Partnership opens door for electrical repairs

With funding from Warrnambool City Council’s Community Development Fund and sponsorship from South West TAFE, six Warrnambool Repair Cafe volunteers will undertake an accredited Electrical Test and Tag training short course delivered by South West TAFE.

The training will allow the volunteers to safely test and tag repaired appliances. 

Warrnambool Repair Cafe hosts monthly events where volunteers help fix household items and offer a cafe style environment. Coordinator Brenda O’Connor said that since launching in May 2024, Warrnambool Repair Cafe had received frequent requests to repair small household electrical items.

“However, without volunteers trained in electrical testing, we’ve been unable to legally complete many of these repairs,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said the training would increase the Repair Café’s capacity to meet community demand for electrical repairs, ensure compliance with Australian standards, and reduce the risk of electrical faults or fire. 

The funding also allows for the purchase of a test and tag machine that will be used at future Warrnambool Repair Cafe monthly events.

From the inaugural Repair Cafe in Amsterdam 18 October 2009, there are now more than 2500 Repair Cafes globally that address the community’s need for local environmental action, responsible and sustainable consumption.

Warrnambool Repair Cafe’s next event is 10am - noon, Saturday 6 December 6 at West Warrnambool Neighbourhood House, Pecten Avenue Playground, with accessible parking at 10 Carolyn Crescent.