About Woodwork Lab
Make+Meld’s Woodwork lab came to fruition as part of Make+Meld’s growth as a company.
Make+Meld started as a Kids design and woodwork club in a small industrial shed in Yeronga, Brisbane.
Workshops were all about teaching kids a range of hand skills, which children tend to miss out on in the more modern upbringing.
Projects were designed from wood or other materials and enabled learning while doing, with space for creativity.
Demand for Make+Meld’s services grew and their programs evolved to match. Before long, little portable workbenches were put together and facilitators took to the road.
Over time, programs, projects and customers evolved and along with it, so did the workbench.
The workbench has been specially designed for children, but is actually also a great workbench for adults too.
All Make+Meld projects have been meticulously designed over time, and delivered across a range of platforms, through kindergartens, councils, schools, oshc to Aged care centres.
All projects have also been specially designed to consider difficulty, simplified processes, age, time, size, tools, fun product for children, linked to learning outcomes, ease of facilitation and more.
Everything has been designed, in fact, to a point where the Make+Meld team realised, that they had incidentally, invented:
A new woodworking system, at a perfect point in time where there is more of need than ever to get kids using their hands and minds and learning to persevere and feel proud for learning and doing.
We aim to…
get kids off screens, encourage physical activity, and equip them with valuable practical skills. We are dedicated to fostering the development of both fine and gross motor skills while offering engaging opportunities for hands-on learning. Through our activities, we aim to enhance concentration, instill an appreciation for effort-based rewards, and nurture a sense of accomplishment. Moreover, we strive to reignite imagination, inspire creative thinking and problem-solving abilities, and ultimately build self-confidence in every child we reach.
We believe that…
learning to make things also teaches children about products and their roles as consumers. Learning about different materials gives kids an insight into where things come from and their impact on the environment. Kids realise that they can make and fix their own things rather than purchasing more and more stuff.
Most of all we love the look of pride and confidence on kids’ faces as they gain a new skill, put their ideas into action, work hard to complete their projects and say “I made this myself!”.
Helen Bankes
Helen comes from a Sustainability and Education background and has a Bachelor of Environmental Science. Helen loves working with young people and is passionate about instilling the importance of sustainability, creativity, and self-belief with future generations.
Emily Higgins
Emily brings a Bachelor of Industrial Design, along with many years of Arts and Crafts experience to Make&Meld. Additionally, she has experience in cabinetmaking, project management, and interior design. Emily has a real passion for designing and making cool things.