The Disability Trust’s Plant Room café opens at HammondCare’s aged care home

Pictured (left to right): The Disability Trust Acting CEO Tarryn Bracken, cafe worker Tim McGovern and HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn
A new café at HammondCare's Hammondville aged care home, just 31km southwest of Sydney, is providing employment opportunities for supported employees with disabilities, offering delicious food and drinks to residents, visitors, staff, and the wider community.
The Plant Room Café, operated by The Disability Trust, serves barista-made coffee and fresh, high-quality food, under the expert direction of renowned chef Lorenzo Pagnan. With its welcoming atmosphere, it is a place for residents, their loved ones, and the wider community to enjoy a bite to eat or grab a coffee.
Hammondville, historically established as a housing project for destitute families by Reverend Bob Hammond in 1932, is now home to Australia's largest number of dementia-specific residential care beds, alongside frail-aged residents and independent living units. The new café is an exciting addition to the site, which is known for providing exceptional care.
The café builds on the success of The Plant Room Café, which opened in October 2023 at HammondCare’s Horsley dementia care village. This café was the first of its kind in Australia to combine supported employment in a dementia care setting.
On 27 February 2025, the Plant Room Café at Hammondville was officially launched by HammondCare CEO Andrew Thorburn and The Disability Trust’s Acting CEO Tarryn Bracken. The launch event was attended by residents and employees of both organisations, marking the café’s official opening.
At the heart of the café is its team of supported employees, including Oliver, a 27-year-old worker who’s thrilled to be part of the team at Hammondville. Oliver takes pride in a range of tasks, including taking orders, serving food, washing dishes, and cleaning up.
"I love the variety of my work and the chance to make a difference in people’s day," Oliver said. “I also have big dreams, like traveling the world. Last year, I visited Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and I’m planning a South Pacific cruise next month."
The Plant Room Café at Hammondville is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 3pm. Whether you're visiting a loved one, grabbing a bite, or simply enjoying a coffee break, everyone is welcome to come by and experience the warm atmosphere of this community-driven social enterprise.