Connecting communities for better wellbeing and health
To celebrate this World Mental Health Day, Brighter has formally renewed their partnership with the Australian Men’s Shed Association with the goal of supporting mental health and wellbeing in local communities.
Strong, sustainable and diverse Men’s Sheds are good for the health of Australian men (and their families and communities), and good for building cohesive and resilient neighbourhoods.
Men’s Sheds make a positive contribution to Australian communities through the prevention of social isolation, the promotion of positive health and wellbeing and providing the opportunity for men to participate in their local community.
Through the renewed partnership, Australian Energy Producers (AEP) will support the Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA) through its Brighter with Natural Gas initiative, to enhancesocial connectedness for the benefit of community wellbeing.
Strong social networks have been found to lower morbidity, increase life expectancy and benefit physical and mental health through practical and emotional help and support. AMSA will work with local Men’s Sheds to bring together shedders over the humble gas BBQ to connect, with a side-serving of local health services and community organisations to empower communities to improve their wellbeing.
In a society where men are dying too young, mainly from preventable causes. AEP will also support AMSA to deliver tools and resources targeted at men to increase health literacy and empower men to optimise the health of themselves and each other. This will include a small grants program for Men’s Sheds to get involved in Men’s Health Week 2025.
Since the partnership began in 2022, AEP has supported AMSA to bring together more than 1,500 shedders with local groups and organisations to start healthy conversations in more than 15 Men’s Shed communities across Australia.
In 2023, The Shedder Cookbook: Gas Edition was published with the support of AEP – bringing to life the simple joy of connection over food, all cooked over gas.
We know from men’s health research that many older single-living men appear to be more nutritionally vulnerable (compared to women) and that older men have poorer dietary behaviours and dietary quality. We also know there are a number of barriers for men when it comes to cooking.
We know food is a great connector – sharing a meal, or sharing time in preparing and eating that meal has significant positive impacts on a person’s wellbeing. So a simple cookbook with easy to follow recipes and easy to find ingredients (with a teaspoon of fun) met the brief of encouraging positive behaviours in the kitchen and at the dinner table.
Gas barbecues and Men’s Sheds are iconically Australian and the perfect partnership to celebrate AMSA’s crucial work across three decades in strengthening, and uniting, communities. As a key employer, investor and energy supplier in remote and regional communities, we recognise the importance of supporting grassroots organisations like Men’s Sheds to promote mental health and wellbeing; building community connections for better wellbeing.
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