City North Men's Shed
What Is A Men's Shed?
The Australian Men's Shed Association, AMSA, "recognises as a Men’s Shed any community-based, non-profit, non-commercial organization that is accessible to all men and whose primary activity is the provision of a safe and friendly environment where men are able to work on meaningful projects at their own pace in their own time in the company of other men. A major objective is to advance the well-being and health of their male members."
At the 2nd National Men’s Shed Conference in Manly, September 2007, Professor Barry Golding, a Men’s Shed researcher from Federation University Ballarat, stated in his key note address that “Men don’t talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder”.
City North Men's Shed Inc.
The City North Men's Shed Inc (CNMS) is a not-for-profit incorporated association and registered charity whose membership is geared towards the men and women resident or working in the northern end of the Sydney Central Business District (ie Circular Quay, The Rocks, Dawes Point, Millers Point, Barangaroo and surrounding areas).
We are currently located within the Abraham Mott Community Space at 15-17A Argyle Street, Millers Point (behind the Abraham Mott Hall). Our site and workshop are accessible and include a "Changing Places" facility.
Workshop days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 0900-1630 with other events scheduled as appropriate - see our calendar for all of the planned activities and come along.
City North Men's Shed and Mental Health
The principal objectives of the City North Men’s Shed are to advance the mental health of its members and to prevent or relieve social isolation. We achieve these by providing a safe physical location for members to meet and to undertake activities and work on projects in the company of others.
Mental health issues come in a multiplicity of forms including abuse, grief, drug addiction, anxiety and stress, depression, low confidence, loneliness, low self-esteem and troubled relationships. Whilst the City North Men's Shed cannot provide professional mental health services, its principal objective is to be aware of the mental health challenges faced by our members, to assist them in understanding mental health issues and support members to make a proper referral to one of the many excellent mental health support organisations such as:
Lifeline, 13 11 14 (24hr Crisis Line)
Suicide Call Back Service, 1300 659 467 (24hr Crisis Line)
Beyond Blue, 1300 224 636 (24hr Crisis Line)
MensLine Australia, 1300 78 99 78 (24hr Crisis Line)
OpenArms (Veterans and Families), 1800 011 046 (24hr Crisis Line)
Brother to Brother (Indigenous), 1800 435 799 (24hr Crisis Line)
Yarn (Indigenous), 13 92 76 (24hr Crisis Line)
Relationships Australia, 1300 364 277
Drug ARM, 1300 656 800
Mental Health Australia, 02 6285 3100
Way Ahead, 1300 794 991
Sane Australia, 1800 187 263
City North Men's Shed also organises and promotes activities intended to prevent and alleviate social isolation by bringing like-minded people together in a friendly environment with connection to the community. Our activities include learning and practising woodworking and engaging in other hobbies such as jewellery making, restoring old vehicles, making, learning and playing musical instruments or just having a game of pool. In addition, members and their friends regularly participate in visiting talks on matters of current interest or a visits to a local historical site or dinner at a local venue. Skills can then be applied to personal and community-based projects.
Commended By City of Sydney Council
On 9 August 2023 we were visited by Councillor Lyndon Gannon of the City of Sydney Council. Subsequently at its meeting on 18 September 2023 (agenda item 12.7) the Council unanimously resolved to:
“ (C) Commend the [City North] Men’s Shed for its dedication to enhancing the mental and physical well-being of its members by creating a space that facilitates social interaction, and active engagement in activities such as woodworking; "
Clr Gannon visited us again to present the Community Recognition Statement to Shed Members on Thursday 2 November 2023, and you can read the complete statement here:
Joining Us
It is completely free to come along and see what we do and just have chat with your neighbours. If you would like to join us working on a community project, or work on your own project using our tools and facilities, we need you to become a member so that you are covered by our insurance.
Membership Fees cover a calendar year (1 Jan - 31 Dec). For 2024 the fees are:
$100 if joining between 1 Jan and 30 Jun
$50 if joining between 1 Jul and 30 Sep
$125 if joining between 1 Oct and 31 Dec with membership expiry date of 31 Dec 2025
We also offer a "Household' membership for the second and subsequent members joining from the same residential address. Household membership is 50% of the membership fee.
Please contact us at info@citynorthmensshed.org.au and we will gladly answer any questions you may have, or you can apply by clicking below:
Assisting Us
If you have tools or building materials that are in good condition but excess to your requirements and you would consider donating them, please contact us at info@citynorthmensshed.org.au and we will gladly discuss with you.
If you are an individual or business and would like to make a donation to assist us with procuring tools and materials City North Men's Shed is applying for Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status so donations over $2 may become tax deductible for you.
Contact Us
Come along to a Workshop Day or contact us at info@citynorthmensshed.org.au to find out more about us and how you can be become a member. If you have a Community Project that we might be able to assist with, please get in touch.
With effect from 1 May 2023, City North Men's Shed Inc (ABN: 73211567686) has been registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC). You can view our registration by clicking on the ACNC logo.
