Supermarkets in school to help train real-life skills

Mini supermarkets are popping up in schools across the country in a bid to provide employment and social opportunities for Australian kids with disabilities.

For the last five years Woolworths' has been providing a space for students with diverse needs to learn on-hand skills like customer service while at school.

Mini Woolworths Ambassador Kiara Misciagna is a recent graduate from St Edmund's College where the scheme was first launched in 2018.

She is now an official Woolworths employee.

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"Yes, I am working at Woolworths," said Miscianga.

"I do cheese cutting and greeting people."

Miscianga said the thing she loves about working at Woolworths is seeing people smile and saying hello to her.

The Mini Woolies program has been rolled out at 12 schools so far, but is set to expand to 25 by June next year.

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The national expansion of the program was announced at the opening of the newest Mini Woolies at Clarke Road School in Hornsby, Northern Sydney.

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Clarke Road School Principal Rebecca Saunders said the shop "will enable the students to practice their skills before moving out into the wider community".

Each mini-supermarket replicates the Woolworths experience with baskets for fresh food, supermarket shelves, a fully operational check out and the Woolies uniform.

Team members from local Woolworths supermarkets help train the students.