Starting a café is never just about opening the doors and hoping for the best. It’s about preparation, confidence and setting standards from day one. That’s exactly the approach Mahala from Tully took when she decided to open her new café, Haylas Kitchen.
Before her café was even up and running, Mahala travelled from Tully to Townsville to complete a Barista course with Equality Education. Rather than cutting corners, she wanted to properly understand coffee, equipment and service expectations so she could lead her team with confidence. This proactive step meant she wasn’t just relying on guesswork or trial and error she was investing in real skills, real knowledge and real outcomes from the start.
Once Haylas Kitchen opened its doors in Tully, Equality Education went one step further by travelling to Mahala’s café to deliver on-site training for her staff. Training in the actual workplace environment made a huge difference. Staff weren’t learning in a simulated setting they were learning on the very machines, benches and workflows they use every day. This ensured consistency, confidence and immediate application of skills.
The team completed nationally recognised training in Barista skills and the Food Safety Supervisor course, ensuring compliance while also lifting service quality across the board. But the training didn’t stop there. Equality Education also delivered a comprehensive workplace orientation program, covering essential topics that are often overlooked but critical to a healthy, professional workplace.
This included work health and safety, diversity and inclusion, dress code expectations, privacy in the workplace and appropriate use of social media. Staff were also guided through important conversations around drugs and alcohol in the workplace, how to address issues professionally, mental health awareness and the prevention of bullying, harassment and sexual harassment. These sessions helped create clarity, shared expectations and a respectful team culture from day one.
The feedback from the team said it all.
“The course was amazing.”
“Arty is so friendly and helpful.”
“It boosted my confidence.”
“I’ve learnt so much.”
One piece of feedback stood out in particular. Arty didn’t just teach the course, he actually fixed the café’s grinder and coffee machine on the spot. By adjusting the grinder correctly and setting up the machine for proper extraction, he ensured the team could consistently produce high quality coffee. This hands on, real world support made a noticeable difference to both staff confidence and coffee quality.
Haylas Kitchen is a perfect example of what happens when a business chooses ethical, hands on training over shortcuts. By investing in proper training before and after opening, Mahala set her café and her staff up for long term success.
This is what real training, real outcomes and genuine support look like in action and it shows in every cup poured and every customer served.
From Training to Transformation: How Haylas Kitchen Set the Standard Before Opening Its Doors
