South West Men’s Shed shared their knowledge last week hosting an event streamed across all of Australia

A small South West Men’s Shed shared their knowledge last week by hosting an event streamed across Australia.

The Brunswick Men’s Shed hosted their Act Now, Stay Secure — Cyber Awareness What are You Risking Online, event at the Leschenault Sport Association’s pavilion last Wednesday, with a host of experts in attendance to discuss online safety.

The event was a year in the making, and streamed live into Men’s Sheds around Australia as well as being saved as an invaluable resource for future reflection.

Brunswick Men’s Shed member Kate Bufton was one of the driving forces behind the event as she saw there was a strong need to improve cyber awareness and online safety in the community.

“It’s an issue a lot of people brush off a little bit, but it’s something that we need to start getting serious about,” she said.

“If we can raise awareness at a grassroots level within our community groups, hopefully we can get that message spreading around.”

The event had a range of speakers discussing the importance of online safety, including Australian Men’s Shed Association’s coordinator of wellbeing and health Stuart Torrance, former Forrest MHR Nola Marino and Edith Cowan University cyber security expert Dr David Cook.

Ms Bufton said she was blown away by the event’s success.

“It’s still a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment, like are we dreaming, we’re just a little shed from regional WA,” she said.

“It’s been just brilliant, we’re happy to say, I think everybody is just totally engrossed.”