Lord Mayor Clover Moore said a partnership between the City of Sydney, TAFE NSW Outreach program and the Bower Reuse & Repair Centre at Marrickville has already seen 17 graduates aged between 20 and 70 restore 30 items of furniture, and earn Certificates in Work & Training. “Opportunities like this can help rebuild people’s confidence, provide them with new skills and help them move into a job,” the Lord Mayor said. “On top of that, their hands-on and creative work recycles discarded furniture which would otherwise end up as rubbish.”
The students from Randwick, Redfern, Marrickville and Blacktown took part in the 18-week TAFE NSW Outreach course at 107 Redfern Street – a building reactivated through the City’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 program and Accommodation Grants program.
Fiona Arnold, 53, of Petersham, had been out of work for almost 12 months when she signed up, and now has a part-time job selling restored furniture. “What this program has done for me is immeasurable. It’s given me back my self-esteem and got me out into the world. I’ve always had a passion for recycling, but it was just a hobby and I’d never been taught properly. I’ve finally found a home and a job I absolutely love,” Ms Arnold said. “This project has brought together a whole lot of people who ‘didn’t really belong anywhere’ and we’ve developed great friendships, confidence and a new support network.”
TAFE NSW PLACE (Partners in Learning and Community Enterprise) project coordinator Amanda Buckland said having a local, creative space to run programs made all the difference for her students. “The students learn new skills, engage with their local community and see their efforts benefitting others. Students leave this course with a new enthusiasm and passion to be more involved in the environment, arts and community.”
“Their new skills and confidence have led to the group forming a social enterprise, Curb Collective, to continue to upcycle, restore and sell their creations. We’ve had a mum with two kids finish the course, then set up her own business restoring furniture from home,” Maaike Pullar, the Bower’s general manager, said.
“The success stories are so encouraging, but more importantly, we’re inspiring these students back into the community and actively encouraging a repair culture to turn the battered and bruised into something classic or chic. Sometimes it’s as simple as fixing a hinge or setting straight a wonky leg, but some of the craftsmanship, artistic talent and re-invention design ideas these students have shown is incredibly impressive. They’re helping to extend the life of furniture and help it find a new home.”
Emmanuel Kostoglou helps design the program and co-ordinates different users at 107. “We have various groups in here at the moment,” he explained. “On Thursdays and Fridays we have a youth group. The first youth group, troubled youth in the area, put this room together, made the benches, painted it, put the doors on. Thirteen of the 15 participants in that group have now gone into apprenticeships, further study or jobs. Tuesdays are sustainability, carpentry skills and upholstery, from 10am to 1pm. HOBO-Gro (Help Others Build Opportunity) is another group – they make some great pieces, including worm farm cupboards and vertical gardens, all out of recycled materials.”
An exhibition of work will be staged at 107 Redfern Street in the near future.
