• In short: A new cafe with a focus on helping new residents is opening in Hobart, as a multicultural startups program based in the same building celebrates its first graduates
• What’s next?: Planning for round two of the multicultural startups program underway

When it comes to cafes in Hobart, the city isn’t short on options. 

But a new addition on the edge of the bustling North Hobart strip is looking to brew more than just a quality cup. 

Called Esteem Coffee, the cafe is the latest venture from volunteer organisation CityNetworks and is designed to be a social hub — particularly for Hobart’s newest residents. 

“Our goal is to build a community,” CityNetwork’s Ren McGrath said. 

“When you move to a new place, especially if it’s a different culture, or a different religion or community, I think the first thing that takes a hit is your self-esteem.

“We wanted there to be a hub where people could feel safe to come and put in requests (for assistance).”

The premise is simple — rather than people just coming in, ordering a coffee and heading on their way, customers are able to fill in a small form where they can ask for help with settling into their new home.

For some, that request might be for help practising conversational English, for others it could be navigating government forms, or deciphering public transport routes.

From there, CityNetworks, along with support from the Hobart Baptist Church, will reach into their pool of networks to find someone able to lend a hand.

“It’s hard to make that initial connection, and to build that first friend or contact, and we wanted to create a space where people could come and ask for that,” Ms McGrath said. 

“If you want conversational English, or you need your lawns mowed, or you’re a barista and you say ‘I just want to feel like I’m at home and I want to make some coffees for a day and meet some people’ we want to encourage that.

“We will do our best to put them in touch or make that connection for them — essentially, act as a network.”

Breaking down barriers

The cafe isn’t the only venture in the building which aims to help migrants and refugees.

The site is also used as a hub for a new multicultural startups program.

Run through a partnership between CatholicCare and CityNetworks, the eight- week program helps guide participants through processes involved with running a small business, such as business plans and online marketing.

The pilot cohort officially launched their businesses at a market bazaar this weekend.

The program is already a success story CatholicCare program coordinator Natalie Booley is proud to tell. 

“We realised there were a lot of talented artists amongst our cohort of clients in the community that were interested in launching a small business and not quite sure about how to start,” she said. 

“We have one lady from the Ukraine who paints traditional Ukrainian folk art, another lady from Afghanistan who does quite emotive portraits, and then a participant from China who does digital art,” she said.

“They’re all very different, but all really wonderful at what they do. They’re [already] talking about doing workshops together; it’s been really great.”

Building confidence and connection 

For Ukrainian artist Anna Mykhalchuk, the startup program has been a significant confidence booster, as well as providing her with the chance to share a piece of her culture with her new home in Tasmania. 

“It’s really hard to know how to do business in another country,” Ms Mykhalchuk said. 

“Every week was very helpful because we’d have mentoring sessions, and an experienced person [would] come and tell us about how to better set up our business, what we should know about financials, and about our products and marketing.” 

Ms Mykhalchuk said she had been able to connect with potential customers.

“It’s also my way to support my country and my family, because I’m keeping this tradition going.”

Round two of the multicultural startup program is now being planned, with the next common thread set to be hospitality ambitions.

Esteem Coffee is also seeking expressions of interest from volunteers who would like to get involved.

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