WANTA Aboriginal Corporation

From the classroom to community leadership: How WANTA helped Rayshaun turn small steps into big dreams

Rayshaun's Story

I never thought I’d be helping to run a cafe in my own community. Now, I’m mentoring younger kids, learning business skills, and thinking about my own future. – Rayshaun

In the remote Northern Territory community, Ngukurr, opportunities can feel pretty far away. This all changed when we started making coffees at school through the WANTA Academy program. At first it was just for the teachers, but then we had an idea: what if we opened a real cafe for the whole community? That’s how Bagai Barista began.

Now, the cafe runs five days a week. We open at 8:30am, and I’m there early – setting up, checking stock, training the younger ones. We’ve sold thousands of drinks, from cappuccinos to hot chocolates and chai. I’ve learned how to use the machines, talk to customers, and even track sales through the student-friendly POS system.

Bagai Barista is more than just coffee. It creates a space for us to develop business skills, employment pathways, and earn our own income.

We even hold regular “Coffee with a Cop” mornings, where Ngukurr Police cover the cost of coffee for the community, to encourage conversation, trust and connection. This year, I got my Certificate I in Hospitality. This was a huge moment. Together with my classmates we are now planning a food menu, with bush foods and local ingredients.

It hasn’t always been easy. The water here isn’t good for coffee machines, so we rely on bottled water and portable sinks. Deliveries are slow and things don’t always arrive on time. Yet despite these challenges, thanks to our community, family and friends, Bagai Barista continues to grow, and so have I. I’ve even started a permanent part-time job with WANTA to help run the cafe, earning my own income, and showing others what’s possible.

I never thought I’d be helping to run a business in my own community. Thanks to WANTA, I’m now dreaming bigger. Maybe I’ll even run my own cafe one day!

About WANTA Aboriginal Corporation

WANTA aims to be a driving force in eradicating the educational disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, ushering in a future where every young individual has the
opportunity to reach their full potential. It aims to modify the risk and protective factors that influence the mental wellbeing of young people in remote Indigenous communities, including, but not limited to, school engagement. It delivers culturally appropriate programs elevating school attendance, educational excellence, social enterprise, and providing sport and cultural activities. WANTA is a community-led organisation whose board consists of local Indigenous leaders from the communities in which it operates. It envisions a world where every Indigenous child in remote communities has equal access to quality education and are empowered to break through barriers and embrace their unique talents.