User:Sunisa.nardone/draft of article

Introduction
STREAT Melbourne is a social enterprise that targets the social problem of youth homeless ness through a model involving foodservice. For a period of 6 months, a class of young people become STREAT trainees, and study at the William AngIiss Institute of TAFE to gain their Certificate II in Hospitality.The STREAT program combines one-to-one support with in-house professional workers; industry training and employment opportunities through street food carts. The food carts sell healthy street food from around the globe and are where the students hone their skills, gain employment and generate the organisation’s revenue. As a social enterprise all commercial activities are dedicated to generating funds to address areas of acute social need that is youth homelessness.

History/Founders
STREAT was co-founded in 2008 by Rebecca Scott and Kate Barrelle.

Rebecca Scott initially commenced a science degree at the University of Newcastle in 1991. It took Scott a couple of years in the science laboratory to realise she was better at talking about science than actually working behind a bench. Similarly, it was around this time Scott became increasingly involved in international development and art projects. These include development projects in Vanuatu and Vietnam, founding the Scinema International Film Festival helping establish the ACT Film Makers’ Network’ and being on the Board of the Australian Choreographic Centre. In 2005, Scott was awarded a Vincent Fairfax Fellowship for ethical leadership. It was working in Vietnam that Scott came across KOTO, a street youth café in Hanoi. After working at KOTO for a few years Scott decided to build a scalable social enterprise model that could be based anywhere in the world resulting in the conception of STREAT Melbourne.

Co-founder Kate Barrelle is a clinical and forensic psychologist by trade and is passionate about people. Barrelle has designed the social support program that is the core to STREAT’s program and the wellbeing of the young people who complete the program.

STREAT products
The STREAT food cart is open 5 days a week, from Tuesday- Sunday. It is a weather-dependent cart located at Federation Square, Melbourne. The menus offered at the cart are seasonal and loyalty cards are offered along with a meal.

The STREAT coffee cart is located in Melbourne Central Shopping Centre, Melbourne. It is open seven days a week. The cart offers fair trade coffee and tea.

Melbourne street culture
One of the reasons why the co-founders of STREAT decided to commence business in Melbourne is due to Melbourne’s renowned street culture. Melbourne, Australia is especially renowned for its unique laneways throughout the city adorned with street art. STREAT is also working with Blender Studio artist Adrian Doyle to develop creative projects to compliment the STREAT program and to further incorperate STREAT into Melbourne street culture.