Australian Men’s Shed Association

“Men don’t talk face to face they talk shoulder to shoulder”

Shed Development Program

GUIDELINES

FUNDING CATEGORIES

APPLICATION FORMS

Inquiries 1300 550 009
Email: amsa@mensshed.net

About the Men’s Shed Development Program

As part of the National Male Health Policy, the Australian Government announced $3 million over four years to support the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) and to provide direct assistance to Men’s Sheds.
The funding will be of benefit to Men's Sheds because it will enable AMSA to support Sheds. By building the AMSA administration support team, this funding allows AMSA to continue to provide and improve professional advice and assistance such as Shed establishment, promoting self sustainability, occupational health and safety, and risk management within the Shed Movement.

The funding available directly to Men’s Sheds includes provisions for Men’s Sheds to apply to AMSA for items such as tools, equipment, purpose built workspaces, improvements to Sheds and the engagement of a Shed Co-ordinator.

A Men’s Shed is any community-based, non-commercial organisation which is open to all men where;
The primary activity is the provision of a safe, friendly and inclusive environment where men are able to gather together and/or work on meaningful projects at their own pace, in their own time and in the company of other men and a primary objective is to advance the health and well-being of their male members.  

A Shed can be a purpose built facility or a multipurpose community or private building used on a regular basis for the purposes of a Men’s Shed. Innovative Men’s Shed models such as mobile vans or virtual Sheds will also be considered where it can be established that these models are the best way to reach a Priority Group¹ .

* Note that the building of new sheds is not supported under this program.

¹ Priority Groups include men living in rural and remote areas, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, men with a disability and/or mental illness, migrant men, men who are socially disadvantaged and/or isolated, and groups from areas where there is a high percentage of men out of work.

How to Apply

Which organisations can apply for a Men’s Shed Project?

Any Men’s Shed or an overseeing body on behalf of a Shed. The body needs to be a legal or registered entity, such as an Association incorporated under State and Territory Incorporation legislation, and act as a legal entity separate from its individual members that can hold property. 

The Associations Incorporation Acts provide a means of creating a separate legal entity for small community based groups such as a Men’s Shed.

Note: organisations are not able to charge a fee, or any other administrative cost(s), associated with submitting a funding application for a Men’s Shed Project.

Which Men’s Shed Projects will be given priority?

• Men’s Shed Projects in areas where there are no Sheds.
• Preference will be given to organisations seeking to establish or improve an existing Men’s Shed for particular Priority Groups. 
• Existing Sheds that can demonstrate a high level of unmet need for a Men’s Shed in their local area, especially for the Priority Groups.
• Sheds that can demonstrate partnerships with other relevant community groups such as the local council, community health centre, welfare organisations, men's health services, and other community service groups. 
• Sheds that have (demonstrate) a sustainable strategic plan for the operation and sustainability of their particular Men’s Shed.
  

What can be funded?

Under the AMSA Shed Development Program, individual Sheds can apply for a Men’s Shed Project up to a maximum of $10,000:

Category 1 – Workspace Development Funding up to a maximum of $4,000 for:

• The development of purpose built workspaces including tools and equipment, and may include computers. Limited one-off funding for out-of-pocket expenses that Sheds are unable to meet may be considered for items directly related to the development of the Shed and its workspace. 

Category 2 – Building and Operational Funding up to a maximum of $6,000 for:

• Improvements to an existing building to allow for the operation of a Men’s Shed (eg where a Men’s Shed group has found a building that may be suitable, but needs improvement/modification/refit before it can be used). This may include improving disability access, insurance, and connection to utilities such as power, water, telephone and internet.
• Short term rental may be considered in some circumstances where longer term sustainable arrangements are being put in place.  
  

Category 3 – Shed Co-ordinator Funding up to a maximum of $10,000 for:

• The employment of a Shed Co-ordinator in the area to assist Sheds in managing the operation of the Shed, especially for men that fall within the identified Priority Groups. This can include assistance with:
• Facilitating joint activities with other relevant local agencies/groups.
• Sourcing donations for buildings, sites, money, equipment or land.
• Building approvals.
• Professional advice on promoting Shed establishment, self sustainability, occupational health and safety, and risk management.
  

What can’t be funded?

• Building a Men’s Shed.
• Projects requiring ongoing funding from AMSA. Note: this Men’s Shed Project funding is provided on a one-off basis.
• The purchase of land. In general the land on which the facility development is proposed will be municipal property, a Crown reserve, land owned by a public authority or land held for public purposes (eg. trustees).
• Repair of facilities damaged by vandalism, fire or other natural disasters where the act should be covered by insurance.
• Facilities where little or no disability or public access is available.
• Additional funding for Men’s Shed components that have already received substantial funding from Government.
  

What is the evaluation process?

• If an applicant cannot fulfil part of the application, the application will not be accepted for assessment.
• Each part of the application criteria will be evaluated by the AMSA Evaluation Panel (the Panel) and allocated a score.
• The application criteria will be based on the priorities set out in the section above entitled: “Which Men’s Shed Projects will be given priority?”, and applicants will be ranked according to their score. Funding will be awarded to the highest ranking applications in order of merit under each category.
• The Panel will complete the selection process within two months of applications closing and applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome.
• Information provided in applications will be cross referenced using the public health interactive-mapping website data to verify geographical areas of need.   
• The applicant is required to notify AMSA if funding has been secured from another source during the application process. The applicant may then reapply for AMSA funding for another project. 
• New applications will be accepted only between the given dates that the Men’s Shed Project application process is open. 
• No feedback on individual applications will be provided.
  

Men’s Shed Project: application deadlines

If successful, what are the funding conditions?

• The successful organisation must enter into a funding agreement with AMSA for the Men’s Shed Project. The agreement will set out the funding conditions and reporting requirements.

Click here to download Part A

Click Here to download Part B

Click here to download Part C

Click here to download Part D

Document Checklist

Please ensure you have completed/attached these items in your application

• Two quotes from suppliers of goods and services to validate the application.
• A copy of the applicant’s Public Liability Insurance.
• A copy of the Shed’s or overseeing agency’s most recent Profit Loss statement or Audited Annual Report.
• Letters of support or agreements from partnering organisations/sponsors (both cash and in-kind).
• For Category 2 – Building and Operational Funding, a proposed site plan and quote from a qualified professional, relevant building permits that meet regulatory standards and information on the ownership of the premises with written permission/consent from the relevant for the improvement.   
  

Please submit your application to:

Australian Men’s Shed Association
PO Box 68
Windale, NSW, 2306
amsa@mensshed.net