Turning Waste Into Opportunity: How SisterWorks Is Creating Change One Banner at a Time

It started with a problem—one we all recognise. Every year, mountains of event and advertising banners are discarded. Tough, colourful, and durable, they’re designed to stand out… and then they’re thrown away. For most, that’s the end of their story. But at SisterWorks, that’s just the beginning.

Through our upcycling initiative, these banners are reimagined into something entirely new—bags, laptop cases, room dividers, and lanyards. Each item handcrafted by refugee and migrant women in our employment programs. Each piece carrying not only rescued materials but also the strength, resilience, and creativity of the women who made it.

This isn’t just recycling. It’s regeneration.

To date, the project has diverted over one kilometre of materials from landfill, and it has opened pathways to economic empowerment for more than 18 women, many of whom arrived in Australia seeking safety and a fresh start. Alongside new skills in sustainable manufacturing, our Sisters gain confidence, community, and income. For them, every stitch tells a story of growth.

That impact was front and centre at the Fundraising Institute Australia’s National Awards for Excellence in Fundraising. In 2023, FIA partnered with SisterWorks to create 1,000 exclusive event lanyards—each one handmade in Melbourne from donated banners. Thanks to generous contributions from businesses like Kathmandu and Gazman, this collaboration saved 55 square metres of material from landfill, and brought our message to a national audience.

None of this would be possible without the belief and support of our partners—City of Melbourne, Sally Capp, Kathmandu, Gazman, GoodThing Productions, Trek Bicycles—who have all played a role in shifting how businesses think about waste, work, and social impact.

And we’re just getting started.

This program is more than an environmental solution. It’s a new kind of opportunity—one where circular economy meets community empowerment. Where sustainability doesn’t just reduce harm, but actively builds better futures.

We invite others to join us.

Whether you're a business looking to reduce your environmental footprint or an organisation seeking meaningful corporate social responsibility, SisterWorks offers practical solutions with purpose. Our sustainable production and upcycling capabilities can help you make an impact that lasts.

Let’s work together to turn discarded materials into dignity and landfill into livelihoods.

Contact us today and be part of the change.