been a huge 3-year collaborative effort of major partners, philanthropists and supporters and once again involves a pioneering and award-winning impact investment component.

This weeks story is brought to you by:

Producer: Ron Brown Director: Ron Brown Camera Operator: Ron Brown Editor: Andrew Cox