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Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan today opened this year’s Men’s Shed grant applications while visiting the Banyule Men’s Shed, which has now been serving the community and supporting men in the area for ten years.

The Labor Government is investing nearly $900,000 to build, upgrade or refurbish men’s sheds, which play a key role safeguarding the emotional and social health and wellbeing of Victorian men.

Men’s sheds are safe and productive spaces for men to work on common projects, form friendships and give back to their community. There are more than 360 sheds across Victoria.

Among many things, the Banyule Men’s Shed members use their shed to support their community by hand making toys for the local playgroup and making repairs to furniture brought in.

The grants will build and upgrade sheds across the state, so more people in the community can benefit from the valuable services and companionship a men’s shed offers.

Men’s shed groups can apply for grants of up to $80,000 for the construction of a new shed or the replacement, extension and refurbishment of an existing shed.

The Labor Government provides $1 million to support men’s sheds in Victoria each year, which includes $116,000 to the Victorian Men’s Shed Association.

For information about the 2019-20 Men’s Shed Grant program and how to apply, visit: http://providers.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mens-shed-program.