It is reassuring to hear that Australian men generally enjoy better health and longer life expectancy than men in most other countries, as the Australian Department of Health and Aging reports.1
However, according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies 2020 Ten to Men Insights report, men are less likely to seek help from health professionals and their support networks for emotional and physical health concerns when needed.2
It also reports that men appear to be particularly vulnerable to experiencing loneliness in their lifetime, with loneliness being a risk factor for poor mental wellbeing.
Having a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and community space where men can go to connect, share, talk, and enjoy experiences can be an invaluable and important source of support.
A Men’s Shed is a haven for men, and it has become an important venue in many communities, not just in Australia but internationally. There are over 2500 sheds in other countries, and in Australia, there are 1200 sheds and over 50,000 men who visit.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association was founded in 1996 in South Australia on the principle of sharing information between sheds, and this aspect of it has not changed.
While many go and take part in woodwork activities, connection, sharing, and socialising are at the heart of why men attend. There are sheds that restore classic planes, make and play instruments, keep bees, or just play cards. Each is unique but does the same thing by addressing the social isolation and loneliness of its members.
Otherwise, men are also welcome to go and have a cuppa and a yarn.
Mateship
Becoming a member of a Men’s Shed gives a man a safe and busy environment where he can find many of these things in an atmosphere of old-fashioned mateship. And, importantly, there is no pressure. Men can have a yarn and a cuppa if that is all they’re looking for. Though most men who attend are retirees, members of Men’s Sheds come from all walks of life and ages – the bond that unites them is that they are men with time on their hands, and they would like something meaningful to do with that time.
Mental health
We hear from many members that participating in Men’s Sheds has improved their mental health enormously. Glenn Roddenby from the Redhead Men’s Shed on the NSW Centreal Coast said recently, “The Shed saved me! After being retrenched and not able to get another job at my age, I was really depressed. Now, I come down to the Shed every week, make things, and chat with the other blokes. And I tell other men sitting at home doing nothing to get down to a shed!”
Health education
Men’s Sheds also provide health education in an informal, fun environment on various topics relevant to this age group. Sheds may have health check days3 or a speaker on a particular health topic.
Some sheds hold exercise classes or have bicycle groups. Others use gardening as a form of staying active.
As each Shed operates independently, it’s best to contact the local Shed to learn about its planned health activities.
Community contribution
Many sheds support their local community by making items for them – such as Buddy Benches and chicken coups for the local school, cubby houses and mud kitchens for pre-schools, repairing furniture and toys for people, and restoring antique dollhouses and prams.
Other men’s sheds are approached to create something much more unique, such as the Gladstone Men’s Shed in Queensland, which helped a local environment scientist create a wave machine so that he could study the impact of microplastics on different marine environments.4
Cardiff Edgeworth Men’s Shed in NSW created a bread trolley and protective covers for a local charity Survivor’s R Us.
Newcastle Men’s Shed is currently planning its third trip to Tonga to help communities there. In 2021, they helped the Alonga Disability Centre and the Kolonga Village School, which both required general maintenance and clean-up.
References
- gov.au/topics/mens-health/about
- gov.au/tentomen/insights-report/mental-health-australian-males-depression-suicidality-and-loneliness
- org/the-shed-online/8821-2
- org/gladstone-mens-shed-and-the-wave-maker
By Tracey Cheung.
This article was first published in RPA October.
