Media Releases

California Gully’s Men’s Shed will soon not only be a creative place for blokes – but also a safer place thanks to a Coalition State Government grant.
Nationals MP for Northern Victoria Region, Damian Drum announced today the Bendigo Men’s Shed would get an extra $2000 to help develop its occupational health and safety practices.
The money will be used to help train 10 supervisors in OH&S as well as to develop a Men’s Shed OH&S manual which could be shared with Men’s Sheds in other parts of the state.
Mr Drum said the California Gully Men’s Shed was expecting a significant rise in participation and wanted to have activities such as training sessions on occupational health and safety, first aid, governance, and to host networking events with sheds in other communities.
The grant was part of the State Government’s Capacity Building Fund.
“The OH&S project will have a broad outcome for the Men’s Shed movement,” Mr Drum said.
Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said the Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA) was playing an increasing role in ensuring new and growing Men’s Sheds can become sustainable.
“Volunteers contribute countless hours to supporting their members, and the Coalition Government is pleased to support their efforts,” Ms Wooldridge said.
VMSA president Paul Sladdin said Men’s Sheds were increasingly being recognised as valuable to older men’s wellbeing, particularly to their social enjoyment, ongoing learning capacity, and ability to contribute to their community.
More than $88,000 from the Capacity Building Fund is being distributed across Victoria in partnership with the VMSA to support activities that build the skills and knowledge of supervisors and volunteers.
The funding will be used to support:
• 40 training sessions ranging from governance to finances to first aid;
• up to 20 community partnership building events, such as men’s health awareness; and
• up to 50 shed groups participate in activities funded through the program.
There are about 160 Men’s Sheds in Victoria. The Coalition Government has committed a further $4 million in the 2011-12 Budget to continue to strengthen Men’s Sheds for the next four years.