Grants to Support new and Established Men’s Sheds
Older and disadvantaged men in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia will soon have more help to meet and find social support with Australian Government Grants for Men’s Sheds.
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Joint Release
The Hon Warren Snowdon MP
Minister for Indigenous Health
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Federal Member for Port Adelaide
14 February 2011Older and disadvantaged men in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia will soon have more help to meet and find social support with Australian Government Grants for Men’s Sheds.
New sheds will be established in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales with another 16 established Men’s Sheds around the country to receive a grant to assist them to develop and upgrade their workspaces and buy equipment and tools or to employ staff help manage a shed’s operation (see table attached).
Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, said Men’s Sheds play an important role by providing meeting places for men to stay connected within the community, while helping their physical and mental wellbeing.
“Based on the traditional backyard shed, Men’s Sheds provide a relaxed place for men to meet and continue a hobby, learn new skills, or just pop in for a chat and a cuppa,” Mr Snowdon said.
“Isolation, loneliness and depression are major health issues for many Australian men, which is compounded by the male culture of not talking about feelings or emotions and not taking as active an interest in their own health and wellbeing as they should.
“Men’s Sheds can play a significant role in reducing these problems by connecting men with each other and their communities without pressure. Most sheds also undertake community work, so there’s an opportunity for men to be involved in something meaningful and make a positive contribution to the community.”
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, and Federal Member for Port Adelaide, Mark Butler, welcomed more than $3,300 in funding for the new Zebra Finch Men’s Group at Kura Yerlo in Largs Bay.
“The Zebra Finch Men’s Group is an Aboriginal group focusing on cultural art and craft and intergenerational teaching and learning to pass on the skills of artefact making, with a strong focus on learning and participation,” Mr Butler said.
“I am delighted that this Australian Government grant will help purchase tools, equipment and a computer for this terrific local organisation.”
Funding for the 20 Men’s Sheds was provided under round one of the Shed Development Program. Under this program, the Australian Government is providing $750,000 over three years through the Australian Men’s Shed Association to provide financial assistance to eligible men’s sheds across the country.
The funding to support men’s sheds is part of the $16.7 million committed by the Australian Government to improve male health under the National Male Health Policy. The Policy, which was released in May 2010, provides a framework for improving the health of all males and achieving equal health outcomes, particularly for groups of males at risk of poor health.
More funding will be made available in the second round of the Men’s Shed Development Program which will open in late February 2011. For information on how to apply, please see the Australian Men's Shed Association website.
Please see the attached table for a list of the successful Men’s Sheds across Australia.
Media Contacts:
Minister Snowdon’s office - 02 6277 7820
Minister Butler’s office - 02 6277 7280
Details of successful applicants under Round 1 of the Shed Development Program
| Successful Shed | Funding | Funding to be used for: |
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales |  | |
| Dubbo Community Men’s Shed | $4,000 | Purchase of tools and equipment including sanders, clamps and a biscuit joiner. |
| Tottenham Men’s Shed | $4,000 | Purchase hand and power tools including saws, drills, a drill press and a welder. |
| Ardlethan Cultural Development Centre | $4,000 | Building modification to separate kitchen and work areas and provide electrical services within the building. |
| Barham Koondrook Men’s Shed | $1,992 | Provide storage for current activities and for member-manufactured items to be sold at markets; filing cabinet for administrative purposes. |
| Trundle Men’s Shed | $3,273 | Provide a safe work environment for hazardous activities such as welding within the existing wooden building and allow for more activities to be offered. |
| Adelong Men’s Shed | $4,527 | Construct of a wall to separate machinery work area from the social activities area; access improvements to the main entrance will also be made. |
| Bourke Men’s Shed | $10,000 | Employment of a part time coordinator to develop the role of the shed by working with other agencies to meet the needs of priority groups of men. |
| Men’s Shed Coonabarabran Inc | $9,456 | Purchase of basic tools and workshop equipment; substantial upgrading of the restroom facilities to provide wheelchair accessibility. |
| Urunga Men’s Shed | $8,928 | Improve the existing building by connecting 3-phase electricity and installing internal lighting and power points throughout the building; purchase of tools and equipment for wood working and metal working activities, fire safety equipment and first aid kit. |
| Lightning Ridge Men’s Shed Inc | $7,544 | Provide computers and associated equipment and refurbishment of the shed to meet Occupational Health and Safety standards. |
| Victoria | | |
| Dereel and Surrounding Communities Men’s Shed | $6,000 | Build portable workbenches and fittings; purchase tools and equipment, including for the men’s shed catering group; and set up an internet kiosk. |
| Yarrawonga Mulwala Men’s Shed | $10,000 | Provide appliances, administration equipment, tools and furniture for the shed; contribute to costs of 3-phase electricity, lighting and exhaust fans. |
| Wodonga Men’s Shed Incorporated | $6,500 | Create and equip a metal lathe room as part of the existing garage at the shed; purchase of metal working equipment; installation of lighting in lathe room. |
| Benalla Men’s Shed (Central Access Limited) | $6,650 | Provide equipment to create a safe environment; shell of the shed to be improved to deal with summer and winter temperature extremes; help shed establish a formal governance structure. |
| Queensland | | |
| Hervey Bay Men’s Shed | $6,000 | Develop new skills through team boat-building exercise. |
| South Australia | | |
| Mt Gambier Men’s Shed | $4,000 | Purchase equipment for the construction of wrought iron objects to be sold through local markets and constructed on a made-to-order basis. |
| Kura Yerlo Inc | $3,332 | Purchase of tools, equipment and a computer to support Indigenous men in art and craft; sale of artefacts to be returned to group for field trips to collect materials. |
| Aldinga Community Centre | $5,385 | Provide a storage shed and shelving to house wood, craft, mosaics and other projects the community has made. |
| Milang and District Historical Society | $9,378 | Convert an existing shed to a men’s shed, including connection of electricity, laying of concrete floor, building of internal walls; purchase equipment for woodwork, metalwork and restoration of historical items. |
| Western Australia | | |
| Katanning Men’s Shed | $9,984 | Part-time shed coordinators for the new men’s shed, allowing the shed to open regularly, offer programs to engage men from a range of cultural backgrounds and develop links with local agencies. |
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