As Men’s Health Week draws to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the role Men’s Sheds continue to play in supporting the health and wellbeing of Australian men.
For years, Men’s Sheds have been quietly demonstrating something that health professionals, governments and communities are increasingly recognising: when men are connected to their communities, to meaningful activities and to each other, better health outcomes follow.
That support doesn’t always come through formal programs or services. More often, it happens through everyday conversations, shared projects, a cup of tea and the simple act of showing up.
Across Australia, Men’s Sheds provide places where men can learn new skills, contribute to their communities, maintain friendships and find purpose. They are spaces where mates look out for one another and where support is often offered long before it is ever asked for.
This Men’s Health Week, we’re encouraging all men to think about their own wellbeing and the example they’re setting for those around them.
When was your last health check?
Have you booked that appointment you’ve been putting off?
Have you encouraged a mate to do the same?
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is lead by example.
That idea runs throughout the Winter edition of The Shedder.
Readers will meet Alex Turner, who rode a motorcycle across the Simpson Desert to honour his grandfather and raise awareness of the life-changing impact Men’s Sheds can have. You’ll read about Cockburn Community Men’s Shed, recognised nationally for its outstanding contribution to its local community, and discover stories of shedders supporting one another through friendship, mentoring and practical action.
Together, these stories remind us that the influence we have on others is often greater than we realise.
It’s also been a busy year for AMSA. In March, we welcomed delegates from across Australia and around the world to Brisbane for the 11th National Men’s Shed Gathering, one of the most successful Gatherings in our history. The event showcased the diversity, innovation and community impact being delivered by Men’s Sheds every day.
More importantly, we’re seeing growing recognition of the role Men’s Sheds play in improving men’s health outcomes.
Over the past 12 months, Australian Government Special Envoy for Men’s Health Dan Repacholi MP has visited more than 100 Men’s Sheds across the country. His advocacy has helped shine a spotlight on the importance of men’s health and the contribution Men’s Sheds make to communities.
The broader men’s health sector increasingly recognises what shedders have known for years: connection, purpose and community matter. In many ways, the tide is turning. Men’s health is being taken more seriously, and Men’s Sheds are being recognised as an important part of the solution.
Earlier this year, I also had the opportunity to visit the Whittlesea Men’s Shed with Rob Mitchell MP, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Bipartisan Friendship Group for Men’s Sheds. Coincidentally, it was 16 years to the day since we had both visited the shed together for the launch of the National Male Health Policy and AMSA’s first Federal Government funding agreement.
It was a timely reminder of how far the movement has come. While much has changed over those 16 years, the core purpose of Men’s Sheds remains the same: bringing men together, creating connections and improving lives.
As part of AMSA’s continued growth, we recently welcomed Mark Tyrrell as our new Shed & Community Development Liaison. Mark has already begun visiting sheds around the country, including several in the Northern Territory, and will play an important role in helping AMSA provide more direct support to members and communities nationwide.
Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about. Men’s Shed Week will be celebrated later this year, and in 2027 AMSA will mark its 20th anniversary—a milestone that belongs to every shed and member who has helped build this remarkable movement.
As you read the Winter edition of The Shedder, I encourage you to think about the example you’re setting for the people around you. The next generation of men is watching how we look after ourselves, support our mates and contribute to our communities. Those actions matter more than we sometimes realise.
Read the full Winter edition of The Shedder here.
David Helmers
Executive Officer
Australian Men’s Shed Association