Swinburne partners with Croydon Men’s Shed
In Summary
Croydon Men’s Shed has found a new home at Swinburne University of Technology’s Croydon Campus, with a stand-alone shed to be occupied by the group three times a week.
The Men’s Shed aims to strengthen local communities by engaging men in volunteering, working with and mentoring others and creating pathways to further education.
Clive Linley, Coordinator of Community Projects at Swinburne’s Croydon campus, said the partnership creates a valuable opportunity to link the men’s group with Swinburne’s Migrant/General Education group of students.
“The shed’s activity will be based around the cottage industry which provides an avenue for our migrant students to achieve improved self-esteem and confidence through mentoring opportunities from the men’s group.
“We also see the benefits of this relationship extending to our migrant students’ parents who may like to be involved in the Men’s Shed community.”
Swinburne University, Maroondah City Council and the Croydon Men’s Shed have worked collaboratively to develop a Memorandum of Understanding which enables the partnership to pursue their collective community engagement and social inclusion objectives.
''I'm delighted with this partnership which allows us to support the important work of the Men’s Shed movement as part of our commitment to engaging with the local community,” Kirsten Jeffery, Director of Facilities and Services, Swinburne University, said.
The shed provides an ideal location for the group which currently has 50 members, with another 33 on a waiting list.
The Croydon Men’s Shed forms part of the Victorian and Australian Men’s Sheds Associations who support social connectedness through improved self-esteem, confidence, physical and mental health for men.