If you’ve got a torn school uniform, a wobbly chair, a blunt kitchen knife or a toy that’s seen better days, the Waverley Repair Café is here to help. This free, Council-organised community event invites Eastern Suburbs locals to bring broken household items along for volunteer repairers to assess and fix — keeping usable items out of landfill and saving families money.
For mums juggling busy households, it’s a practical and sustainable way to extend the life of everyday essentials while showing kids the value of repairing rather than replacing.
What Can Be Repaired?
The Repair Café offers help with:
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Clothing and textiles – basic mending and sewing (no hemming or major alterations)
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Small electrical goods – excluding toasters, kettles, monitors and TVs
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Bike tune-ups – ideal for kids’ bikes needing a safety check
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Basic carpentry – small furniture and wooden household items
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Knife sharpening
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Costume jewellery – excluding gold chains, rings, watches or gemstone resets
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Toys
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Other small household “nick knacks”
A free Tag and Test service is also provided by a qualified technician for all electric goods repaired on the day, as well as electrical items you bring from home.
What Can I Expect on the Day?
Young and old people in repair cafe.
The Waverley Repair Café operates on a first come, first served basis. Bookings cannot be made in advance.
Here’s how it works:
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Arrive and register – A volunteer will greet you and ask you to complete a short form explaining what’s wrong with your item.
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Receive a time slot – You’ll be allocated a time to visit the appropriate repair station. If your time is later in the day, you can either wait or return at your allocated time. If a repairer becomes available sooner, you’ll be contacted.
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Repair assessment – At your allocated time, the repairer will examine your item and begin working on it.
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Advice if needed – If the item can’t be repaired, volunteers will do their best to provide advice on alternative options.
What Items Can’t Be Repaired?
Items will only be accepted if they can be carried by one person. The following items are not accepted:
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White goods and large bulky items
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Toasters, kettles, monitors and TVs
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Gold chains, rings or gemstones that need resetting
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Watches
If an item can’t be repaired on the day, you will need to take it home with you. Items cannot be donated or left behind, even if they are in working condition.
Can You Fix Electrical Items?
If an electrical item can be opened (for example, it has visible screws or fasteners), there’s a good chance volunteers can assess what’s wrong.
However, some items are manufactured in a way that prevents them from being opened, meaning they can’t be assessed. For safety reasons, you should never attempt to open electrical items yourself unless you are qualified.
If you’re unsure, bring it along for an assessment.
How Can I Get Involved?
The Repair Café is powered by volunteers and is always looking for more helping hands. You can get involved if you have:
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Repair skills in sewing, woodwork, bikes, jewellery, gadgets, shoes and more
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A desire to learn repair skills or build confidence
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No repair skills at all, but an interest in helping support the day
To register your interest, complete the online form and select “Repair Café.”
When Is the Next Repair Café?
Waverley Council’s Repair Café and Learn to Repair workshops will return in 2026, with dates to be announced.
For Eastern Suburbs families wanting to save money, reduce waste and connect with the community, the Waverley Repair Café is a simple but powerful initiative. Sometimes all something needs is a little care — not a trip to landfill.
