About

 

Statistics relating to new fatherhood in Australia

  1. 1 in 5 fathers report feeling totally isolated in the first year of fatherhood

  2. 38% of new fathers worry about their mental health 

  3. Approximately 10% of men will develop postnatal depression

  4. Almost half of new fathers report feeling stressed or anxious about needing to be the rock of the family 

  5. Lack of partner support is a leading risk factor for the development of postnatal depression for women 

  6. 96% of women go to their partner as the first source of support after having a baby 

  7. Father-child bonding contributes to healthy child development 

  8. The perinatal period is the most common time for family violence to begin/escalate.

The Dads Group ‘Integrated Model of Care - For Fathers in the Perinatal Period’. 

A “Model of Care” broadly defines the way health services are delivered. It outlines best practice care and services for a person, population group or patient cohort as they progress through the stages of a condition, injury or event.

Three Integrated Programs

The Hospital Program,

The Dads Group Hospital Program has been co-design with leading health industry experts including senior midwives, obstetricians, researchers, mental health practitioners. This program sees the co-delivery of programs for new fathers and mothers in hospital antenatal classes both face to face and remote delivery. The program strategically presents the expecting parents with an experienced midwife and a trained mental health fatherhood expert with lived experience.

Both mothers and fathers engage with the two parts of the program a) the Fatherhood Lived Experience Session and b) the Born Ready Program that prepares expectant parents emotionally for the journey of parenthood.

The key support services that the Dads Group representative educates new fathers on how, when and why to use include; 

  1. SMS4DADS

  2. PANDA

  3. SUPPORT FOR FATHERS

  4. FAMILY MAN

  5. DADS GROUP DIGITAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

The outcomes of the DG Hospital Program are that new mothers and fathers can both appreciate the opportunities and challenges that parenthood may present and equip them with tools, resources and pathways to navigate that journey together.

We provide antenatal & postnatal classes specially designed for new and expecting dads, bringing together research, programs and insights to enable you to be the best father and partner you can be through this incredible chapter of life…

the transition to fatherhood.

  1. Midwives set the atmosphere for the expecting mothers and father to meaningfully engage with the Dads Group Antenatal Representative

  2. The Dad Group Antenatal Representative is able to connect in a unique way with the fathers because of his lived experience 

Digital Dads Group Program

The Digital Dads Group Program has been designed to enhance and support both the Hospital and the Community Program. Getting a bit lost in the transition to fatherhood is a common experience for fathers so the digital program captures new and expecting fathers through a wide variety of programs, campaigns and gateways and channels them through to a space where they can find and access support and guidance that is specific and relevant to their current needs on their fatherhood journey. The digital program includes everything from Podcasts and resources to online live digital sessions for new fathers. There are digital community groups, platforms for learning and sharing and programs allowing participants to join the team and become an active Dads Group Community Champion. 

Across the Digital Platforms the key support services that the Dads Group representative educates new fathers on how, when and why to use include; 

  1. SMS4DADS

  2. PANDA

  3. SUPPORT FOR FATHERS

  4. FAMILY MAN

  5. DADS GROUP DIGITAL AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

The Community Dads Group Program 

The Dads Group Community Program is the pillar on which the foundations of the program have been built. All programs seek to get new and expecting fathers into contact with other fathers with their infants and develop genuine social connections and friendships that enable them to learn, share and thrive as new fathers.

The Dads Group community program is centred around meetup events in a park or cafe weekly, fortnightly or monthly. It can be run with as few as two dads with their infants/toddlers/children or as many as thirty or more. It's an exciting and inspirational space unlike any other in our current social spaces. The babies and toddlers have a special place in the strategic design and delivery of the experience as they positively impact the dialogue, the support and the vulnerability of the fathers who attend. It is run by a Dads Group Community Champion who is trained and supported to delivery engaging events and guide the community towards support pathways for new and expectant fathers.