Western Australia’s City of Stirling Council has launched a dedicated Women’s Shed space as part of its celebration of International Women’s Day 2022.
A Women’s Shed pilot program started in the city two years ago in response to a motion from Councillor Elizabeth Re, offering a range of activities including DIY tool kits, DIY drilling and master plaster; painting techniques; household maintenance; car maintenance; waterwise gardens; and composting.
Mayor, Mark Irwin said the pilot program proved there was significant demand for the service, with all workshops being booked out quickly.
“Feedback was sought from participants at each workshop, and based on participation numbers and feedback received, the pilot program confirmed strong community demand,” he said.
“The workshops offered catered for the broad depth of interests expressed by the women who participated, and the workshops were focused on expanding skills and knowledge rather than providing specific projects to work on.
“This demonstrated a clear point of difference compared to Men’s Sheds, which are very much focussed on developing skills and social connections through projects and delivering all activities within a single shed or easy to access space.
“We are extremely proud to be launching our dedicated Women’s Shed on 8 March to coincide with International Women’s Day 2022 as the first phase in a long-term plan to deliver better services, programs and specialist equipment.”
With the pilot program clearly demonstrating there is a need for dedicated education and practical skills workshops in addition to heavy machinery, wood working and project type activities, the City of Stirling will now provide a bespoke space at the Scarborough Community Hub to accommodate the new Women’s Shed, Council said in a statement.
Phase One will see the newly refurbished space play host to a range of workshops, empowering women to learn new skills, hobbies and explore a range of different interests while building social connections.
While the pilot program was delivered through existing City resources and Men’s Shed volunteers, the expanded Women’s Shed activities at Scarborough in Phase One will be delivered through skilled facilitators under a user-pays model.
As popularity and demand grows, the City will continue to evolve and deliver bespoke services to better cater for our community, it said.
