The Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said the Murrurundi Community Men's Shed will receive $2,500 from the Turnbull-Joyce Government to promote and support men’s health and wellbeing in the southern part of the New England Electorate.

This grant is part of $400,000 in national funding which will be distributed to 93 community Men’s Sheds across Australia.

Announcing the grant, Mr Joyce said the Men’s Shed programme is going from strength to strength.

“Men’s Sheds are a popular way for men to connect with their community—whether it’s through a building project, a first aid workshop or a transition to retirement seminar— that’s why I encourage our local blokes to give a shed a go,” Mr Joyce said.

“There are any number of activities for men to take part in, which in turn, provides that important sense of belonging to a community, particularly for older men and men living in rural and remote areas.”

Men’s Shed grants support the purchase of tools, equipment, community projects, training, building maintenance and development, and health improvement activities.

The Australian Government has provided $5.1 million (from 2016-17 to 2018-19) to the Australian Men’s Sheds Association (AMSA) to provide support and resources to new and existing Men’s Sheds and to manage the National Shed Development Programme.

Grants are competitive with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas. Further rounds of funding will be available for Men’s Sheds and details can be found at www.mensshed.org

For information on the application process, contact AMSA via email at amsa@mensshed.net or phone 1300 550 009.