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Australian Repair Network

THE RIGHT TO REPAIR

Clean Up Australia supports and advocates for the right to repair in Australia. We believe that repairability is essential to ensuring products can remain in use for as long as possible – keeping them out of landfill!

Repair plays a critical role in product stewardship by promoting sustainability through responsible production and consumption. The ability to repair extends the lifespan of products, opens up service and repair markets, reduces waste and reduces the need for new resources.

To that end, Clean Up Australia is a proud member of the Australian Repair Network, a wide range of stakeholders who are keen to collaborate with industry and the community at large to develop legislative and policy changes that enhance repairability.

AUSTRALIAN REPAIR NETWORK

Recognising the complexity of ensuring the longevity of a range of goods, machinery and equipment, the Australian Repair Network (ARN) engages with all levels of government, policy makers, industries, repairers and the community to facilitate the need for a right to repair in Australia and liaise with universities and resource institutions on priority themes related to repair, durability and product life extension.

The ARN supports:

Development of an Australian Repair Label
Improved access to repair supplies for agricultural machinery
Improved repairability in specific markets, especially electronics
Amended copyright laws to facilitate access and sharing of repair information and manuals
Promotion of affordable repair services

One major project of the Australian Repair Network has been the development of the Community Repair Group Map, which showcases around 110 repair cafes and group initiatives listed in Australia relating to repairing, fixing and mending activities. You are able to consult the map below.

Interactive map of repair cafes in Australia (zoom to interact)

This map has been created by Karen Ellis of Mend It, Australia and is administered by the same.
Google retains ownership of the underlying map data and services. To view all permissions and credits, please click the tab in the top left-hand corner of the map.

Community Repair Groups Australia

The Repair Café concept began in the Netherlands in 2009 and has since grown to a global movement of over 3,000 repair cafes operating worldwide.
In Australia the first repair café, the Bower, was established in Sydney in 2014 and now there are around more than 110 repair groups or labs listed on the Community Repair Group map along with other group initiatives relating to repairing, fixing and mending activities.
Across Australia repair cafes and other fix-it initiatives run independently and differently. They support communities to divert their useful but broken items from landfill and premature e-waste recycling, share practical repair knowledge, raise awareness of the circular economy, reduce the impact on the environment and support social inclusion.
The type of repairs will vary with each repair event and group because these are dependent on the skill set of the volunteers available. Sessions are usually free but donations are welcomed to help with ongoing costs.