CENTs: Trading Goods, Services & Skills Without Money

The Community Exchange Network Tasmania (CENTs) is a Live Well Tasmania program. It allows you to buy, sell, share, swap, barter, and gift your wares.

It was created in 2013, when a group of sustainability minds in the north-west struck up a conversation over lunch about the region needing a community currency. The program has since evolved organically according to the needs and wants of the individuals who trade.

How does it work?

CENTs works as a community-based trading system that uses an ‘alternative currency’.

When trading through CENTs, you owe nothing directly to the seller. Instead, you owe you ‘pay’ for your purchases by delivering goods and services to other CENTs traders.

What sort of goods, services, and skills do people usually trade?

“There is no ‘usual’ trade,” explains Tania Brookes, the administrator of CENTs.

“Goods, services, and skills offered very much depend on who is offering them and the time they have available to engage with the program.”

CENTs hosted a Trade Day at Kickstart Arts in New Town on Saturday 26 September. At this event, traders were able to access: organic potatoes; beeswax wraps; second hand clothing; books; fresh herbs; eggs; preserves and ferments; bric-a-brac; cards; jewellery; locally-authored children’s books; massage and alternative therapies; composting worms; and footwear. There was also a musician who provided a lovely ambience to the event.

The benefits of using a community currency

CENTs is about providing an alternate way to get what you need without needing to have the money to procure those needs. It is also about valuing each member of the community for the skills that they have.

Upcoming CENTs events

CENTs events are held regularly around Tasmania.

Their next event is going to be held at Live Well Tasmania (28 Saunders St, Wynyard) from 11am  on Saturday 31 October.

The next Hobart event is going to be held at Kickstart Arts in New Town from 1pm on Saturday 5 December.