Page 1223 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 7 May 2014
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Society, which is currently located at the historic railway site out at Kingston, Kangara Waters Men’s Shed, Goodwin Ainslie Men’s Shed, Majura Men’s Shed, Gungahlin Men’s Group, Lanyon Men’s Group, Tuggeranong Men’s Shed, Forrest Men’s Shed, Vietnam Vets Men’s Shed—that is located over in your electorate, Madam Deputy Speaker: you have probably visited that yourself; it is a great establishment there alongside the Vietnam vets memorial place—and Hall Men’s Shed.
The forum was also attended by representatives of the Community Services Directorate and a consultant currently undertaking some work for the government on men’s sheds. That is, of course, funded in the ACT government’s 2013-14 budget. I want to thank those people for attending. I was particularly pleased that the forum discussions will be included in the report currently being prepared.
The forum was an excellent opportunity not only for us MLAs, as our community’s representatives, but also, significantly, for the men’s sheds themselves to gather around and share their experience with one another. It is clear that we all learnt from one another and came away from the forum with new networks and, importantly, for the men’s sheds participants, they made some connections with one another. They have learnt what works and what does not work and what new activities men’s sheds could try.
I would like to advise the Assembly on the issues raised in the forum. The participants raised a range of general issues—from where they saw their own roles in playing a key part in men’s health to the opportunity and need of sharing skills, equipment and experience between those other men’s sheds. In addition, they also raised a number of specific issues that the men’s sheds have come across throughout their individual journeys of become a men’s shed in the first place and activating the community.
All of the men’s sheds in Canberra hold one very important similarity—the fact that they are, as an organisation, completely run and organised from the grassroots level. There is no-one there paid through these groups. They rely solely on volunteers for the completion of day-to-day tasks, as well as organising the group to achieve their core outcomes, whether it be to bring in a guest speaker to discuss men’s health issues, organise a local barbecue or finish a community project. The volunteers are constantly working to deliver positive outcomes for those around them.
Men’s sheds at the forum told us that they need government support in many different ways. Sometimes small amounts of funding can help, sometimes assistance with facilities and planning issues can help and sometimes the most useful thing is the information about government services and assistance to navigate government processes.
That is why my colleagues and I have called on the government, through this motion, to consider the best way to provide this sort of support and assistance to men’s sheds. I am very pleased that this motion is being debated. If supported today, I look forward to further advice being provided to the Assembly on the outcome of this work.
The members of the men’s shed forum also highlighted the current demand for some additional training for their members in a suite of skills, including those of first aid,
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