Old dogs, new shed tricks: an exploration of innovative, workshop-based learning practice in Australia

Our paper explores some recent innovations in workshop-based learning practice that come out of community-based men's sheds in Australia. It deliberately goes beyond an exploration of the 'typical' community-based men’s shed, already explored in our forthcoming National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) research report and looks at some new and productive interactions between sheds and other informal learning organisations. We go to the margins of rapidly evolving shed practice and single out three types of shed-based organisations that work with school resisters, Vietnam veterans and older men in aged care. Our aim is to illustrate, using new Australian narrative data, some theoretical and practical implications and benefits of reciprocal, workshop-based mentoring relationships involving men of different ages. Our focus is on ways in which men with a skill or trade are able, in a situated and authentic learning context, to informally ‘weave magic’ for and with other men, and in some cases with young people. Our paper provides pointers to some of the principles underpinning successful informal and community-based learning practice for older men: particularly the need for a high level of engagement; the choice of an appropriate and safe setting; and to account for the differences associated with age and gender. We articulate an imperative for 'bringing more blokes' into all forms of learning in Australia including through more informal, community-based learning as well as through adult and community education (ACE). Our paper and its conclusions have implications for other workshop and shed-based learning practice in vocational education and training (VET) as well as informal and community-based learning by volunteers in the quintessential and ubiquitous Australian fire and football sheds.

Published abstract.

Available papers from the 10th Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) Conference are indexed from TD/TNC 89.401 to TD/TNC 89.447. Show less