We make tools & equipment available to our community & reduce waste

Our mission

Our mission at Community Toolbox Canberra is to give everyone the means to create, have fun, try a new hobby and make their home more liveable and, in doing so, reduce waste.

What is Community Toolbox Canberra?

Community Toolbox Canberra is a community-led, volunteer-run tool and equipment library in Canberra, ACT, Australia, operating with the support of the local sustainability non-profit SEE Change.

The library is membership based and, for a small annual fee, members can borrow a wide range of tools and equipment for activities such as DIY, craft, cooking, home projects, leisure activities and more. Check out our inventory and how you can become a member.

One of the goals of the Toolbox is to put the tools and equipment languishing in sheds, garages and cupboards around Canberra into the hands of the wider community. Find out how you can donate items.

Why borrow equipment rather than buy?

Most people only need a hole in the wall, not a drill. It doesn't make sense to own a piece of equipment when you only need to access it infrequently. It is more affordable, space- and resource-conscious to share tools and equipment within the community.

Better use of resources
The average tool only sees 13 minutes of action before being discarded. Having a shared pool is a better way to manage resources.

Save money
For the cost of about one tool each year, you can borrow hundreds from the Toolbox.

Low risk
Instead of buying new tools for small jobs (or buying the wrong tools) you can borrow what you need and return them.

Save space
Whether you live in an apartment, have downsized or simply don't want so much stuff in your space, borrowing is perfect. There is no need to store equipment you only need infrequently.

More sustainable
The sharing model keeps tools and equipment in circulation at their highest value for as long as possible, maximising the intensity of use and reducing waste.

If that sounds good to you, you can join here.

A bit of background

The ​Community Toolbox Canberra has been on the drawing board since 2019 when founder Kathy Ehmann moved to Canberra and needed a pipe spanner. She went to the hardware store to buy one but thought, "If only Canberra had a tool library like the one in Brisbane."

The tool library concept is not a new one. The tool library model has been used successfully around the world for decades. The first known one was set up in Michigan in 1943. Another one established in Ohio in 1976 is still going. Of course neighbours have always borrowed from one another and tool libraries are not meant to replace that important aspect of community. Instead they hope to further enhance a sense of community and offer another alternative in the sharing economy.

Kathy could not let go of the idea of a tool library for Canberra. She began what turned out to be a long search for premises and to build a team to make this idea a reality. In 2021, she was approached by SEE Change to discuss a collaboration on the project. This was a turning point for what would become Community Toolbox Canberra. SEE Change agreed to support the tool library in an auspice arrangement for a pilot program. It was also through contacts at SEE Change that premises were finally found.

In July 2021, Community Toolbox Canberra started a crowdfunding campaign with Start Some Good and raised over $16,000 to launch. It was clear that a tool and equipment library was something that the Canberra community wanted and was prepared to get behind.

After a short delay due to COVID-19 lockdown and restrictions in the ACT, Community Toolbox Canberra opened its doors to members in the Spring of 2021 on the grounds of Youth with a Mission in Watson, ACT.

About SEE Change

SEE Change is delighted to be supporting the Toolbox as one of our volunteer groups.

SEE Change is a grass-roots non-profit organisation founded in 2008 and we focus on empowering our community members to take collective action for a more sustainable Society, Environment and Economy. SEE Change supports around 15 volunteer groups across the ACT and region. Some of our projects include a community solar farm, repair cafés, biodiversity education, revegetation of urban parkland and soil regeneration, community education on reducing waste, an electric bike library and e-bike bulk buys, sustainable house tours and more.

We are a registered environmental charity and receive funding from the ACT government, various grants and donations, and of course our membership fees. Your Toolbox membership automatically includes membership of SEE Change. As a SEE Change member, you will receive our fortnightly newsletter, access to discounts through our bulk buys, and join a community of like-minded people working for a better future. We won’t share your personal details with anyone else unless you tell us it’s okay.

If you are interested in learning more about SEE Change or volunteering, more information and contact details are available on our website www.seechange.org.au.