UGL welcomed 25 people from six Men's Sheds from the Mackay region to a special community event.
Members from Mackay Men’s Shed, Iona West Men’s Shed, Mackay Woodturners Association, Pioneer Valley Men’s Shed, Sarina and District Community Shed and Seaforth Men’s Shed enjoyed a barbeque breakfast and tour of the UGL workshop in Paget, which has been in operation since 1979.
This event follows the launch of UGL's national partnership with the Australian Men's Shed Association (AMSA) in November last year.
Men’s Sheds are well known for their impactful community work across Australia, and UGL's partnership with AMSA is designed to create mutually beneficial outcomes - harnessing UGL’s collective skills and resources to support local Sheds to expand their reach and impact, while also encouraging employees to connect with these important community hubs.
The partnership is also designed to help UGL employees, particularly those transitioning to retirement, to maintain active, engaged lives within their communities.
Reflecting on the event, Patrick Sequeira, Senior Quality Advisor at UGL, said "It was eye-opening and so valuable to meet with Shedders who clearly hold such a wealth of knowledge and experience from their careers that we can no doubt learn from."
A particularly powerful moment came when one of the Shedders shared his experience working on the crew that cleared the area for the foundations of the very workshop they are visiting decades later.
Throughout the event, conversations centered on how UGL and Men’s Sheds could continue to work together to foster community connection and share valuable skills.
The Australian Men’s Shed Association is the national service provider supporting more than 1,300 men’s and community sheds across Australia. These Sheds provide vital support for community wellbeing – particularly around the area of mental health – through camaraderie, connection, and skill-sharing.
Sheds also play a vital role in supporting mental health, providing a space to connect, learn, and work on meaningful projects.
With a shared commitment to supporting mental health and fostering community wellbeing, both UGL and AMSA are dedicated to making a positive impact in local communities.