Playford Women’s Shed breaks new ground and calls for better services for women
From providing members with their only meal of the day to bringing together and uplifting the isolated, the Playford Women's Shed is the first of its kind in the country.
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For the 85 Men’s Sheds around South Australia, there’s only one Women’s Shed.
From providing members with their only meal of the day to bringing together and uplifting the isolated, the Playford Women's Shed is the first of its kind in the country.
There are 85 Men’s Sheds operating in South Australia and since opening in March last year Playford is the only service available for women.
“Men retire and they need a Men’s Shed so they can have a purpose and have the social interaction they lose after retiring, why not women too,” Mrs Wlochowicz said.
“Are we meant to keep ourselves busy by doing housework, going shopping and looking after the grandkids. The mindset has to change, we need a cultural shift.”
“A lot of women can’t afford to leave the house, particularly with kids, I’ve seen so many come out of their shell and climb out of depression here.”
Mrs Wlochowicz who pays $10,000 a year in rent at a vacant school in Davoren Park said fundraising to keep the now 115 member space afloat has been a challenge, and wants more funding allocated to women's health services broadly.
The Shed, which costs $10,000 a year in rent, is at a vacant school in Davoren Park. Members have now turned to fundraising to keep the 115-member space afloat.
Many of the state’s Men’s Shed’s exist rent-free or on council land.
Some of the workshops on offer at the shed include arts, crafts, cooking, gardening and a choir run by local musician Katie Pomery as well as a daily cheap meal.
“As our food donations are dwindling we’re having to buy more produce to provide lunches for the ladies,” Mrs Wlochowicz said.
“There’s at least a dozen women who eat their only meal for the day here, it’s very important we keep that up.”
The Women’s Shed has also become a refuge for women dealing with trauma and domestic violence, with hampers of clothing and essentials made by volunteers to assist them.
“The federal government are going on now about addressing sexual assault, harassment and respecting women in the workplace which is fantastic, but I’ve got 115 women right here who have suffered isolation, domestic violence, loneliness and depression.
“This is the area where the government needs to be looking to spend some money, they put millions of dollars into advertising campaigns about domestic violence but all the actual services are at breaking point.”
Last year the army of ‘sisters’ sent clothes and christmas presents to a women's resource centre in the Kimberley region, as well as similar organisations in Port Augusta, Coppley, Ceduna and Coober Pedy.
Sadly the Women‘s Shed site will be demolished in three years, but by then Mrs Wlochowicz intends to lobby the state and federal governments to finance a purpose-built facility.
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