Since 2018, Newcastle Men’s Shed (NSW) has been quietly shaping futures—one weld, cut, and project at a time.
In partnership with the Mentor Support Network, the Shed has offered hands-on mentoring opportunities to students from Callaghan College Wallsend Campus. What started with just two students visiting one morning a week in 2019 has now grown into a regular and rewarding program. On average, eight students attend each year, spending one day a week at the Shed across two school terms.
The focus is on basic workshop skills (woodworking, metalworking, welding) and contributing to community projects. But it’s about much more than just the tools. “It’s also about helping the students build confidence, improve their social interaction skills, and start thinking about life after school,” explains Shed Secretary Wayne Grant.
Wayne, a former boilermaker with experience training apprentices, helped launch the initiative. “They don’t always know what they want to do after school,” he says. “This gives them more options. And it makes me happy to be able to give back a bit.”
One popular project has been making fire braziers—students measure, cut, and weld the entire piece themselves. More recently, they crafted timber charcuterie boards for Mother’s Day, taking home a finished item they could be proud of.
The key to a successful program, Wayne says, is having support from both the school principal and a committed teacher to accompany and encourage the students.
While the program has mostly attracted male students, a few girls have come through too, and the Shed is open to welcoming more. These days, fellow Shedder Victor has stepped in to lead the welding instruction, allowing the mentoring to continue as the program evolves.
With around 60 regular members out of a total 120, Newcastle Men’s Shed continues to be a thriving hub for skill-sharing, community spirit, and shaping the future—one student at a time.