Five years of power tools, confidence and community: The Women’s Shed celebrates a milestone

Posted on 11 March, 2026

For five years, Canberra’s only women’s shed has been transforming confidence, connection and creativity across the capital.

Founded in October 2020, the Women’s Shed Canberra began as a simple idea: create a space where women could learn practical trade skills, connect with others and feel empowered to pick up a power tool for the first time.  

Five years on, that idea has grown into a thriving social enterprise supporting hundreds of women across the ACT. 

At the heart of it all is founder and CEO Sunita Kotnala, who was recognised as the 2025 Canberra Citizen of the Year for her work empowering local women through practical skill building and community connection. The award honours the impact the organisation has had since its beginnings during the pandemic, when many women were experiencing job loss and isolation. 

When Sunita moved to Canberra, she discovered something surprising: while Men’s Sheds were common here, there was no equivalent space for women to learn hands-on trade skills. So, she created one, and it very quickly gained momentum. Women came to learn how to use power tools, repair furniture, install door locks and build small projects. 

Today, the Women’s Shed remains the ACTS’s first and only women’s shed, offering practical workshops in home maintenance, woodworking and building trades while also contributing to Canberra’s circular economy through restoration, repair and reuse. 

The organisation’s purpose has remained consistent since day one. Creating a safe and inclusive space for women to build independence and connection through practical creativity, strengthening mental health and community connection. 

Over the last five years, the impact has been significant. Thousands of women across the ACT have participated in workshops at the shed and mobile workshops across Canberra. 

In the last 12 months alone, Women’s Shed has supported more than 590 women through 160 practical, hands-on workshops. The model has demonstrated huge success, driving confidence, skills and community connection and achieving 160 active memberships and $55,000 in self-generated social enterprise revenue. 

Beyond learning practical skills, the space has become something more powerful. It has become a place where women build confidence, friendships and independence. By providing a safe space to experiment, learn and make mistakes, the shed has allowed women to embrace practical creativity while strengthening mental health and community connection. 

The Women’s Shed work is prevention focussed: building self-sufficiency, reducing social isolation and creating employment pathways into trades and technical industries. A partnership with Goodies Junction has also opened opportunities for members to gain economic benefit by selling their restored or handmade goods locally. 

For founder Sunita Kotnala, the five-year milestone is a powerful reminder of what community-driven initiatives can achieve.  

“In just five years, Women’s Shed Canberra has grown from my initial vision and grassroots initiative into a thriving social enterprise,” she says. 

“This incredible milestone demonstrates the power of community-led skill development and sustainable social enterprise models, and shows our idea is meaningful and adding value to the Canberra community.” 

For many members, this impact is deeply personal. Sandra, a member, says she can’t imagine life without the Women’s Shed now. 

“Before I joined the [Women’s Shed], I hadn’t used tools before. Now I’m living my childhood. Things I couldn’t do when I was a girl, I can do now. And that’s the difference it’s made to me, learning new things means a lot.” 

To celebrate the milestone, the Women’s Shed will host a Community Open Day, inviting supporters, members and all Canberrans to experience the shed firsthand on Thursday, 12 March, from 11.30 am until 2.00 pm. Visitors can participate in special hands-on workshops, try out the tools and meet the community behind the organisation and enjoy a relaxed afternoon by the water in Tuggeranong. 

Feature image: Sam Smythe.