Federal Member for Cooper Ged Kearney will visit Melbourne circular economy enterprise GOODSERCLE today following the organisation's award of a WorkFoundations grant to build work-readiness pathways and create paid employment placements in the appliance repair sector.
GOODSERCLE partners with householders, businesses, local councils, and community groups all over Melbourne to reduce greenhouse gases and waste going to landfill through responsible refurbishment.
So far, the impact-led business has provided more than 4,800 families with access to whitegoods, reduced CO2 emissions by about 45,000 tonnes and diverted almost 250 tonnes of e-waste from landfill.
The Work Foundations grant is part of $10 million in federal government funding to assist jobseekers facing complex barriers to employment to build their work readiness.
GOODSERCLE CEO, Gauri Shah, said the grant was a fantastic boost for the business and would allow it to provide employment pathways in repair, logistics and retail administration.
"This is a fantastic initiative and these roles are designed to support people get back into the workforce and gain experience in a vibrant growing business," she said.
"We welcome applications from young people, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and long-term unemployed who are looking for real life work experience with real wages."
Following the collection of white goods, GOODSERCLE provides licensed degassing, repairs, refurbishment and resale. The company's skilled technicians meticulously restore appliances to like-new condition, adhering to rigorous quality standards.
GOODSERCLE is one of the 16 business delivering WorkFoundations to create an inclusive labour market where everybody has the opportunity to find secure, paid work.
Preston MP Nathan Lambert will also visit the reservoir business today along with Darebin Mayor Kristine Olaris.
Since 2012, GOODSERCLE has honed its skills in recovering, remanufacturing, and sales of white goods, building a reputation for excellence.
Each year, hundreds of thousands of whitegoods are discarded, contributing to a growing waste management crisis, placing a heavy burden on our communities.
Most residents cannot transport bulky whitegoods to recycling centres, leaving them with no easy way to remove, collect for refurbishment, or responsibly dispose of these appliances. This is a missed chance to extend the life of these appliances, help those in need, and reduce e-waste and CO2e emissions.
Rising cost of living has also made purchasing essential household appliances a huge financial hurdle for many Australians. This limits access to necessities and creates a growing social divide.
GOODSERCLE provides high-quality, refurbished appliances at a significant discount compared to new models, making essential white goods accessible to a wider range of consumers.
Shah said GOODSERCLE directly increases the national recycling/reuse rate by promoting repair and reuse, diverting e-waste from landfills.
"Our model of extending product lifespans significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and makes a tangible contribution to mitigating climate change.
"We have been part of the Victorian Energy Upgrade VEU Program to reduce greenhouse emissions and have also worked with Sustainability Victoria to upgrade High Energy Efficient Fridges for businesses.
"By refurbishing and providing affordable access to up to 20,000 essential appliances, GOODSERCLE also increases the proportion of population living in households with access to basic services.
"We align our actions with the global goals for a sustainable future, ensuring every repaired appliance and every diverted tonne of waste contributes to a better world. We are aiming to expand operations nationwide and establish GOODSERCLE as a recognised and trusted brand across Australia."
