The Shed building support for women

Usually a space to socialise and assist each other with DIY woodwork projects, the participants of the Women’s Shed Program held at The Shed are now putting their skills towards a bigger cause - supporting local charity, Catherine House.

Dedicated to helping women who are experiencing homelessness, Catherine House offers crisis, longer term accommodation and support services for women over the age of 18, unaccompanied by children.

Building household items like chopping boards, grazing boards, tables, trays, barbeque trays and picture frames, The Shed’s women’s group has focused on supplying pieces that can be gifted to women upon their exit from Catherine House’s services.

Contractor with The Shed for three years and one of the facilitators of the Women’s Shed Program, Rose said the group members thought supporting Catherine House would be a positive goal.

‘We thought it would be nice to support other women who need a hand up,’ Rose said.

Following a Women’s Health Week morning tea attended by a member of Catherine House at the start of September, Rose, a self-employed carpenter for 35 years, said the group had been building items whenever they got a chance.

‘Catherine House have been very positive. But now it is on us to bring as many women on board as we can, who want to come to The Shed and who want to participate.’

Redeveloped in 2020, The Shed has since become home to both men’s and women’s groups, acting as a touch point for those over 65 living in the eastern regions. An asset of the City of Burnside, The Shed programs are funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) to provide subsidised low level support services and programs.

‘This facility is available to help meet the needs of women in the area regarding social aspects, but also meet the needs of women who are wanting to make, or learn to make, fix and build using tools.’

Reinforcing the community feel of The Shed, Rose said there were no expectations of women who came to the facility and that training and support were available throughout the process.

‘If any women have an idea about something they would like to work on, they can be assisted through the whole process of what they would like to build. Skill level doesn’t matter, we can assist the whole way through,’ Rose said.

‘We can cater to all types of personalities and how people work.

‘We also do a lot of community projects for businesses and organisations.’

Employee at the facility and facilitator of the Women’s Shed Program since the redevelopment three years ago, Helen said the all-female dynamic of the group allowed for more open discussion on aspects of life.

‘The community atmosphere of The Shed I think is really important,’ Helen said.

‘Some of our ladies are single, some of them have partners, when you have that dynamic of being all female, the things you talk about may be the type of thing you can’t talk to a family member or partner about. The social aspect is important.’

The Shed’s Women’s Program is run Thursday mornings with mixed gender in the afternoon, while Men’s Shed Programs are run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

For more information including photos of the workshop and adjacent community garden head to the City of Burnside website.

Pictured left to right holding items made at the Shed: Shed member Maureen, program facilitator Rose, member Sarah and program facilitator Helen.