• Melissa Parke, youth minister Kate Ellis, Craig Green from the Hilton PCYC and Men’s Shed president Bill Johnston. Photo by Brendan Foster

Fremantle’s men shed has had its youth programs bailed out by a $45,000 Rudd government grant.

The sheddies used to run wood and steel workshops for at-risk kids from the Hilton PCYC, but the Barnett government axed funding in 2011.

President Bill Johnston said they tried to keep the courses going, but without the money it was impossible.

On Thursday federal youth minister Kate Ellis dropped by the shed to pick up the slack. “The project, involving wood and metal workshops, will support vulnerable young people at risk of disconnecting from education,” Ms Ellis said.

Mr Johnston said he’d seen a “quantum shift” in the self-esteem of youths who’d previously done the workshops.

“It’s a positive outcome for the kids,” he said. “Some of the kids that used to come down had never used that equipment. They see there is a possibility for the building trade or going to Tafe.

“And we have found that some of the older kids that have got interested have gone onto a building trade or into pre-apprenticeships.”

Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke said the program, which ran from 2009-11, made a “positive contribution” to the lives of many young West Aussies.  “The majority of the young people who attended the programs were indigenous and lived in the southern districts, including Hilton, Hamilton Hill, Spearwood, Coolbellup, Cockburn and Fremantle,” she said.

by BRENDAN FOSTER