Jelly Magirazi and Rowena Tagaloa (Western Sydney Primary Health Network), Donald Mulholland, Cultural Coordinator (The Shed), Mitchell Beggs-Mowczan, Aboriginal Liaison Officer (Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network), and clients from The Shed.
The Shed is a drop-in connection centre in Mount Druitt which provides a safe and welcoming environment where people can share their stories in a non-judgemental setting. Most of their clients are at risk of stress and suicide, often due to disadvantaged situations.
Although The Shed was initially set up for men, they work with an ‘open door’ approach to ensure no one is turned away. Most of their clients are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, as they can often experience the worst health outcomes of any population in Australia. Caseworkers provide culturally safe support to address client’s needs, including emotional distress, mental illness, social isolation, housing, financial hardship and legal issues.
The Shed has become a place of belonging for many, where they can go to for a ‘feed and a yarn’ and partake in recovery circles and group art sessions, or just be heard. They have built a sense of community, trust and respect.
Uncle Dave Sheppard says “I come to The Shed for the education. Everybody’s got a problem, and you might listen to someone, and you think, is he talking about me, that’s my problem. People don’t realise by just listening to other people you can fix your own”.
The service was established in 2004 as a partnership between Western Sydney University, Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre and the Holy Family Church at Mount Druitt. We have worked with The Shed for over five years, supporting Western Sydney’s regional objective of improving Aboriginal health.
On Wednesday 27 September, we attended the Men’s Health Day held at The Shed. Many stalls were there with information for community about the various services available in Western Sydney that focus on social and emotional wellbeing, sexual health, diabetes education, prostate cancer and smoking cessation.
Darian Preece,an Aboriginal Health Education Officer at Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD), shared: “Men’s Health Day is a way to get involved with the community. Men can be vulnerable and want to seek better health but don’t know how. We want them to feel they don’t have to be afraid to engage in services”.
We’re proud to advise that The Shed is a finalist for the Mental Health Matters Award under the Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing category. This award recognises programs and initiatives that enhance the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities with the winner being announced next month.
If you have any patients that would benefit from attending The Shed, please recommend they drop in as a referral is not required. If you know someone who needs support, please call (02) 9628 7396. The Shed is located on the corner of Weber Crescent and Emert Parade, Emerton.
28 September 2023