Pre-budget Submission

The perinatal period is a critical time for family support, yet many fathers face unmet emotional and mental health needs. One in ten Australian dads experiences perinatal depression or anxiety, impacting family wellbeing. Engaging fathers early leads to better mental health, stronger family bonds, and improved child development. However, systemic gaps often exclude fathers from support systems, leaving mothers to carry the mental burden of parenting alone.

Dads Group, a national not-for-profit, addresses this gap through the Integrated Model of Care (IMC), a program that complements maternal care by providing education, peer support, and digital resources for fathers. Over seven years, Dads Group has reached 205,000 individuals, transforming fatherhood culture and improving family dynamics.

Key Components of the IMC:

  • Community Dads Groups: Peer-led spaces for social connection and mental health support.

  • Digital Dads Groups: Online support for fathers in remote, regional, or socially isolated situations.

  • Health Service Programs: Father-inclusive antenatal and postnatal education integrated into healthcare systems.

In 2025-26, Dads Group will expand the IMC across metro, regional, and rural areas in collaboration with Commonwealth-funded perinatal services and healthcare providers to ensure father-inclusive care is embedded nationwide.

Why This Matters:

  • Improved mental health & reduced suicidality among fathers.

  • Stronger families through equitable parenting education.

  • Better childhood development through father-child bonding.

Dads Group is partnering with leading perinatal mental health organisations, including Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia (PANDA), the Fathers and Families  Research Program (SMS4dads), Parent and Infant Research Institute (PIRI), Center of Perinatal Excellence (COPE), The Gidget Foundation, Tresillian, Red Nose Australia, Centacare Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast Health Institute, the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium (AFRC), Talked and Healthy Male. These collaborations ensure that best-practice father-inclusive programs are widely accessible.

This low-cost, high-impact model aligns with government health priorities and provides a scalable solution to addressing perinatal mental health gaps. Join us in ensuring no father is left behind, no mother carries the burden alone, and every child has the opportunity to thrive.