How Dads Groups work

Dads Groups are a gathering of new fathers meeting together weekly with their kids, a coffee, and often a playground. The peer-to-peer approach of Dads Groups create an evidenced based and effective framework for support — something that is often missing from the existing fatherhood experience in Australia.

Groups are led by a new father, but usually with the support of a local council worker, especially in the establishment stage. Over 70 Dads Groups have been established around Australia in the last 5 years, with demonstrated impact. The initial findings of a 2019 University of the Sunshine Coast research report into the impact of Dads Groups found that:

• Almost twice as many dads in the general community reported feeling mostly or always isolated as a parent compared to those who attended Dads Group events.

• 33% of dads in the general community had no idea of places they could go to make friends and talk with other parents compared with 3% of dads who attended Dads Group events.

• Dads who attended Dads Group events were twice as likely to know where they could get help as a parent compared with dads in the general community.

• Five times as many dads in the general community felt they and their family were not at all connected within their community compared with dads who attended Dads Group events.

• 55% of dads in the general community reported never or only a little of the time taking their child to events or gatherings compared with 17% of dads who attended Dads Group events.

• Dads who attend Dads Group events reported feeling that they and their family were connected within the broader community significantly more so than dads generally.

• All mothers involved with Dads Group felt at least a little connected within their community, whereas 19% of mothers in the general community felt not at all connected.