More Than Just a Cup of Coffee
Established in 2024, the Close Collective Cafe is a social enterprise cafe that is about more than serving delicious coffee and food - it's a place where every sip and bite positively impacts young people's lives.
Our Purpose
We exist for the collective investment in social connection, training and employment pathways for young people. All of the cafe's profits are invested in our purpose and vision of building brighter futures for people in our local community.
How it Started
Junction Support Services Ltd. began in the late 1980s and has grown into the largest youth organisation in the Ovens and Murray region. Today, we are recognised as a leading provider of youth services in Wodonga and a strong voice for young people across our local community.
For years, young people told us they needed a safe, inclusive place to meet, build connections, and access support. In response, Junction purchased The Grove in central Wodonga — transforming it into a modern, vibrant hub designed to meet local needs. This vision led to the creation of a community youth space and a social enterprise café where young people can connect, learn new skills, and find meaningful work opportunities.
In August 2023, we proudly opened Windbreak 3690 Community Youth Space, followed by the launch of Close Collective Café in March 2024. Close Collective Café is a Social Traders Certified Social Enterprise, delivering community impact by reinvesting every dollar back into youth support programs.
Today, Junction delivers over 50 programs across the region, including:
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crisis accommodation and youth homelessness support
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youth engagement and wellbeing programs
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family violence support services
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disability and care services
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education, mentoring, and learner driver programs
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food literacy, training, and work‑readiness programs
Every purchase made at Close Collective Café directly funds youth programs and community impact projects—helping us support young people experiencing homelessness, build food skills and confidence, and offer hands‑on training at both Windbreak 3690 and the café.
At Junction, our mission is simple: to support young people, strengthen families, and create a connected, thriving community.
Our Name
The café honours the legacy of Kate Close, a respected Junction team member who passed away in 2022. Kate dedicated her career to empowering young people, and her commitment inspired the creation of spaces that are warm, welcoming, and full of possibility — just like she was.
Collective embodies our vision to unite individuals and organisations, pooling our resources and efforts for the greater good of the community.