There is no shortage of cafes and eating spots in Bright. But Dumu Balcony Cafe stands out, even if its a bit hard to find. It is a social enterprise that employs and trains participants from the Thathangathay Foundation’s Leadership Program.

The Thathangathay Foundation aims to improve the lives of the indigenous people of the Thamarrur region in the Northern Territory through identifying and developing its future leaders. 

DumuThese leaders will become role models through programs that deliver education, training and skill development in both their traditional culture and the western world

Participants in the Thathangathay Leadership Program spend several months of each year of the program based at Bright, in Victoria’s North East.

While in Bright, the Leadership Program male participants will live in a rammed earth house that they were involved in building and the female participants will live in the old pack backers complex. While living in Bright they will be involved in a range of sporting activities, participate in the Mt.Hotham School Ski Program and engage in a range of educational, health, employment and cultural learning initiatives. 

Thats where the cafe comes into the picture. Participants in the program work in the cafe.

Dumu has great coffee and an interesting mix of food, with a good focus on regional produce. It also has Indigenous artwork from the Thamarrur region. Please drop in next time you’re heading through town.

It is located at the top end of the main shopping strip (4 Ireland Street). Its located upstairs in the old backpacker’s building, just on the left as you head up the hill towards the end of the shops).

Their facebook page is here.