Great food, a desire to employ locals and a dash of social conscience have been a recipe for success for Sunbury restaurateur Ami Tran.
When opening Vietnamese restaurant District 3429 in O’Shanassy Street late last year, Ms Tran sought to hire staff who lived in the area in a bid to create connection and help ease the area’s high unemployment.
She also wanted to use her place as a business owner and employer to provide opportunities for people having trouble landing a job.
That’s where recruitment agency Ostara Australia came in. The not-for-profit organisation works with employers and job seekers disadvantaged by mental illness or other disabilities.
It found six people with the right background to help make the new restaurant a success.
‘‘Doing something to help others is really important to me,’’ Ms Tran said. ‘‘And it’s worked for the business, too.’’
She said employees hired through Ostara Australia had all made the most of the opportunity.
‘‘At my other restaurant in Moonee Ponds, I would hire people who came in with their resumes, but often I’d find they didn’t appreciate the job,’’ Ms Tran said.
‘‘Ostara’s clientele have had difficulty finding a job previously so, when they get that opportunity, you find they are very attentive, they are on time and they really grab it with both hands.’’
Ms Tran said her staff, some of whom have anxiety or depression, had been accommodated with few difficulties.
‘‘I always ask them what they’re comfortable with. Some of them are very shy. Some of them like to keep to themselves. So I get them to work
out the back where they can do their own thing in their own time, such as portioning or grating vegies or restocking the store room.
‘‘Others are energetic and bubbly, but can only be like that for a short time so I will have them out the front on a short shift.’’
Former photographer Georgia Edwards had been unemployed for nearly two years when District 3429 took her on.
She said her new life as a waitress had done wonders for her confidence.
‘‘Before this job, I was just wandering,’’ Ms Edwards said.
‘‘The support I receive here has changed everything.’’
Ms Tran said she hoped other business owners would consider hiring people who had been doing it tough.
