Mens Shed
Sometimes you just need somewhere to go
There are times in life when the days suddenly get a bit quieter. Retirement, losing a partner, finishing up at work, a relationship ending, health problems, losing someone you love… or no one big thing at all. You just realise you’re spending more time on your own than you’d like.
A Men’s Shed can be a good place to start doing something about that. It isn’t a counselling service, and it isn’t a support group in the traditional sense. It’s a shed, and that’s kind of the point.
What happens at a Men’s Shed?
Every shed is different. You might find blokes working with timber or metal, fixing things, restoring old gear, building something for a local community group, cooking, learning a new skill, or just sitting down with a cuppa.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) describes a shed as a safe and friendly place where men can work on meaningful projects at their own pace, alongside other men.
You don’t have to be an expert, or even particularly handy. And you don’t have to turn up with a problem that needs fixing.
It’s about the people
What makes a shed worthwhile isn’t really what’s being made. It’s who you’re making it with.
AMSA says many men, particularly after retirement, find themselves on their own and unsure how to reconnect with their community or find a new sense of purpose. A shed gives you somewhere to meet people, make mates and feel part of something. It also gives you a reason to get out of the house (and someone will probably put the kettle on).
You don’t have to talk about what’s wrong
Nobody at a shed is going to sit you down and ask how you’re feeling. You talk while you’re doing something… about the project, the weather, the footy, the tractor, the garden, whatever comes up.
And sometimes, somewhere along the way, the conversation gets around to the things that actually matter. No pressure. Turn up, have a look and see if it’s your sort of place.
Men’s health and wellbeing
A shed isn’t a replacement for proper health care, but connection matters. AMSA says sheds help with social isolation and men’s health and wellbeing by giving men a chance to connect with friends, contribute to their community and learn or use practical skills.
For some men that’s exactly what they need. For others, it might be the first small step towards getting some other help.
Finding a shed
There are more than 1,300 Men’s and Community Sheds across Australia, and AMSA has a national shed locator where you can search by postcode.
Each shed runs a bit differently, so opening days, activities, membership and who can come along will vary. It’s worth giving them a call before you turn up. If you can’t find what you’re after, you can contact AMSA on 1300 550 009.
You don’t have to be in trouble
You don’t need to be lonely, depressed or struggling to go looking for a place to belong. Maybe you’ve got time on your hands, you want to learn something, you miss having a group of mates around, or you just want to get out of the house once or twice a week. That’s reason enough.
A place to start
If life’s a bit quieter than it used to be, look up your local Men’s Shed. Find one nearby, give them a call, go and have a look. You don’t have to commit to anything.
You might find that what you’ve been missing isn’t a particular activity at all. It’s just somewhere to go, something to do and a few people to do it with.
This page is provided by Rest as a starting point, not as a substitute for professional or crisis support. Services and operating hours can change, so check the Australian Men’s Shed Association’s current information before relying on a particular service.