The Federal Government has just increased its funding for Sheds. The full announcement by Health Minister Greg Hunt is quoted below.

There are now four categories of funding:

1. The National Shed Development Programme grants, now $1m per year in two rounds. These grants are administered by AMSA but are open to all Sheds. An application must be made.
2. $900,000 per year to run AMSA.
3. New funding for defibrillators in SHeds that don’t have them ($2m, once off).
4. New funding for regional co-ordinators in each state and territory, to give direct assistance to Sheds ($1.5m over 4 years, which is likely to result in a little more than a half-time position for each state and territory.).

It is not yet clear whether these coordinators will be employed by AMSA or the state associations.

Here is the full text of the Minister’s announcement.

Announcement by the Hon Greg Hunt, Federal Minister for Health

The Morrison Government is continuing to support the Men’s Shed movement with today’s announcement of successful grant recipients under the National Shed Development Programme.

In the latest round, 135 Men’s Sheds across Australia will share in $500,000 in grants that will help buy tools and equipment, maintain infrastructure, coordinate training and host community activities about men’s health issues.

Grant rounds are held twice a year, and eligible men’s sheds are eligible to apply for grants of up to $10,000 with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas.

Since 2013, the Government has provided $4.92 million to support Men’s Sheds through this programme.

Men’s Sheds are places where men can find social support and camaraderie while engaged in meaningful projects.

On average, one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives. The number of men who die by suicide in Australia every year is nearly double the national road toll.

In this year’s budget the Morrison Government announced continued and expanded funding to support the Men’s Shed movement ($11.1 million over 4 years).

The funding consists of the following:

• Funding to men’s sheds through the National Shed Development Programme will be continued, and increased to $1 million per year for years ($4 million over 4 years);
• $1.5 million to fund regional coordinators at the grassroots level in each state and territory which aims to provide direct assistance in men’s shed;
• $3.6 million to the Australian Men’s Shed Association in supporting to support Sheds at a national level;
• $2 million to equip every Men’s Shed in Australia with a portable defibrillator.

The Morrison Government is able to provide unprecedented levels of support to men’s health because of our strong economic management.

MSWA has appointed James Wild as CEO. We’ll let James introduce himself. (Rebecca Herbener has been appointed as Executive Assistant, we’ll introduce her next month.)

Hi Shedders!

These are exciting times!

I am very much looking forward to meeting and working with you all and to further our organisation’s work in supporting WA’s great network of Men’s Sheds. I am pleased to be joining a talented and enthusiastic team of people who are passionate about the Men’s Sheds movement and are dedicated to help you and the communities that you support

As you will have seen in the President’s recent email, we are now in a strong and stable financial position with almost five years of funding secured. The team have some great ideas about how we can better support your sheds; including more regular news updates, better access to useful resources, events and improving our web communications. Men’s Sheds of WA is your organisation and represents your views.

I have been out to a couple of the sheds already and had some interesting chats, I want more though! If you have any thoughts, ideas, comments or questions about what you would like to see over the coming years, I would love to hear from you. Equally, if you just want to drop me a line to say hi that would be great too! Email ceo@mensshedswa.org.au

Who Am I?

Some of you may already know me from my recent roles at Lotterywest and Healthway. I was there for six years and have been involved in many applications from sheds across the state. In the last couple of years I worked on creating a new approach to grant-making and led their Social Impact function. Understanding and being able to demonstrate community impact has become front-of-mind for funders and is now essential for not-for-profit organisations such as ourselves.

I bring to the organisation many years of experience in strategic, senior partnership, governance and stakeholder engagement roles. I’ve led teams in local and state government across grant-making, place and partnership management and in the provision of business advice and training. Throughout this time I have also been the director of a private sector organisation in the UK, dedicated to improving people’s lives through mental health and wellbeing support.

I moved over to WA in 2011 with my wife and two young kids. We live up in the northern suburbs and are active members of our local community through the school and local surf, tennis, netball, basketball and art clubs. When I do get some free-time I am a practicing artist…always happy to chat about painting with anyone that cares to listen!

Year ahead

As we approach the end of the year, it is a good time to reflect; I hope that 2019 has been kind to you all. I look forward to hearing from you and hopefully seeing you at the various events throughout 2020, including our zone meetings and the conference in Manjimup.

Finally, I am sure that you will join me in thanking Gary Bryant and Margaret Collingwood for their service to Men’s Shed of WA and in wishing them a happy and well-earned retirement. They have helped to build a strong organisation and network of members and on a personal level have been invaluable in introducing me to the role.

With your help, I look forward to building on their achievements and developing a state organisation that we can all be proud of.

All the best for the festive season!

James