Programs
Empowering people through sustainable practices to build strong communities
Driving change through collective action
As an independent, volunteer-powered women’s organisation we are incredibly proud of the suite of programs and initiatives that we’ve developed, ranging from craft skill-sharing workshops, handmade craft stalls, a youth mentoring program, thriving reclaimed Haberdashery, Heritage Collection of local craft memorabilia and beginner craft classes.
Accessibility is our goal and we aim to offer initiatives that are low or no cost, always resolutely championing the value of reclaimed materials, hand making skills and intergenerational connection. Our programs seek to practically facilitate and inspire slower, more circular and sustainable textile practices, seeking to address on a local scale, the critical global issue of textile waste.
How to support The Nest’s programs
We take great pride in this independent funding model that allows us to adapt to evolving needs and opportunities within our local region. Yet with big plans on the horizon and steadily increasing demand for our services, we welcome additional funding support to increase our social impact.
Explore our programs below to see how we’re making a tangible difference to sustainability and circular textile practices in Queensland. Get involved as a volunteer, donor, customer or participant.
Ready to support us?
Stitch together
Stitch Together
Engaging the community in textile recovery
Community Bank Samford, part of Bendigo Bank, shared our vision and awarded The Nest Community a $50,000 grant in 2024 to pilot various initiatives. We launched our digital newsmagazine ZIGZAG, created a beautiful introductory film and hosted Volunteer Appreciation Awards.
To help boost our capacity to keep textiles in circulation, we launched Turbo Rolling Bees, giving community groups an opportunity to volunteer rolling fabric. In return, they received a $500 resource voucher for The Nest Haberdashery.
Through our Secondary School Voucher and Sustainable Fashion Futures initiative that included an Emerging Designer Bursary, we supported the development of handmaking skills in high schools and offered financial relief to QUT fashion students working on their capsule and runway collections.
Since November 2024, we’ve given away more than $31,000 in resource vouchers through the Stitch Together program.
These diverse initiatives are all designed to help The Nest connect more people with our purpose, particularly younger generations who will keep The Nest’s vision alive and growing into the future.
Exchange Project
Exchange Project
Mentoring program for vulnerable high school girls
Up to eight participants per school are selected by school guidance officers to attend weekly sessions at The Nest Community during the semester. They develop skills in sewing, embroidery, and other craft projects and work with one to two mentors at a time.
Our objective is to provide a safe nurturing space outside of the academic environment.
Since 2021, 250 girls have participated in this program.
Textile Recovery Centre
Textile Recovery Centre
Recirculating textile resources to the community
Each week we receive 4000 - 5000 litres of textile-based donations plus equipment like sewing machines, knitting machines, overlockers, spinning wheels, tapestry frames, mannequins and more. To process, repackage, display and resell these donations, we require a weekly roster of 80 volunteers contributing a total of 400 hours.
Heritage Collection
Heritage Collection
Preserving craft history
Through the processing stage our volunteers identify significant craft artefacts and pass it on to our Heritage Collection volunteers for further research.