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.

Check back soon for our panelists!

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

Check back soon for our panelists!
 

Moderator: Stephen Moir

Stephen Moir is the founder and Executive Chair of Moir Group, a specialist finance, accounting and ESG recruitment company, and co-founder of Professionals Advocating for Climate Action. Through his work, he brings together professionals to build climate knowledge, foster collaboration and inspire practical action across organisations and communities.

Join Stephen to explore how by working together community, businesses and government can drive positive environmental change and learn how collective action can help create a more sustainable future.

Check back soon for our panelists!
 

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/

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/

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

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 Friend 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.

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.

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.

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.

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/