Our June’s Members meeting featured a presentation from Rod Wiles and Neil Summers from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC).

They shared plenty of information on the different species available, some great examples of the timbers in use and a robust discussion on the sustainability of using said timbers in Australia. It was great to catch up with members new and old, we’re looking forward to our next meeting in August! Keep your eyes peeled for more details soon. 

For more information check out https://www.americanhardwood.org including species guides and some impressive sustainability tools.

It’s that time of year again! Our Vic Wood Scholarship applications are now open, and we want to make sure you have all the details to apply.  

The scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for emerging makers and teachers to access the resources and exposure they need to advance their practice. Take your craft to the next level and apply for the 2025 Vic Wood Scholarship. 

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to take your work further—make sure to apply before the deadline!

How to Apply
Visit our Scholarship page via the link below for more details on the application process, including guidelines and eligibility requirements. 

Application Deadline
31st August 2025

Vic Wood Scholarship

Affordable Public Liability for All Creatives, Woodworkers & Makers

If you’ve been thinking about protecting your work for upcoming events or sales, now’s the time. VWA’s Public Liability Insurance is open for applications—providing coverage for exhibitions, markets, fairs, and business activities.

“I did my insurance easy peasy and I’m insured once again, thank you for all these years of service and assistance.”[Text Wrapping Break]– Paula, Pottery & Sculpture, Toodyay, WA

When you take out insurance, you automatically become a VWA member, unlocking access to our growing community and a range of member benefits.

Give yourself peace of mind and the professional backing you need.

Purchase Now

Protect Your Creativity with VWA’s Affordable Public Liability Insurance. Comprehensive Coverage for Artists, Crafters, Woodworkers, Designers, and All Creatives. 

Starting in March, you can take out 6 months of coverage for the remainder of our annual insurance period for $165 

Are you an artist, crafter, or designer in need of reliable public liability insurance? VWA offers comprehensive Public Liability Insurance. Starting in March, you can take out 6 months of coverage for the remainder of our annual insurance period for $165. Perfect for market stalls, exhibitions, fairs, and other creative events. Our coverage includes public and product liability along with VWA membership, ensuring you and your work are fully protected. 

Insurance

A Rare Opportunity for Emerging Woodworkers
Applications Now Open – VWA Artist in Residence Program

Are you an early-career fine woodworker looking to grow your practice in a supportive, professional environment? A rare opening has become available in the Victorian Woodworkers Association’s three-year Artist in Residence program with the next residency starting from October 2025 onwards.

This is a unique opportunity to build your skills, develop your practice, and connect with a community of passionate makers.

As a resident artist, you’ll receive:

• Heavily subsidised rent
• 24/7 access to a fully equipped machine room – including a CNC router.
• Dedicated bench and personal workspace
• Bookable office space
• Professional support and promotion through VWA networks
• Connection to a dynamic woodworking community

If you’re ready to take the next step in your woodworking journey, we’d love to hear from you.

Applications are open now – don’t miss out! Residency begins from October 2025 onwards.

👉 Learn more and apply here

The VWA runs a three year Artist in Residency program for emerging fine woodworkers, which provides a well-equipped and supportive environment at low cost while artists are establishing their practice. An opportunity has opened up for a new woodworker to join the program!

This is your opportunity to join a dynamic, supportive community and gain: 

• Heavily subsidised rent 

• 24/7 access to a fully equipped, high-quality machine room 

• Dedicated personal workspace and bookable office space 

• A supportive, professional woodworking community 

• Promotion of your art, woodwork, and business 

If you’re ready to take your woodworking practice to the next level, this is the perfect time to apply! 

**Don’t miss out**

Residency Application

Enrolments Open for Term 2, 2025.

The VWA School of Woodcraft has been teaching students for over 20 years from our well equipped workshop training facilities at the historic Meat Market building in North Melbourne.

Each student chooses their own project to work on and is provided with expert guidance from our experienced master woodworkers. We cater to all skill levels from novices who want to learn basic techniques to professionals who are seeking to refine their craft.

In addition to a regular classes where students choose their own project, we also have a Fixed Project Class on Monday nights where students build a beautifully design bedside table.

Our Term 2 classes are open for enrolment, with classes already filling up! Enrol here.

A celebration of tradition, craftsmanship and skill. Find lost arts, rare trades and heritage crafts at this annual Lost Trades Event. Meet the makers, see how things are made by hand and watch demonstrations throughout the day. 

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When: 8 -10th of March
9:30am – 4:30pm 
Bendigo Racecourse, Hamelin Street / Heinz St, Bendigo East.  

Goods & Chattels was established in 1977 and has traded continuously since that time, with the current ownership operating since June 2008. For over 15 years Goods and Chattles have supplied more than 6,000 customers from all walks of life, a variety of industries and from many different countries. 

Goods & Chattels has a long-established reputation for sourcing and supplying the unusual and difficult to obtain items for furniture restoration. We have also supplied a range of items for the amateur and professional box maker (jewellery boxes to trunks) and woodwork hobbyist. 

Due to changing personal circumstances, we have had to make the difficult decision to close the business and have been working towards this closure over the past several months. We still have a range of items in stock and all full-priced items are now selling at 80% discount. Therds are also a number of samples, display and discontinued items selling at heavily discounted prices. 

Goods and Chattles are happy to email pdf lists of the products they have available. 

Contact: sales@goodsandchattels.com or 07 3391 5764. 

Timber  

We would like to share details of some rare, unique timber for sale with our woodworking community. This timber comes from the south of Japan (Kumamoto) and is estimated to be 100–300 years old. No two lengths are the same, with many featuring beautiful curves and kinks. 

There are around 80 lengths, ranging from 3 to 6 meters long, in varying conditions: approximately 50% are in very good condition (minimal rot or splintering), 25% in good condition (some rot or splintering), and 25% better suited for milling or cutting down for furniture. 

To see more examples of the timber and to inquire about purchasing go to  https://www.instagram.com/tokyotimber/ 

A solo exhibition by VWA Artist in Residence Isabel Avendano Hazbun
Opening night: 24 Oct 6pm-9.30pm
Exhibition dates: 25 Oct – 12 Nov 10am – 6pm
Venue: Meat Market Stables

Industry is an exercise in creating and applying honest sustainability practices within a small designer/maker studio, with the aim of creating a circular economy model. The result is a series of speculative works, some finished some still concepts, where the entire ecological impact of the object is considered: materials, production, use, storage, transport and disposal, compelling a revision of out-dated manufacturing models where sustainability becomes the true measure of an object’s worth.

View more here