Mini Woolies
Empowering Independence Through Real-World Learning – Beyond a mere educational tool, the Mini Woolies program empowers young Australians and New Zealanders with disabilities, providing them an invaluable, hands-on learning environment.
Launched in 2018 at St Edmunds College, the program has since grown to over 70 locations, each meticulously designed to simulate a Woolworths supermarket. These Mini Woolies sites are more than just small-scale sites; they’re platforms for building confidence, developing essential skills, and fostering independence. Each Mini Woolies is fully equipped with grocery shelves, registers, and Woolworths-branded uniforms, allowing students to engage in realistic retail scenarios. Here, they learn to scan items, process a sale, and navigate customer interactions in a supportive environment.
The program has experienced remarkable growth, with milestones arriving in quick succession. The 50th site opening at Coreen School in Blacktown in 2023 marked a significant moment, underscoring the program’s rapid expansion and its widening influence. By March 2024, Mini Woolies had extended its reach across the Tasman, arriving in New Zealand.
The true power of Mini Woolies lies in its community impact. For over 6,000 young people, these sites have provided a safe space to practice real-world tasks, from managing money to stocking shelves – skills that are vital for their future independence. The program’s success is a testament to the power of immersive learning, as students leave these spaces more confident and better prepared to engage with the world around them.
For over six years, the Mini Woolies program has set up new connections in communities across Australia and New Zealand, from major cities to regional hubs, offering young people with disabilities the tools to build confidence and independence. But don’t just take our word for it; have a look at some of the work the program does across Australasia, right here.
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