A new cafe has recently opened on Keen Street in the previous La Baracca building in the CBD and it’s a little bit ewnique.

Cuppas For Ewes employs people with disabilities, giving them a hand-up to get workplace experience and supporting them to get further training and qualifications. This is not through any specialty program or scheme, the cafe offers regular employment with full award wages.

Sheree Moore, owner, has a background of 16 years in aged care and public health. She realised that there was a big gap in the sector and opened Blacksheep care services.

Twelve months into servicing and supporting people under the NDIS scheme she noticed that a lot of the supported employment that is available for people with disabilities is paid at an inferior rate, and she wanted to create something that would provide equal opportunities. 

Cuppas For Ewes currently employs 6 staff of diverse abilities from those with anxiety and depression to a staff member who is deaf and another who is mute. A new staff member will be starting soon who is blind and will be bringing her support dog to work.

“It's all about equality, and diversity,” Sheree shared. “People with disabilities have still got a lot to offer. You just need to find their niche.”

“We aren't the sort of people who are going to get offended if they decide to move on to other employment - because hopefully, we've been a part of that opportunity!”

Cuppas For Ewes is a comfortable place for a good old-fashioned breakfast or lunch, with everything available being lactose-free, and gluten-free options. Everything is made on-site except bread and pastry.

The menu is quite affordable. “We understand the cost the cost of living and we wanted to keep it down so the prices are fairly cheap,” Sheree explained, “because good food shouldn't cost a fortune. We know that it could be the only time you go out to eat for a whole month. So we want you to walk out full and happy without spending a fortune.”

The furniture in the cafe is up-cycled and very eclectic. “It's very comfortable. Because everyone's so busy. It's nice to take five minutes breathe and coffee tastes different if you're relaxed and if you're not rushed.” Sheree said. Most of the furniture is also for sale, so if you find a chair that you really like to sit in, you can take it home.

Sheree, who is originally from Wagga, explained that they are using Cuppas For Ewes as a pilot, and that if it works well here then they will open up coffee shops in the other areas that Blacksheep services. The reason that they chose Lismore when they were looking for an office for Blacksheep on the north coast was through wanting to help the community following the 2022 flood. 

“We were looking for somewhere between Port Macquarie and Tweed. And we were going to go fairly central but then we realised Lismore fell into that area. And after seeing on the news what you guys went through with the floods, we figured that we might as well come to Lismore and give back to the community, employ locals and spend our money here because I think Lismore needs a hand up.”

Cuppa For Ewes’ opening hours are 5am - 2pm through the week and currently open on Saturdays. 

After Christmas, it will be open Sundays 8am - 2pm with a lunchtime special of pork or lamb roast with all the trimmings and dessert (trifle, pavlova or apple pie) for $35 per person, which will need to be booked ahead.

So far the community support for the business has been great, and Sheree feels very positive for the future of Cuppas For Ewes.