Sara Reyes co-founded Nook Collective from her own experience as a working parent searching for balance between career and family. As Queensland’s first coworking space with a fully staffed kids’ room, Nook Collective is purpose-built to support parents while they work, meet, or create. Located on the Sunshine Coast, it offers coworking desks, podcast & content studios, meeting rooms, and flexible event spaces—all designed with community, creativity, and productivity in mind. Sara’s vision is to create a vibrant, family-friendly hub where professionals can thrive with true peace of mind.
When did you start your business?
SEPTEMBER 2024
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
The inspiration for Nook Collective came from founder Sara Reyes’ own journey as a working parent. While running her Virtual Assistant business, Assist by Sara, she found it challenging to juggle client work and family life without a supportive environment. Struggling to find a space that offered both professional facilities and child minding, she identified a clear gap for parents like herself. Determined to create a solution, Sara launched Nook Collective—Queensland’s first coworking space with a staffed kids’ room—so parents can work, connect, and grow their businesses with peace of mind.
What are you most excited about in your business?
What excites us most about Nook Collective is the impact it’s already having on working parents who finally feel supported, connected, and empowered to thrive both professionally and personally. And this is only the beginning—our vision is to see Nook locations across every state, creating a nationwide network of family-friendly coworking spaces that make it easier for parents everywhere to balance work and family life.
What has been the most challenging thing about starting your business?
The most challenging part of starting Nook Collective has been building something truly new and untested. As Queensland’s first coworking space with a staffed kids’ room, there was no blueprint to follow—just a vision and a lot of determination. Balancing the demands of launching a business while being a parent myself added to the challenge, but it also reinforced why Nook is so important. Turning a personal struggle into a solution for others has been tough at times, but incredibly rewarding.
What advice would you give to other women thinking about starting a business?
My advice is to back yourself and start before you feel ready. You don’t need to have it all figured out—clarity comes from action. Surround yourself with a supportive network, ask for help when you need it, and remember that your lived experience can be the inspiration for creating something powerful. For me, the challenges I faced as a working mum became the driving force behind Nook Collective. Trust that your perspective and passion are enough to build something meaningful.
Why did you enter the AusMumpreneur Awards?
We entered the AusMumpreneur Awards to celebrate the journey of turning my own challenges as a working parent into a solution that now supports so many others. Nook Collective is more than just a business—it’s a movement to create balance, connection, and opportunity for parents. These awards are a chance to share our story, inspire other mums to pursue their ideas, and shine a light on the importance of family-friendly innovation. It’s also a reminder to myself and my community that what we’re building truly matters.
What did you enjoy the most about being part of the awards?
What I enjoyed most about being part of the AusMumpreneur Awards was connecting with an incredible community of women who understand both the challenges and the rewards of building a business while raising a family. Hearing their stories was inspiring, and it reminded me that none of us are alone on this journey. The experience gave me fresh energy, new friendships, and a sense of belonging to something bigger than myself and Nook Collective.
What surprised you most about the awards?
What surprised me most about the AusMumpreneur Awards was the incredible level of support and encouragement among all the women involved. Instead of competition, there was genuine cheering each other on—everyone was truly happy to see others succeed. It created such a positive and uplifting atmosphere, and it reminded me how powerful it is when women come together to celebrate one another’s achievements.
How did the awards help you in your business?
The AusMumpreneur Awards gave Nook Collective valuable exposure and helped share our story with a much wider audience. Being recognised opened doors to new connections, raised awareness about our mission and highlighted the importance of creating family-friendly workspaces. That visibility has not only brought more people into our community but also strengthened our confidence to keep growing and expanding Nook across Australia.
What advice would you give to other mums thinking about entering the awards?
DO IT! You’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain. The AusMumpreneur Awards are not just about recognition—they’re about connecting with other mums in business, being inspired by their journeys, and celebrating your own achievements. Even the process of reflecting on your story is powerful. Back yourself, put your name forward and embrace the experience, you deserve it.
What has been the best thing about starting your own business?
The best thing about starting my own business has been the freedom to turn my personal challenges into a positive solution for others. With Nook Collective, I’ve been able to create a space that truly reflects my values, supporting parents, building community and fostering creativity. Watching the impact it has on families and seeing people thrive in an environment I once wished existed for myself is incredibly rewarding.
What’s happening next in your business?
This is just the beginning for Nook Collective. We’re focused on expanding our model beyond the Sunshine Coast, with a vision to have Nook locations across every state to support working parents everywhere. Alongside growth, we’re continuing to refine our on site services offered, building stronger community programs and exploring new ways to make life easier for parents balancing business and family.
What are your big plans for the future?
Our big plans for the future are to take Nook Collective nationwide. We want to establish locations across every state, making family-friendly coworking the norm rather than the exception. By building a network of spaces that combine professional facilities with staffed kids’ rooms, we aim to support thousands of parents to balance career and family life. Long-term, we see Nook as a leader in reimagining workplaces across Australia, proving that productivity and parenting can thrive side by side.