Our Origins
The Joondalup Men’s Shed has its origins in the humble backyard shed that has long been a part of Australian culture. It is one of over 180 men’s sheds which have sprung up across Western Australia and part of what has now become a truly international movement. With over 50,000 members Australia wide, the men’s shed movement is a powerful lobby group and the single biggest men’s support organization in the nation!
Currently operating from facilities leased from the CIty of Joondalup on Winton Road JMS (Inc) is one of Australia’s most innovative and progressive men’s sheds. As a registered health promotion charity the JMS provides regular health awareness sessions and is proactive in tackling social isolation, loneliness and depression.
Having been existence since August 2010, the JMS offers its ever-expanding membership (150 members) the opportunity to work on personal and community projects encompassing almost every facet of the manual arts (woodwork, metal work, welding, mechanical repairs, furniture restoration, model building etc.) In fact, the list of things members can do are limited only by their imagination!
The JMS also runs basic computer classes which are open to members and non-members alike and for those who cannot or do not wish to participate in workshop activities it provides a friendly environment to simply, chat, socialise, or simply relax and enjoy its extensive library facilities. The JMS runs regular social events and provides interesting guest speakers who address members and guests on a diverse range of informative and entertaining subjects.
Anyone who feels that the JMS has something to offer them or a family member is encouraged to visit the JMS in the first instance before committing the actual membership.
Objectives
- To address the issues of men’s mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing in the community.
- To engage the elderly, differently-abled, youth, veterans, indigenous and other groups of men from Joondalup and surrounding suburbs and to specifically address any issues of loneliness, isolation and depression.
- To support the social interaction of men in transitional periods (e.g. Redundancy, Bereavement, Retirement, Ill Health, Relocation and Respite Care).
- To share, disseminate and preserve the skills, abilities and interests that are relevant to the community.
- To facilitate links between men and health-related agencies, family organisations and specialist health professionals within the community.
- To advocate the benefits of partnerships between men’s sheds and the community.
- To develop a men’s shed which can operate on a cost-neutral basis, that is, its ongoing costs can be met or exceeded by its revenue.
- To initiate and continue activities of particular relevance to men.