About Us

Fremantle Men’s Community Shed

 “Adding Value to Our Community”

Premiers Active Citizenship Award (Community Group 2009) 

 

Ph 9336 3959

6-8 Nannine St

White Gum Valley

Western Australia 6162      www.fremanshed.org

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About the Freo Men’s Community Shed

The Fremantle Men’s Community Shed is a not for profit organisation aimed at-

• Linking men in the community to services and support structures to enhance their health and wellbeing.
• Providing a space to facilitate men of all ages participating in work projects that can benefit both themselves and the community.
• Fostering, maintaining and expanding men's social and educational networks.

 

Fremanshed Inc- evolved from an idea that men in the Fremantle and surrounding suburbs could benefit from having a “tooled up” shed facility to work on projects- their own or community ones.

From humble beginnings in February 2005 with a membership of 12, the organisation currently has a membership of over 160.

 

The dramatic increase in both membership and attendance we feel is a direct consequence of the City of Fremantle employing Mr Alan Gowland as a Shed Project Officer Position, (20 hrs per week).

This has enabled the Shed to be more accessible/ available to members of the community for the past 18 months.

 

Shed occupancy times

Open for men in the community (members), from 9.30am Mondays to Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Monday evening- Fremantle men’s discussion group

Wednesday and Thursday evenings- Short Adult Education courses.

Past activities include computer and beginner ukulele for men and women

Thursdays the Shed is made available for Community courses and projects.

Currently we work with Alma St on a Wellbeing Project.

The ABC’s Can We Help “In the Shed” Segment is also filmed at the Shed Thursdays.

Fridays the W4 Group Women Working with Wood now lease the Shed on a fortnightly basis  to pursue their woodworking passion.

Contact Dorothy on 0401- 673791 or email  dot@idsoftware.com.au for information about their activities.

 

We have also been and continue to be involved in a number of community initiatives including a Youth Projects with Fremantle PCYC and Cockburn Youth Services, repairs to community furniture for play groups and the Fremantle Warrawee Women’s Refuge, helping with community events such as Clean up Australia and the Freo Kite Festival… to name but a few.

 

We have also conducted learning workshops for Relationships Australia and the Halo Foundation (Aboriginal Youth Leaders).

 

The Fremantle Men’s Shed story has been profiled (2008) through workshops at-

- The Learning Centre Link State Conference (Sheds- a Centre for Learning)

- Adult Learning Association Nat Conference (Sheds – A Centre for Learning).

- MAN Inc National Conference (Sheds and Intergenerational Learning).

- Learning Centre Link Conference (2010 Mens Sheds and Learning)

 

We have also conducted toy making workshops for kids at the Freo Art Market and at local festivals, Sustainability Fiesta, Wardanji Aboriginal Festival- (all funded by the City of Fremantle), Kite Festival  and the Kings Park Fathers Day Festival.

In December 2008 a group of 15 Shed members erected a roof structure on South Fremantle High Schools Green Room to facilitate their carbon neutral propagation initiative.

We also cut the timber pickets for the schools organic garden fences.

 

We partnered with TAFE to conduct a “Back on Track” Men’s Programmes. We also ran 3 “First Click Computer courses funded by DET.                                                                                                                                         

 

Until July 2009 the Education Department’s Fremantle District Education Behavioural Centre accessed the Shed each week. This program spanned two years.

Students learnt wood and metal work skills and we can report positive outcomes for students who are restricted behaviourally in their capacity to attend normal high schools

Last September at the Shed, we hosted an Education Department sponsored Adult Education Week seminar on the value of community sheds as a place of learning.

Professor Barry Golding from Ballarat University addressed delegates from all over Western Australia on the powerful positive impact Men’s Sheds are having nationally on men’s health and wellbeing,

Currently over 400 Community Sheds exist throughout Australia.

 

In partnership with Fremantle Hospital’s Alma St Clinic we continue to offer a project to assist men on their journey of recovery from emotional disadvantage and mental illness.

The Shed has proved an excellent venue to assist men re engages in the wider community.

The Shed environment has fostered the development of skills and social confidence in participants. This model has the potential to be rolled out to Sheds nationally.

A DVD and booklet has been produced to share the project with both other Sheds and Health Professionals...

 

Another initiative the Shed is involved in is the Youth Tree Project, This is a tree created by local youth at the Fremantle Men’s Shed working with our members for expertise in construction. The Youth Tree is aimed at encouraging young people to consider voluntary service (www.youthtree.org.au)

 

Fremantle Men’s Shed was the first metropolitan Community Shed established in Western Australia.

Our Shed has been the first point of contact for many groups wanting to start up a Men’s Shed in their community.

(Rockingham, Stirling, Mundaring, Albany, Melville, Karratha, Mandurah, Canning, Swan and Kalamunda- to name but a few).

 

The Shed receives inquiries weekly from occupational therapists, groups with a focus on assisting people with disabilities, carers of persons needing support to participate in their community and a host of other persons who see the facility as having value.

 

Future Directions

The rapid expansion of interest in the Shed brings with it “capacity to service demands” issues.

The present rate men want to be part of the Shed suggests the current building will not be adequate to meet future demands even in the short term.

Planning for relocation or renovation renewal will also require administration demands.

The future of the Nannine St site the Shed is situated on is currently subject to review. Fremanshed Inc representatives have been and will need to be participants in future stakeholder community/ council consultative meetings to progress the plan for the area.

Grants Funding

The Shed has just been advised that we are to be recipients of the following Community Grant Awards.

Fosters Corporation- We are to receive $11000 to support our Men’s Health and Wellbeing project.

Fremantle Community Bank (Bendigo Bank)

$5000 to support the Shed’s Youth and Wellbeing Projects.

SGIO Community Program.

$5000 to fund our Youth Project we have initiated with Fremantle PCYC.

 

The future is looking solid and it is a terrific time to be part of “Shedland”.

 

Bill Johnstone

Coordinator.