Hats off to Gunbalanya Men's Shed

Men's Shed participants celebrate the completion of a new 'Gunbalanya Welcomes You' sign, built with the assistance of a resources and infrastructure training course through STEPS Education and Training, Batchelor Institute, and Gunbalanya Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation.

BLOKES all across Australia just love making stuff in sheds, and in communities across West Arnhem it’s no different. So when an opportunity came up at the Men’s Shed in Gunbalanya for hands-on training in metalwork, pipe bending and welding, more than 20 participants jumped at it.

The resources and infrastructure work preparation training course came about through collaboration between STEPS Education and Training, Batchelor Institute, and the Gunbalanya Economic Development Aboriginal Corporation (GEDAC).

As well as local men learning valuable new job skills, the Gunbalanya community got a brand-new, custom-built welcome sign.

The large metalwork sign near the airport road greets visitors and returning residents alike with its cheerful, bright yellow lettering.

“It’s pretty funky,” says GEDAC Acting Chief Executive Phil Saunders. Phil says the Men’s Shed, which is housed in the old CDEP building, provides a terrific creative outlet for men in Gunbalanya.

“It’s a designated area for men, where they can keep busy learning and being engaged,” Phil said. “Since the shed opened in March, the men have done a grounds maintenance program, and have also learned language, literacy and numeracy skills through this recent training with the STEPS.

“It’s about social development, but it’s also just a really enjoyable place. ”

STEPS Education and Training trainer and assessor Sandra Lees said all the training in the seven-week course was relevant to the men’s jobs or future jobs.

“The numeracy skills are all job-related,” Sandra told The Wire. “So in this project we were measuring, calculating areas, angles – and using them. When bending pipes, the men need to read gauges and record that information. And while fractions can seem difficult or abstract, they need to use these ratios for mixing fuel, for example.”

She said the men also did a lot of reading, writing and vocabulary building, including reading work documents and preparing incident reports.

“The training worked really well, and the men really appreciated the variety – they loved setting up an email account, and learning how to use the features of email and internet browsers.”

Senior Lecturer Alvin Lee from Batchelor Institute said 10 trainees graduated from the short course with a Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation.

“The course prepares the men to work in the mining sector, or as a labourer, an assistant, a technician and so on,” Mr Lee said. “Two of them have already got a job with Intract.”

He said most of the participants had gotten something positive out of the course.

“As well as constructing the welcome sign, participants built shelving, jack stands, portable barbecues or other projects for themselves,” he said. “They were very keen on the course, but once they started doing their projects they just loved it, and couldn’t wait to take their projects home to show their families."

He said when others heard about the project they also wanted to join up, but it was too late. 

“But we will be back next year to do it again,” Alvin said.

STRONG SUPPORT: Batchelor Institute Senior Lecturer Alvin Lee (right) and Gunbalanya Men's Shed participants secure the footing for the welcome sign.