Donate your pre-loved items to students

You can help ease cost of living pressures for students by donating to Arc’s Second Life Hub. 

Cost of living pressures disproportionately impact university students who report high rates of underemployment and frequently skip meals to make ends meet. Second Life Hub is Arc’s next evolution of the long-running Stationery Reuse Centre with an expanded scope  to include kitchen basics and small household goods. 

Recognising this growing demand and the potential for greater impact, Arc expanded the program in T3 2025 into the Second Life Hub: a broader reuse initiative that helps students access quality donated essentials while keeping usable resources out of landfill. The Second Life Hub is now a central part of Arc’s sustainability student programs – combining environmental responsibility with tangible student support and contributing to broader cost-of-living relief for UNSW students.

How can you get involved?

UNSW staff can get involved by donating quality household and study essentials to the Second Life Hub. Your donations help ensure students have access to the items they need while also reducing waste across campus. 

What can you donate?

Donations of everyday essentials that are clean, safe and in great working condition are welcome – items you’d happily pass on to a friend.

Examples include:

• living essentials (lamps, storage tubs, mini fans, coat hangers)
• kitchen basics (mugs, plates, cutlery, containers, cooking tools)
• small appliances (kettles, toasters, rice cookers)
• stationery and desk gear (notebooks, pens, folders, organisers).

Please note the accepted items list may change depending on storage and stock levels. You can find the most up-to-date information on the Donations page.

What can’t you donate?

Due to space, safety and overstock limitations, Arc is unable to accept:

• clothing and textiles
• children’s items and toys
• safety gear, helmets or mobility aids
• large or bulky items (e.g. stools, large lamps, furniture)
• hazardous or chemical goods.

For clothing donations, please use the SRC Clothing Donation bins across campus.

How to donate

To help manage donations smoothly, please submit a  Second Life Hub Donation Request Form. This enables Arc to review the suitability of your donation and ensure the items can be responsibly used and redistributed. 

If you’re unsure whether an item is suitable for donation or have questions about how the program works, please contact the Second Life Hub Officer at  secondlifehub@arc.unsw.edu.au. 

For broader enquiries about Arc sustainability programs or to discuss potential collaboration opportunities, contact Pio Nicodemus, Sustainability & Student Engagement Coordinator at p.nicodemus@arc.unsw.edu.au.