About our shed

About Us

The Ku-ring-gai Community Workshop, The Shed, has been set up to meet the needs of and to provide a substitute space for those who have lost their shed.

The Shed is a well-equipped workshop enabling shedders to undertake a wide range of woodwork, wood turning, light engineering and craft tasks. Skilled and unskilled shedders can share time with each other, swap yarns and work together on community projects.

Besides encouraging new social activities and friendships, The Shed also provides access to other networks for men including local activities and men’s health information.

Everyone is welcome - The Ku-ring-gai “Shed”, has been set up as a shared facility to replace or complement the home workshop. Anyone who feels the shed could cater for their needs and would like to enjoy what it offers, is welcome to visit and then consider joining.

Facilities - The Shed has well-equipped workshops enabling shedders to undertake a wide range of woodwork, wood and metal turning, light engineering, welding, picture framing and other practical tasks. Skilled and unskilled shedders can share time with each other, learn and swap yarns and work together on community projects.

Social - Besides encouraging new social activities and friendships, The Shed provides access to other networks for men including local activities and men’s health information.

Reading - The Information for Members letter provides further information for new and existing members, please read it  to familiarise yourselves with the "day-to-day" matters.

Shed Activities

Training and group instruction - Cooking group and some training courses run on Fridays. These require pre-arrangement to attend.

Participation – For safety reasons, all members stop work and join discussions at morning tea and lunch breaks.

Contribution - When attending, $3.00 is levied to cover the cost of coffee, tea, biscuits and workshop consumables.

Time allocation - We would like to think our Shedders give a third of their time to their own projects, a third to assist in the Shed and a third to community projects.

Projects --There is a wide variety of projects you can undertake. Listed are just some of them: Work on personal projects, like furniture, box-making, woodturning etc.

  • Make/design toys and furniture etc for personal use, sale or donation to local child care centres, kindergartens or hospitals.
  • Make/design ‘one-off’ projects for community groups, e.g. Cerebral Palsy Australia, WIRES, Neighbourhood Centre, local schools.
  • Repair tasks and intrinsic projects for senior and local citizens.
  • Cut, machine, weld, paint, sand, assemble, decorate, mend, frame and many other practical activities.
  • Learn to cook in our fully equipped kitchen.
  • Group discussions and workshops on men’s health.
  • “How-to” workshops and training courses on equipment and craft activities.
  • Provide support for other local sheds.

Find us

Contact

Mark Champion

Address
450 Mona Vale Road St Ives, NSW 2075
Get Directions

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Thank you to our partners and supporters that help us provide offers, programs and assistance to Australian Men’s Sheds. Read more about our partners and supporters.

Major Partner

Partners

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Positive impacts

Camaraderie

"I've found a great group of mates"

Mateship is an important pillar of every Men’s Shed – first and foremost the shed is a place for men to knock about with a group of like-minded mates.

Community

“I give back to the community”

Men’s Sheds are vital community investments delivering programmes and activities that foster community spirit and contribute to building a more inclusive Australia.

Health & Wellbeing

“My health and wellbeing is better because I'm a Shedder”

Many shedders experience improved mental health outcomes. Men (and women) involved at their local Shed report increased self-esteem through participation and learning new skills; de-stigmatisation of experiencing mental health and de-stigmatisation of prevalent social issues related to mental health.

Watch — More than just a shed

The Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) is the national service provider supporting more than 1,200 Men’s, Women’s and Community Sheds and is recognised as one of Australia’s largest male-based community development organisations.

AMSA was established in 2007 by a collection of Australian independent community-based Men’s Sheds to represent, support and promote the Men’s Shed movement. It was founded on the principle of sharing information between sheds and those communities wishing to establish and operate a Men’s Shed. It acts as a central hub for information exchange.

Facts & Figures

1,200+
Sheds

Men’s Sheds across Australia (that's more Men's Sheds than Macca's restaurants!)

12
Countries

More than 2,500 Men's Sheds operate in 12 countries

30
Years

The first Men's Shed was established in 1993 (Goolwa, South Australia)

50,000+
Australians

More than 50,000 Australian men participate in Men's Sheds