If you’ve been feeling a little blue from all the bad news popping up lately, we hope we restore your faith in humanity a little with this story.

Woolworths is taking an extra step towards providing young Australians with special needs an even brighter future by launching 25 more ‘mini supermarkets’ in schools around the country!

The retail giant initially released the Mini Woolies program back in 2018 with Fujitsu, a technology company, with the objective of putting up small-scale Woolworths stores at 12 schools for students (and inclusive recruitment centres) with special needs.

Now, they have announced plans to roll out 25 more of the specialty supermarkets across every state and territory by June next year in an effort to foster a safe, fruitful, and inclusive work environment for people who have learning or developmental delays.

The program teamed up with local schools and inclusive recruitment specialists, clocking over a thousand students and candidates that are on board the program to date.

Mini Woolies! Image Credit: Daily Mail​

Each mini supermarket replicates a typical Woolworths experience, as they are equipped with baskets for carrying groceries, supermarket shelves, fully operational Fujitsu registers, and Woolies uniforms for the staff.

Team members from local Woolworths supermarkets will be there as well to assist with register training and the set-up of each store.

Students will be able to develop customer service skills, scan grocery items, handle money, and process sales in a comfortable environment.

Managing Director of Woolworths Supermarkets Natalie Davis shared that the company was proud to expand the heart-melting initiative.

“We’ve opened a dozen mini Woolies in the past four years and today we’re proud to commit to a further 25 more,” she said. “It’s encouraging to hear the positive community response to date from students, candidates, parents, teachers, and principals in our first dozen mini supermarkets.

“Inclusion plays a significant role within the Woolworths Group and we look forward to expanding the program to every State and Territory in Australia and continuing our partnership with Fujitsu to make this happen, creating better experiences together for a better tomorrow.”

Graeme Beardsell, Executive Vice President and CEO of Fujitsu added: “Fujitsu believes in using technology to create a society where all people can participate to their full potential.”

“We are thrilled to work with Woolworths on the Mini Woolworths program and to have the opportunity and privilege to enrich the lives of students. We look forward to the expansion of the program reaching even more students across the country.”

Construction of a mini Woolies. Image Credit: FujitsuAustralia​

The announcement coincided with the launch of the latest Mini Woolies this week at Clarke Road School in Sydney’s Hornsby, which caters to students (with intellectual and other disabilities) in years K-12.

The new mini-supermarket was made possible thanks to Woolworths’ state construction team who built the facility using a storage unit refurbished by the Ku-ring-gai Rotary.

The construction team provided accessible pathways into the mini supermarket, an outdoor fruit and vegetable garden, and a chicken pen.

“The opening of Clarke Road Fresh Food and the building of a mini supermarket on site represents all that we would hope in opening new worlds for our students by: providing a real-world experience of a supermarket in a safe and secure environment, building students’ skills in sorting categorising, communication, and independence, and using money in a real-life context to purchase goods,” said Clarke Road School Principal Rebecca Saunders.

“The Mini Woolworths shop would enable our students to practice their skills in communication and exchange money for goods in a secure and known environment before moving out into the wider community.”

“I’d like to thank Woolworths and Fujitsu for their dedication over the last two months to refreshing our shed, fruit and vegetable patch, and chicken coop into an inclusive and stimulating environment where students can connect, succeed and thrive.”

A safe environment for students. Image Credit: Daily Mail​

Mini Woolworths Ambassador Kiara Misciagna is a recent graduate from the very first Mini Woolies site, St Edmund’s College.

During her time at the school, she reaped the experience and benefits of working for the Mini Woolies program and is now employed at her local Woolworths as a store greeter, Deli department assistant, and stock replenisher.

If you’re interested in hearing more about the mini Woolies program, you can contact them directly at [email protected] or visit their website here.

Get a glimpse of the program by watching the video below:

Video Credit: FujitsuAustralia​

 

[Ricci]

Good onya Woolies. Anything that can help these kids become fully functioning members of society is to be applauded. The sense of accomplishment, self worth and boost to morale cannot be underestimated.