Mini Woolies Te Ara Mahi opened at IDEA Services last week, providing a hands-on training space to help participants build confidence and potentially transition into the workforce.
The purpose-built room in South Dunedin replicates a real Woolworths store with operational checkouts, staff aprons, baskets and shelves of groceries.
The simulated supermarket gives the people IDEA Services supports the opportunity to gain practical retail experience in a safe, interactive environment.
The Dunedin location and an Invercargill branch that opened on the same day are the first of their kind in New Zealand to be hosted outside a special school, focusing instead on workplace training within the broader community.
Dunedin father Clive Dreyer said the facility offered a vital stepping stone for his son Tom, who spent the weeks leading up to the launch testing the registers and practising his customer service skills.
"The thing is that he loves helping people so it doesn’t matter what sort of arena it is, if he can help someone he couldn’t be happier," Mr Dreyer said.
"It just gives him a sense of accomplishment and it really fulfils that need that he is of value and he can provide a service to other people as opposed to always being in receipt of services.
"For me the thing is it is just a start to finding out what his potential is, because you have got to start somewhere, take that first step."
Mr Dreyer said his son worked at a younger intellectual age, but was physically completely able and demonstrated immense promise when given ways of developing it.
"For so long he has been defined by what he can’t do.
"I want him to be defined by what he can do."
Woolworths completed the store fit-out, while technology partner Fujitsu provided the software and systems to ensure a realistic checkout experience.
Staff from Woolworths in Andersons Bay will help support the operation.
IDEA Services Otago area manager Sonja Edmondston said the name Te Ara Mahi meant "the pathway to employment" and reflected a vision of creating practical chances that help people build skills, self-belief and future careers.
