Men’s sheds have become important community spaces, but for some women who want to learn practical home maintenance skills, it is not an environment they feel comfortable in.
There are more than 1,200 men’s sheds around the country, including several in the Huon.
In comparison, there are about 50 women’s sheds in Australia.
Government asks women to ‘work with the men’s shed’
In the past four years, the Tasmanian government has given almost $600,000 to 117 men’s sheds initiatives through a grants program specifically for men’s sheds.
Women’s sheds can apply for general community grants but have no funding programs specifically for them.
The Huon She Shed board would like to see women’s sheds supported in the same way that men’s sheds are.
While the local men’s shed welcomes women, Ms Reardon said there were many women who wanted their own space.
“People like me that would feel intimidated going into what would traditionally be a man’s space … want to learn with other women,” she said.
Source: Calls for ‘she sheds’ to get same funding as men’s sheds, so women can learn with other women