ReFest

The day opens with a traditional smoke ceremony conducted by Aunty Deb Lennis.

“Aboriginal Smokings are 60,000+ years old and are very profound ceremonies. Most cultures around the world also utilise Smoking to clear space – sage, incense, various herbs and resins.

There will be a mixture of Australian native plants used on the day, and chants will be done prior to and during the ceremony.

You will see a vessel of smouldering leaves that have been culturally prepared.”

Source: Smoking Ceremony - Metro LALC
 

Moderator: Jessica Hamilton

Jessica Hamilton is a podcast and impact producer based on Gadigal/Bidjigal Country (Sydney), specialising in creative storytelling that makes complex environmental and scientific topics engaging and accessible. With a background in marine science, she has produced acclaimed podcasts including Pillow Talk, Heaps Better, Seaweed People and SOIL: Rewilding the Underground, connecting audiences with stories of nature, climate action and community.

Join Jessica to explore the power of storytelling in inspiring environmental action and discover the fascinating connections between healthy ecosystems, communities and the world beneath our feet.

Vanessa Pino

Dr Vanessa Pino is a soil microbiome researcher and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sydney. Her work explores the microorganisms that underpin healthy soils and their role in nutrient cycling, carbon storage and resilient ecosystems.

Arlene Mehan

Arlene Mehan is a Birpai and Dunghutti ecologist whose work explores relational intelligence, deep listening and interconnectedness within ecological systems. Her research considers how stronger relationships with Country and all kin can guide more reciprocal and regenerative ways of living and making decisions.

Arlene invites us to rethink sustainability as a relational practice grounded in connection, responsibility, repair and care.

Alexi Gilchrist

Alexi is the Coordinator of the Parramatta River Catchment Group, an alliance of local and state government agencies and community groups working collaboratively to make the Parramatta River world-class with a healthy, liveable catchment that supports a thriving ecosystem. He has a background in restoration ecology, environmental education, and collaborative leadership.

Moderator: Craig Reucassel

Craig Reucassel is an Australian comedian, writer and television presenter best known for making environmental issues engaging, entertaining and accessible. Through award-winning programs including War on Waste, Fight for Planet A and Big Weather (and How to Survive It), Craig has inspired millions of Australians to rethink waste, consumption and climate action.
Join Craig to hear practical, thought-provoking insights on reducing waste, embracing circular solutions and how everyday actions can make a meaningful difference for our communities and the environment

Panellists:

Lauren Brumley

Lauren Brumley is a Research Fellow at Monash University's BehaviourWorks Australia, exploring how people repair, reuse and share household products and what can make these behaviours easier.

Alison Gill

Alison Gill is an Associate Professor in Design at Western Sydney University. Her research explores community-led sustainable practices and how design can support the transition to a circular economy.

Lisa Lake

Dr Lisa Lake is Director of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Fashion + Textiles at UTS and TAFE NSW. She has been a leading voice in Australia's sustainable fashion movement for many years.

Moderator: Stephen Moir

Stephen Moir is the Founder and Executive Chair of Moir Group and co-founder of Professionals Advocating for Climate Action, a network of more than 700 professionals focused on climate education, collaboration and positive action.

Panellists:

Graham Hunt

Graham Hunt is a home energy assessor, retired architect and long-time advocate for sustainable homes and energy efficiency. With more than three decades of experience, Graham is a Board member and Sydney Central branch convenor of Renew.

Freya Mulvey 

Freya is a lawyer, science communicator and Churchill Fellow, co-author of Ground Breaking: Soil Security & Climate Change and host of SOIL: Rewilding the Underground. She is passionate about corporate risk, natural capital and soil.

Piroska Bisits-Bullen

Piroska is CEO and Co-founder of ZapCat, a social enterprise helping households electrify their homes. She has led large-scale impact programs in Australia and internationally and holds a PhD in Public Health.

See circular fashion come to life on the ReFest main stage as participants in Slogue’s Flip Fashion Forever activation take to the runway. Throughout the day, festival-goers will have been transforming rescued garments into unique creations, and this celebratory showcase will bring their designs together under a "Festival" theme.

Come along to see the creativity of ReFest participants and discover how clothing can be reimagined, personalised and given a new life rather than being discarded.

Want to get creative yourself? Check out Slogue’s other circular fashion activities in the Get Creative section, including Flip Fashion Forever and Yo-Tee.
 

The AEVA is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to switching Australia's transport networks to electric as quickly as possible. Formed after the oil price shocks of 1973, AEVA is the longest continuously running EV society in the world and represents EV consumers, users and enthusiasts.

Join AEVA to explore the what, why, when and how of electric vehicles, including charging, government support and answers to common questions about EV ownership. Discover the latest information and practical resources to help you make informed decisions about electric transport.

https://www.aeva.asn.au/

Discover how your nature strip can become a small but valuable habitat for plants, insects and other urban wildlife. Inner West Council's Sustainable Streets Officer will introduce the basics of verge gardening, including practical considerations and Council's Verge Garden program.

Learn how verge gardens can help create connected wildlife corridors and bring more nature into our neighbourhoods.

Ditch Plastic, Eat Green: The Power of Buying Organic Together

What if your weekly fruit and vegetable shop could be better for you, farmers and the planet? Join Organic Buyers Group Hub to discover how community buying can support organic and regenerative farmers while making certified organic produce more affordable and accessible.

Explore how buying together can reduce food miles and unnecessary packaging, support seasonal produce and build stronger local food networks. Come along to learn more, ask questions and sample some delicious organic produce.

https://www.organicbuyers.group/

Chris Sara from Pocket City Farms explores how growing food together can help build stronger, more sustainable and resilient communities. Learn how community farms, food forests and regenerative growing practices can reconnect us with where our food comes from while supporting healthier environments and tackling food insecurity.

This talk explores why building a stronger local food system matters for people and the planet, and how growing food together can be a powerful way to respond to the climate crisis. Learn how Pocket City Farms grows fresh, sustainably produced food in the heart of the city while creating opportunities for connection, learning and community resilience. As Pocket City Farm Manager, Chris Sara will share practical insights into community food growing, the environmental benefits of local food production, and the role urban farms can play in a more sustainable future. You'll also discover simple ways to get involved, from joining a community garden or volunteering on a farm to supporting local growers and food initiatives in your neighbourhood. Together, we can build healthier communities and a more resilient food system.

Get your hands dirty and help create a new native plant verge garden at the Inner West Sustainability Hub. This hands-on session is an opportunity to learn how verge gardens can support local biodiversity while gaining practical ideas for creating your own at home.

Join in, plant something new and help make the Inner West a little wilder.
 

Join horticulturalist Felicity Moody from Wattle & Bee for practical tips on caring for indoor plants. Learn about watering, propagation, repotting, pest management and choosing the right plants for your space, while discovering simple ways to reduce plant waste and make sustainable choices at home.

www.wattleandbee.com.au

Discover the world of urban beekeeping with Gavin Smith, Vice President and Biosecurity Officer of the Urban Beekeepers of the Inner West. With more than 20 years of beekeeping experience, Gavin will share an introduction to urban beekeeping and its benefits for individuals and the wider community. 

Learn more about keeping bees in an urban environment and the role beekeepers can play in supporting local biodiversity.
 

Take a quick tour of the Green Living Centre garden with GLC staff and discover what’s growing. Learn about the plants, growing methods and seasonal produce in the garden, with tips and ideas you can take home and try yourself.

Join Aunty Joanne Selfe, a Gadigal cultural practitioner and master grass weaver, for a hands-on introduction to warurabanga, the practice of making string.

As you learn to make warura (string), Aunty Joanne will share stories and teachings passed down through her family, Elders and community knowledge holders, exploring weaving as a way of understanding the connections between people, Country and the living world.

Make your own string bracelet or necklace, or simply drop in to listen and yarn. Open to all ages and abilities, with no previous weaving experience required.

Get creative with reuse at Re Place, where a range of hands-on activities will show how everyday materials can be transformed into something useful, wearable or simply fun.

Make a fabric draught excluder with Boomerang Bags, give pre-loved jewellery a new life with upcycling jeweller Anna Kocsis, or explore circular fashion with Slogue’s Flip Fashion Forever and Yo-Tee activities. From rescued textiles and jewellery to unwanted clothing, these activities invite you to experiment, make and discover new possibilities for materials that might otherwise be discarded.

Drop in, have a go and see how creativity can be part of a more circular approach to the things we use every day.

The Kids Tent is a space for young ReFest visitors to get creative, make, play and explore. Throughout the day, children can take part in a range of hands-on activities inspired by nature, reuse and imagination.

Create your own native-inspired flowers with Fabulous Florals from Reverse Garbage or make a quirky Scrappy Friends with Rosa using rescued textiles and craft materials.

With activities running throughout the day, there’s plenty of opportunity for young makers to get involved, have fun and discover how discarded materials can be given a new life.

10am-12pm Fabulous Florals
1-3pm Scrappy Friends
 

Based at the Inner West Sustainability Hub, Re Place is a community-run circular textiles hub dedicated to keeping clothing and textiles in use for as long as possible. Through repair, reuse and 100% onshore textile recycling, Re Place helps reduce textile waste while making affordable clothing and sustainable living more accessible to the community.

Tour Times: 10:45am & 2.30pm RePlace 15 mins

Join a behind-the-scenes tour to discover what happens to donated textiles, learn about Australia's textile waste challenge, and follow the journey of a garment from donation to its next life. You'll also have the chance to explore Re Place's pre-loved clothing warehouse and discover simple ways to reduce textile waste at home

https://www.re-place.org.au/

The Bower is an environmental charity and social enterprise helping create a circular economy through the repair, reuse and rehoming of household goods. For more than 20 years, they've kept quality furniture, appliances, bikes, building materials and other items out of landfill while supporting people and communities across Sydney.

Tours times: 11am/12pm/1pm/2pm – 45mins  10-12 people per tour

Visit The Bower to learn how you can donate, shop second-hand, repair, reuse and reduce waste, and discover how these everyday actions help create positive environmental and social outcomes.

https://bower.org.au/

Dress for Success Sydney is part of a global organisation that empowers women to achieve economic independence. Through professional styling, career support, mentoring and practical development programs, they help women build confidence and thrive in the workplace.

Tour times: 10:30am/11:30am/12:30pm/1:30pm Dress for Success 30 mins 10 ppl per tour

Visit Dress for Success Sydney to learn how donated clothing can support women entering or returning to the workforce, and discover how you can donate, volunteer or get involved.

https://nswact.dressforsuccess.org/