Repairing, Reusing, Recycling

Develop repair skills

In today's volatile world, financial instability, wars, and environmental disasters are ever present.
It's more important than ever to cultivate trade skills that are in short supply. Being able to maintain and repair anything that is damaged or broken, allows you to extend the life of tools, equipment, and anything else from the doors and windows in your home to the furniture you use at home and in your workspace..
For some, learning to fix, mend, and restore, we can not only save money but also develop a sense of empowerment and control over our lives.

For others, building your repair skills can lead to new business or career opportunities; or expand the services you are already providing at work.
We can break free from the cycle of disposability and develop a more mindful approach to consumption.

The True Cost of a Throwaway Society

Fast consumerism and an unwillingness to repair products leads to:

1. More waste ending up in landfill – this contributes to loss of habitat and biodiversity.

2. Increased extraction of new materials for disposable products – this depletes the world’s limited natural resources.

3. A continuous cycle of making new products – this contributes to soil and groundwater pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The Value of Reusing and Repairing

Reusing and repairing has many benefits – not just for individuals, but for society and the world:

Instead of throwing things away, we can bring them back to life.
We can conserve the resources needed to produce new products – such as water, energy, and raw materials.
By extending the life of products, we reduce the demand for new, resource-intensive products and lower our greenhouse gas emissions.
We can promote a culture of sustainable consumption, where individuals prioritise durability, quality, and longevity over disposability and convenience.
Repair workshops and groups can help to build strong communities and social connectedness

A Future of Repair

Repairing things, whether it's a leaky tap, a damaged fence, a broken appliance, or item of furniture, is not only a cost-effective way to extend the life of something but also a way to develop valuable trade skills.

By learning to fix things ourselves, we can save money on repair bills and manpower costs, which can add up to significant savings over time.

An average household could save $1,000s per year, and an average business even more, by simply learning to repair and maintain their own belongings.

Repair skills can even lead to new income streams. For example, if you're skilled at fixing furniture, you could start a small repair business or sell your services on online marketplaces. Likewise, if you're handy with electronics, you could repair and resell gadgets or offer your services as a freelance repair technician.

Why Learn Repair Skills?

In a world where ‘cost of living’ continually rises, being able to repair things is a no-brainer. You can:

Save heaps of money – no need to replace items or pay for professionals.
Become more self-sufficient – more independence and less reliance on others to fix things for you.
Develop traditional skills and knowledge, such as craftsmanship and DIY expertise.
Boost your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Become more adaptable in an ever-changing world.
Lower your carbon footprint by extending the life of products.
Make an income using the skills you learn.
Pass on your skills to others.

Where to Start

If you're new to repair and maintenance, don't worry! There are many courses and resources available that can help you with the specifics of each repair job, and you can find instructions on how to repair most things online.

There are however many general skills and areas of knowledge that you need to develop in order to understand issues that arise, make properly considered decisions about how to proceed with a repair job, and choose & use appropriate tools and materials to do each repair job that presents itself.

You can develop the confidence and skills to tackle a wide range of repair tasks relatively quickly once you learn the fundamentals. Our Small Equipment Repair course is a great starting point. Beyond that, experience and perhaps further studies will continue to deepen and broaden that knowledge and skill.

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