DNC received $47,000 funding from ACFE (Adult, Community and Further Education), a statutory authority of the Victorian Government. 

Head of the centre’s committee of management, Gina Lyons, said the funding allowed the centre to open a social enterprise, a mushroom farm, to employ community members with disabilities. 

“The funding gives us the ability to develop a small local industry to train up and employ local people, who otherwise wouldn’t be able to get work,” she said. 

The centre’s community engagement officer, Danny Liversidge said the enterprise would be a good use of the land. 

“We are focusing on oyster mushrooms as they are considered more of a delicacy over button mushrooms. They are not easily sourced here so we are dealing with a product that is seen as a bit of a specialty. 

“We believe the basis of the output of the produce will be taken up by local cafes and restaurants. We see local businesses buying into this,” he said.

The social enterprise is a first for the town, with many other businesses watching closely.

“The whole community will have an opportunity to be involved.

“The thing about the social enterprise is we need the whole town on board; we need businesses buying the mushrooms and we need cafes to supply one of the key components, coffee grounds, which are essentially a waste product that we will use as a fertiliser,” Mr Liversidge said.

The enterprise will provide paid full-time work for four people, who receive funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme and a supported network.

The job will include working in a refrigerated environment, picking up coffee grounds from businesses, growing, packing and delivering mushrooms back to businesses. 

Mark Castle, from Windarring, set up a similar enterprise of growing and selling mushrooms in Kyneton.

He will speak at the centre’s annual general meeting on May 9. The public is welcome to attend.