Local community Men’s Shed will share in a total of over $18,000 from the Coalition Government to promote and support men’s health and wellbeing across Western New South Wales.

The grants are part of $400,000 in national funding which will be distributed to 93 community Men’s Sheds across Australia.

Announcing the grants today, Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton said the Men’s Shed programme is going from strength to strength.

“Men’s Sheds are a popular way for men to connect with their community—whether it’s through a building project, a first aid workshop or a transition to retirement seminar— that’s why I encourage our local blokes to give a shed a go,” Mr Coulton said.

“There are any number of activities for men to take part in, which in turn, provides that important sense of belonging to a community, particularly for older men and men living in rural and remote areas.”

Men’s Shed grants support the purchase of tools, equipment, community projects, training, building maintenance and development, and health improvement activities.

The Australian Government has provided $5.1 million (from 2016-17 to 2018-19) to the Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA) to provide support and resources to new and existing Men’s Sheds and to manage the National Shed Development Programme.

A list of local community Men’s Sheds and the grants they will receive is as follows:

Grants are competitive with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas. Further rounds of funding will be available for Men’s Sheds and details can be found at www.mensshed.org.

For information on the application process, contact AMSA via email at amsa@mensshed.net or phone 1300 550 009.