Page 2308 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 12 August 2014
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MS PORTER: Undertaking a feasibility study on additional men’s sheds.
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Porter for her question and also her interest in men’s sheds across the territory. She has been a great advocate for those people.
The ACT government recognises that men’s sheds provide social opportunities, health benefits, social support and camaraderie for men of all ages, backgrounds, abilities and cultures. As this Assembly would be aware, there is a well-known reluctance for men to face issues regarding depression, health and seclusion, particularly after major life events such as retirement, illness, family breakdown, financial difficulties, stress and drug or alcohol use. Men’s sheds provide a much-needed opportunity for older men in our community to connect with other men of a similar age—55 years and over—and support them in dealing with some of the issues that men of this age so often struggle with alone.
The initiative to provide more men’s sheds in the ACT was an ACT Labor commitment in the lead-up to the 2012 election. As a result of this commitment, the ACT government set aside $200,000 to undertake a feasibility and design study to assess the need to establish additional men’s sheds across Canberra. The findings of the feasibility study have shown that men’s sheds respond to the support needs of men in this age group. The report also provides recommendations about the most appropriate and beneficial ways in which the ACT government can support the existing community of men’s sheds as well as expand the services.
According to the feasibility report, there is strong community interest in establishing a new men’s shed in the Woden region. The establishment of this new shed would support growth in the proportion of ageing residents and the geographical gap in the provision of sheds in this region.
The report also identifies further interest and benefits that could be achieved by extending the social and recreational men’s shed already operating in Gungahlin and at the Ngunnawal Neighbourhood Centre. The addition of a workshop would greatly assist in providing a wider range of activities and would attract new members with interests in hobby activities such as woodwork and metalwork. There is often a bit of discussion at men’s sheds as to whether you are a woodworker or a metalworker.
The ACT government recognises that further assistance can be provided to support men’s sheds and, through this support, provide strong benefits to the broader community. As was recommended in the report, the government will provide the following assistance to support the ongoing operations of men’s sheds in Canberra.
The Community Services Directorate will introduce a one-off round of grants from the community support and infrastructure grants program of up to $100,000. The grants program will be offered later in 2014 and provide small financial grants to men’s sheds to assist with purchasing new equipment, minor upgrades and training. We will also explore options to provide financial assistance for the establishment of new men’s sheds in the Woden region, as recommended by the report, and the establishment of a workshop in Gungahlin.
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