Nationals WA Leader Mia Davies has used World Mental Health Day to highlight funding concerns for Men’s Sheds of WA.
The organisation, which represents about 180 individual men’s shed committees operating across the state, including 125 in regional WA, has been given no ongoing funding commitment from the state government.
During a sitting of Parliament Ms Davies asked Health Minister Roger Cook why he had not committed any ongoing support to Men’s Sheds, which is facing recruitment and resourcing challenges as funding dries up.
“Men’s sheds have a proven track record of improving social connectedness and helping men manage mental health and health issues,” Ms Davies said.
“Despite growing in popularity and continuing to address key health issues in communities across the state, this Health Minister seems ignorant of the benefits Men’s Sheds offer and refuses to offer ongoing funding support.
“He’s even gone so far as to blame the organisation itself for not getting funded, despite Men’s Sheds of WA repeatedly contacting Government Ministers in an effort to negotiate long-term funding.”
Men’s Sheds of WA is the overarching body that assists coordinating and disseminating information to individual shed committees and setting up new sheds.
The last amount of funding given to the organisation by the McGowan Government was $150,000 from the Department of Communities expiring at the end of the year.
Ms Davies said the support Men’s Shed of WA provides to their sites in towns is vital.
“In regional WA where you have limited access to support structures, sometimes not even a doctor, maintaining a mental wellness is so important,” she said.
“We have some of the worst statics when it comes to suicides particularly men so we need to make sure the organisation can be self sufficient so they can continue doing the good work they are doing.
“I remember going to Beacon men’s shed where they opened the extension and there’s a fellow there who has goes there everyday.
“He said it saved his life.
“He gets out of bed everyday and goes there.
“He greats people coming into down and gives them a tour.
“He’s quite a remarkable gentleman and can’t speak highly enough of what it’s done for him.
“It’s something that deserves the support of the state and federal government.”
In a statement to the Avon Valley and Wheatbelt Advocate Mr Cook said he is supportive of the valuable work the Men’s Shed of WA gives to the health and wellbeing of men.
“The Department of Communities currently has a grant provided to MSWA, in addition The McGowan Labor Government has committed more than $380,000 through its Local Projects Local Jobs election commitments to support local Men’s Sheds and its initiatives across the State,” he said.
“The state government, through the Mental Health Commission (MHC) funds the Wheatbelt Men’s Health Inc. for the implementation of the Regional Men's Health Initiative (RMHI).
“The RMHI aims to address issues of mental health and wellbeing and suicide in men in regional and remote farming communities through education and promotion of suicide awareness.
“The value of the contract is $282,100.
“The MHC also funds MATES in Construction Western Australia almost $300k to provide a Standby Response Co-ordinator to oversee industry-specific advice and education to industry workers on mental health and wellbeing. These includes help for FIFO workers.
“The previous Department of Health (DOH) grant to Men’s Sheds WA was in place from 1 January 2016 through to 30 June 2017 and covered specific projects.
“One of these was to conduct Men’s Wellbeing Talks and Pit Stop health checks, the DOH made the decision not to enter into a new grant on the basis that only two metropolitan men’s sheds had taken up the offer of the Men’s Wellbeing Talk and Pit Stop.”
