Glen Eira Repair Cafés (GERCs) and Glen Eira City Council is working with consultants, Let Me Be Frank, to coordinate repair events, while we move to a community organised model. If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer please complete this very simple Expression of Interest form.

Do you have something in your home that you’re sure can be fixed or repaired, if only you knew how?

Something that has great sentimental value but needs some TLC to restore it to its former glory?
Something you have started to fix but got stuck?

These events will link you to local repair enthusiasts, who will do their best to help you repair your item. If they can’t fix it, they will offer advice. And if it can’t be mended, and you no longer want to hold on to it, we can advise you on the best way to dispose of it to ensure that, where possible, recyclable components are salvaged.

Across the events we'll repair a range of items, from much loved toys, to toasters, bikes to bric a brac, furniture to favourite ornaments, clocks and clothes and much, much more! We will update this event listing with details about repairs 7-14 days prior to the event, when the volunteers are confirmed.

The event will run from 1-4pm. On arrival you will be given an estimated wait time. When a suitable repairer becomes available you can talk to them, and in the meantime you can have a cuppa, connect with community, and increase your knowledge and skills by observing the repairs taking place.

Repairs will be conducted at tables. We may not be able to accomodate large items. However you can bring photos and seek advice for items that can't be brought in.

We will have a range of repairers with various skills including:
- Woodwork
- Small appliances and electronics*
- Textiles - darning, sewing, crochet and knitting
- General repair skills and knowledge
- Costume Jewellery
- Bikes make adjustments for stretched cables to get gears and brakes working again, fix punctured tyres etc. (you can bring them up in the lift)

*If you have an electronic item in need of repair it may require materials or parts. If you know it's a broken wire or missing lead, please try to obtain a replacement part ahead of the event. If you're not sure what it needs, you can bring it along for advice and either repair the item at home, or take it to a future event. The types or repairs on appliances that we should be able to complete include clogged filters, jammed motors or fans, glueing or screwing broken parts.

Someone from the team may contact you to discuss your repair. This will help us understand your repair needs and advise you if we will have a suitable repairer and/or if there are any parts or materials you should bring with you.

This event is being coordinated by Let Me Be Frank, on behalf of Glen Eira City Council.

HOUSE RULES

By attending the Repair Café, you agree to these house rules.

When registering at arrival we will do our best to match you to the appropriate repairer.

There may be wait times when attending the Repair Café event. We encourage attendees to help themselves to light refreshments and chat to other attendees whilst they wait.

The works carried out in the Repair Café is performed by community volunteers. Repair experts and other volunteers are not professional repairers and will conduct a repair to the best of their ability, within the time and resources available at the Repair Café event. We do not make any representations as to the skills or qualifications of the expert repairers.

Items may be repaired in a ‘DIY’ fashion. Please note the aim of the Repair Café is to help an item be functional for longer, not restored to original condition. If the item is requiring a perfect fix or perfect finish, we recommend seeking a professional repairer and paying for their service.

Attendees offering items for repair do so at their own risk. Neither the organisers of the Repair Café, volunteers, or repair experts are liable for any loss that may result from advice or instructions concerning repairs, for the loss of items handed over for repair, for indirect or consequential loss or for any other kind of loss resulting from work performed in the Repair Café.

Repairers will test the items where appropriate, but the organiser, volunteers and repair experts making repairs offer no guarantee for the repairs carried out with their help and are not liable if objects that are repaired in the Repair Café turn out not to work properly at home.

Repairs are performed for free wherever possible. The Repair Café event does not provide free parts for all items. If a specialist part is required, attendees may be given the option to purchase the part elsewhere and come back to another repair café event to attempt repair. The attendee can choose not to purchase a part for their item.

If an attendee purchases a part for their item based on advice from the Repair Café event, the attendee is choosing to purchase the part with no guarantee the item can be repaired. The organiser is not liable for the cost of the part.

Attendees can carry out the repairs themselves, if possible, with volunteers and repair experts on site to help. Attendees conducting repairs themselves do so at their own risk, the organisation, repair experts and volunteers are not liable for any loss resulting from the work performed by the attendees.

Repair experts and volunteers are entitled to refuse to repair items.

Repair experts and volunteers are entitled to recommend seeking a professional repairer or restoration service.

Repair experts and volunteers are not obliged to reassemble items that cannot be repaired.

To cut down on unnecessary waiting times during busy periods, a maximum of one broken item per person will be examined. An attendee can join the back of the queue if there is a second item for repair.

Parents and guardians are responsible for the supervision, behaviour, and safety of their children while at the Repair Café site. Children may not be left unattended.

Repairers, volunteers, and attendees have a right to feel welcome and safe. Antisocial behaviour will not be tolerated. If someone is making you feel unwelcome or unsafe, please let a member of staff know.

Privacy collection notice

The personal information requested on this form is being collected by GERCs and Let Me Be Frank, for the sole purpose of the Glen Eira Repair Café Program.

We collect this information in order contact you about your participation at the Repair Café events. We will only share your information with your permission, or where required by law. Unless there is an express need to include personal, identifying information, we provide Council with de-identified information.

Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure.

Let Me Be Frank’s Privacy is outlined on pages 9-10 of our policy document.

You can read Glen Eira City Council’s Privacy Policy here.

Contact the host of Glen Eira Repair Café May 2025