What We Do
The UP Community empowers people to live more sustainably through practical, reuse-based services. We reduce waste by collecting, repurposing, and redistributing everyday items, making sustainability accessible to everyone.
By incorporating in December 2024, we’ve brought our grassroots projects together under one banner. We're now working towards securing a permanent space so we can grow and better meet the needs of our community.
We’re incredibly excited to help create a culture of reuse, one that’s inclusive, community-driven, and rooted in everyday action.
Services
Project Stationery
Collects surplus stationery from homes, schools, and businesses, and redistributes it to:
-
Low-income families
-
Under-resourced schools
-
Community groups and youth programs
Packshare
Collects clean packaging and redistributes it to small businesses, reducing waste and the need for single-use materials.
Project Pair Up
Extends the life of plastic containers by matching and reusing stray lids and bases.
Reusable Libraries
Provides free access to reusable items like cup libraries, gift bags, and themed event packs encouraging sharing over single-use purchases.
About us
The UP Community was founded by Amelia and Brigitte, two local educators passionate about reducing waste and making reuse a part of everyday life. Frustrated by seeing perfectly good items go to landfill, they saw a clear need for practical, community-driven solutions.
With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, they lead by example showing that sustainability doesn't have to be expensive, complicated or perfect. Through education, action, and collaboration, they’re building a culture of reuse that supports both people and the planet.
Future Services
These will launch once we secure a permanent premises:
-
Reverse Art Hub – Free reusable art, craft, and textile supplies for schools, families, and community groups
-
Educational Workshops & Resources – Hands-on and digital learning focused on reuse and sustainability
-
Expansion Support – Mentoring other communities to replicate our low-cost, community-based model
Who We Support
-
Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Low-income families
-
People with disabilities
-
Young families and students
-
Schools, not-for-profits, and community organisations
When I discovered Project Stationery I was so pleased and excited. I am a great admirer of the vision, energy and drive of Amelia and Brigitte and their hard-working, dedicated crew of volunteers.
I applaud this passionate team at Project Stationery’s for the achievements in repurposing of a mountain of resources including reams of paper (all sizes), notebooks, crayons, pencils, markers, folders, rubbers, staplers and staples… which may have gone to landfill otherwise .
I work at a local kindergarten and in the past few years Project Stationery has provided us with a wealth of resources for the children to use in their play and learning activities.
Helen Moore
Administration Manager
Thornbury Kindergarten
Action is the antidote to despair and The Up Community has provided an amazing vehicle for many, including myself, to take action and to move beyond despair. Especially with Project Stationery, Amelia and Brigitte have engaged the Darebin community in the relatively simple action of collecting near new/new stationary items at the end of the school year, for redistribution and it has been transformative. As was said by many who delivered materials, these things would otherwise end up, at best in recycling bins and at worst in landfill. Individuals, families, schools and businesses are now rethinking the way they do things with sustainability and addressing inequality being front of mind. The organisations and families who received some of the tonnes of materials collected, sorted, cleaned and packed were grateful and are keen to have an ongoing relationship with Project Stationery.
Jenn
Volunteer
Project Stationary has been a wonderful support for our school. The items have been used to supply our financially struggling students to get supplies such as pens, exercise books, glue sticks, post it notes... saving their parents a bit of money, but every cent counts for some of our families. It also means we already have a supply of stationery items for when the need arises during the year, so we don't have to ask teachers to donate items this year.
The savings to the environment can also not be underestimated, when I visited the room at the Alphington Market I was blown away by the amount of stationery collected.I also promote to our students where the items came from to raise their awareness of making the best use of their stationery, and not having to always have brand new items each year.
Teacher