Crafting Our Path
At Men’s Sheds, we believe in empowering communities to shape their own futures. Our mission is to foster a supportive environment where men can connect, share experiences, and enhance their well-being. We are dedicated to providing resources and opportunities that enable each shed to thrive in its unique way.
Together, we are crafting a path toward a brighter future for men and their communities.
Our Vision
For all Victorian men to be happy and healthy contributors to their local communities.
Our Mission
To provide a forum for Victorian sheds to network, exchange ideas, share experiences, and promote good health and well-being.
Our Role
The Victorian Men’s Shed Association (VMSA) is the peak body, focused on representing, supporting and advocating for Men’s Sheds in Victoria and for the health and wellbeing benefits they deliver to their members.
Participation in Men’s Sheds helps mitigate the known risks to men of social loneliness, isolation and depression caused by unemployment, retrenchment, retirement or other life-changing conditions. Sheds provide a safe and friendly environment where men can talk, learn new skills, share their life experiences and engage in meaningful activities and projects as part of the community.
As members of the VMSA, Victoria’s Men’s Sheds gain access to support with managing and funding their sheds, regular communications on mental health and physical wellbeing education and advice and benefit from the know-how accessible throughout the Men’s Shed network.
Through advocacy, the VMSA has established grant programs in collaboration with the Victorian Government. This program allocates $1,000,000 annually to aid in the construction of new sheds, refurbish existing buildings to suit Men’s Sheds, and cover some operational costs for the VMSA.
This crucial funding continues to this day, with the latest round providing grants of up to $100,000. Since the inception of these grants, the Victorian Government has awarded over $10 million to Men’s Sheds in Victoria, with 487 sheds receiving grants since 2015.