Katoomba Men's Shed

About KMS

The Katoomba Men’s Shed is a not for profit community organisation that promotes the health and wellbeing of men by providing opportunities for them to share time together, swap yarns and work together on community or personal projects. It is inclusive and encourages membership and participation of men from all walks of life.

We are particularly aware of the social isolation and the boredom that often leads to depression when men experience a change of circumstances such as ceasing work.

The Men’s Shed provides a place where men can be in the company of other men. There is good evidence that just belonging to a community organisation can be a big help. Experience also shows that men are more likely to talk through their problems in this sort of environment.

Friendship, loyalty and camaraderie are highly valued in Men’s Sheds around the world, where shedders are offered a place to belong and contribute with purpose.

Katoomba Men’s Shed provides for a wide range of activities including computers, electronics, gardening and a range of workshop-based hobbies. It also provides opportunities for more passive activities such as a chat with other men, a game of cards or reading a book from the in-house exchange library. The activity program is flexible and can be easily adapted to cater for new interests, particularly when a member is prepared to share their personal skills and experience to lead a new activity.

The Katoomba Men’s Shed is an independent and self-funded organisation affiliated with the Australian Men’s Shed Association.

What we do

By providing a place where men can gather and be with other men, the Katoomba Men's Shed aims to improve the health and well being of members. There is good evidence that people who belong to and participate in an organisation like the Shed live longer and have fewer mental health problems than people who have no community involvement.

Men come to 'the Shed' for a variety of reasons, including the following:

• some use the facilities to do their own projects

• some come for a cupa and a chat

• Some use the computers, printers and Internet

• some are involved in group projects, like the model railway group

• some help run the Shed by doing administration, organising projects or supervising operations

• some help with projects for the community or for people who need small repairs etc

Most activities are organised and run by the members themselves. This means that new activities can be added to the mix at any time. All that is needed is a good idea and enough enthusiasm to make it happen.

The following pages outline some of the activities that are available at the Katoomba Men's Shed.

Location