Neil Brice presented the attached Power Point at the 2011 Australian men’s shed conference. Get in touch with him if you think you would find any of it useful for your shed.

PS Feedback is, it can be a lot easier to just work inside an existing trust structure if you’ve got a local agency that has the skills and interest. The shed would be a committee inside that organisation, accountable to it to some degree.

This conference will showcase the growth and spread of men’s sheds throughout Australia and the world highlighting the importance of sheds and the contribution sheds make to men and their communities.

A varied and interesting arrangement of speakers shall be in attendance from sheds throughout Australia and a strong representation of international delegates are expected to attend to learn from the Australian model and to present on the growth of sheds abroad.

For more information or ring +64 2 9954 4400 or visit the website dcconferences.com.au/mensshed

Mens Shed Flyer (PDF)

The Canterbury Men’s Centre originally set up the mensshed.org.nz  site to provide  minimal support for men to find local sheds around the country. We hope the site mentioned above does a much better job of this.

We suggest that if you want post info about your shed or want to put your hand up to find other guys to start a shed that you contact the other site.

You’ll find the flyer here for the inaugural national conference for any of you that care to attend.

Menzshed conference 2010 (PDF, 168KB)

(from Neil Bruce)

Greetings all, presently a steering group of four is preparing, on behalf of sheds already established, an inaugural conference of men’s sheds in Masterton from April 9-11th. This conference has principally been organised to assist new sheds through establishment options, to provide a network of sheds for members to support and visit each other, to prevent unnecessary duplication, to learn collectively as we combine our energies, expertise and experience to seek solutions to problems and to achieve new goals and break new ground. The Masterton shed has shown what is possible to achieve and we would like to share their story along with your stories at this conference. There are some critical areas we all need good information about, Insurance, Public Liability, Safety in the Shed, First Aid, and we need to find the best ways to sustainably fund sheds and their activities. It is important to have local and national government representatives aware of concerns we have and how these concerns can be best addressed in the community.

The theme “Let the Shedding Begin” has at least four foci; awareness raising for the wider community, including local and national politicians, inspirational stories of the benefits of shedding for individuals and communities, tools and ideas to equip shed advocates grow the physical shed presence in each community, and discussion about the formation of a National Association that can advocate and promote the positive values that emerge from the Community Men’s Shed model.

There will be other things to emerge – new friendships, enjoyment, learning, humour, contacts and projects. And what about health, wellbeing and innovation?

You all have so much to offer and if you wish to join in this conference – please contact Peter McNeur peter.mcneur@waireap.org.nz for more information

Cheers Neil