Men's shed

Men's sheds or community sheds are non-profit organisations that originated in Australia, to advise and improve the overall health of all males. However they have expanded their remit to anyone regardless of age or gender. They normally operate on a local level in the community, promoting social interaction and aim to increase the quality of life. There are over 900 located across Australia, with thousands of active members. Men's sheds can also be found in Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Finland, New Zealand and Greece.

In Australia in the 1990s a number of issues were raised about men's health. In Australian culture, there was little encouragement for men of all ages to socialize and discuss their feelings and wellbeing. This problem was identified at a men's health conference in the mid-90s and plans were put in place to improve a number of aspects relating to men's health.

The conference in question took place in 1995, and was the first national health conference dedicated to men in Australia. It was suggested that men's sheds could help promote social interaction and reduce depression related illness in elderly men. After the conference, a number of men's sheds began to form across Australia.

Men's sheds originated from the shed in a backyard scenario, where a man would go and carry out tasks, such as or fixing lawn mowers. The first men's shed (by that name) was opened in Tongala, Victoria, Australia on July 26, 1998. Named after its founder, Dick McGowan, the shed predates the Lane Cove Community Shed in New South Wales by just a few months, though both likely originated from ideas discussed at the National Rural Health Conference in 1995. Lane Cove Community Shed was opened in December 1998, and was founded for 'shedless' men, encouraging social activities friendships, while providing vital health information to its members. Since then a number of articles supporting men's sheds have been published, stating they help increase the length and quality of life of elderly males.

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Wikipedia