It wasn’t until last year when the couple first began noticing small yet usual behavioural patterns in their three year old son Thomas that they began to think something was not quite right.

After dealing with his learning difficulties and obsessiveness with strict routine, the couple’s questions were finally answered when he was diagnosed with autism.

Aaron said it was this change in his son’s life that prompted him and Emma to change their own.

Working as an insurance broker at the time, Aaron decided the best way to help out his family was to follow his dream of owning a coffee shop, so on April Fool’s Day this year he and Emma became the new and excited owners of Cafe Latte.

“We used to come here for lunch and when we saw it on the market we thought it would be the best way we could look after Thomas,” Aaron said.

“Emma was very supportive because she knew I always wanted to own a coffee shop.”

The couple’s career change has given Emma, who previously worked at Wesley Uniting Employment, more time to care for Thomas as well as their two-year-old son Patrick, who has recently been diagnosed with hearing difficulties.

While Aaron describes Thomas as an intelligent little Casanova, he says as parents they are relied upon a lot more by their son to be around for support compared to other parents.

“Working here just gives us that flexibility, and the boys love coming into Daddy’s shop for strawberry milkshakes and chips,” Aaron said.

As well as the challenges on the home front, Aaron and Emma have also had to deal with the typical yet rewarding challenges of building up a new business including managing staff, insurance, customer relations and maintaining the building.

There have also been many highlights, which have made Aaron think the career change has been an incredibly worthwhile decision, including their recent Sopranos theme night, which was so successful it has encouraged them do another based on Elvis Presley.

Aaron and Emma are now looking into their business’s long-term future and say they have some big plans including a possible franchise, obtaining a liquor license and opening on Friday and Saturday nights.

“As long as Thomas is home with us I will be doing all I can to give us a chance,” Aaron said.