‘Bads 54

Group

Dads Group Ltd: Submission to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability-

Executive Summary

Thriving Kids aims to create a national system of support for children under 8 with mild to moderate developmental concerns, delivered through mainstream and community services (child and maternal health, GPs, playgroups, ECEC, schools, digital supports). Children with permanent and significant disability remain supported through the NDIS. Fathers and Father Figures are a critical missing piece in this system. Evidence shows high rates of paternal stress, anxiety, and depression, with clear impacts on child outcomes.

Dads Group’s Integrated Model of Care (IMC) demonstrates that engaging fathers early strengthens child development, maternal wellbeing, and service uptake.

We recommend embedding father-inclusive practice across Thriving Kids design, with funded peer-led programs, workforce training, and national KPIs to track father engagement.

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MAN WITH A PRAM

Thriving Kids and Fathers: A Critical Piece

of the Puzzle

Australia has an opportunity to transform child development outcomes through the Thriving Kids initiative. This reform recognises that our current systems are falling short: too many children start school developmentally vulnerable, especially in disadvantaged communities, and families struggle to access the right help at the right time. Thriving Kids is designed to scale and strengthen mainstream and community services so families receive support where they already are.

But one piece of the puzzle has consistently been overlooked: fathers and father figures.

Research now makes it clear that paternal wellbeing is directly tied to children’s development. Over 40% of new dads experience moderate or high stress in the early postnatal period, with one in ten experiencing depression and up to a quarter experiencing symptoms between 3–6 months. A 2025 meta-analysis shows paternal distress is linked with poorer child social-emotional, language, and cognitive outcomes up to age 18. If Thriving Kids is to succeed in lifting outcomes for children, it must include fathers as equal partners from the start.

The Plus Paternal: A Case for Change report, funded by the Commonwealth, sets out seven recommendations to embed fathers in perinatal and early childhood systems. Dads Group is already delivering on each of these: shifting health service practice, training peer educators, building the workforce, partnering with Indigenous and CALD communities, running national awareness campaigns, embedding evaluation, and securing systemic funding. Our Integrated Model of Care is a ready-made, evidence-based approach that brings these recommendations to life.

The story of Dads Group over the past ten years demonstrates what is possible when fathers are included. From hospital maternity wards to regional communities and digital peer groups, thousands of dads have found connection, confidence, and the tools to support their children. These programs strengthen maternal wellbeing, reduce isolation, and create healthier family systems.

Thriving Kids will only reach its full potential if it is father-inclusive. By embedding proven father-inclusive models such as Dads Group within the new national system, we can address a critical gap, prevent avoidable risks, and ensure both parents are supported as equal partners in raising the next generation.

Sygmission 54 Bads Group

About Dads Group

Established in 2014, Dads Group has delivered 9,000+ community events reaching 47,000+ fathers nationally. Programs span hospital, community, and digital settings, often co-designed with health professionals. Campaigns like Man with a Pram extend reach into mainstream culture, shifting community norms and engaging thousands of families.

Evidence of Father-Inclusive Impact

1. Mental Health & Child Development

• 41.1% of fathers report moderate/high stress in the early postnatal period; ~21—26% anxiety, 13.4% depression. Meta-analysis (2025) links paternal distress with poorer child language, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes up to age 18. Early engagement with dads benefits children directly.

• Depression affects ~10.4% of fathers across the perinatal year, peaking at 25.6% at 3–6 months postpartum.

2. Hospital-based Programs: Dads ’n Peers

• Peer educators trained to co-facilitate antenatal classes.

• New Dads Groups established, each averaging 110 fathers (target 30–50).

• 97% of expectant parents improved mental health literacy, 85% of dads increased parenting confidence, and 100% of midwives improved capacity to support perinatal mental health.

• Demonstrates that embedding peer father representatives into maternity services shifts culture and practice.

3. Community Place-Based Programs: Capricorn Region

& Mount Isa

Within Communities for Children (CfC) Rockhampton, Dads Group and Strong Communities partnered with The Smith Family. Place-based design improved father engagement in disadvantaged areas, strengthened service coordination, and built resilience in regions facing environmental and social challenges. Shows that knowledge of place and network weaving are crucial for sustainability.

4. Broader Community Evidence: USC Research

Fathers in Dads Groups report reduced isolation, improved confidence, and stronger bonds with their children. Warm and involved fatherhood linked to school readiness, prosocial behaviour, and reduced aggression in children. Dads Group programs are positioned as protective factors against suicide and family violence, by normalising help-seeking and challenging harmful stereotypes.

5. Regional Implementation: Thriving Communities

Report

DG worked with Rockhampton, Toowoomba, and Townsville hospitals to ‘dadify’ antenatal classes with peer reps and Born Ready workshops. Established community Dads Groups and MWAP events, attracting dozens of families. Partnerships with Indigenous organisations improved cultural connection and engagement.

6. Align with Commonwealth Funded Plus Paternal+

Recommendations

Dads Group Integrated Model of Care programs operationalise all seven of the Healthy Male Plus Paternal recommendations:

1. Father-inclusive policy and funding – DG advocates nationally and secures systemic contracts (e.g., CfC, PHNs, HHS) embedding fathers in perinatal health, aligned with government reforms.

2. Service delivery transformation – DG’s IMC shifts health practice in hospitals and community by “dadifying” antenatal care, creating structural father pathways.

3. Peer workforce development – DG trains fathers as peer educators (Dads ’n Peers, MWAP leaders), delivering culturally relevant lived experience supports.

4. Professional workforce training – DG codesigns and delivers training for midwives, nurses, GPs, and NGOs to engage fathers confidently.

5. Research and evaluation – DG partners with universities (USC, UQ) to evidence outcomes, with peer-reviewed publications and government reporting frameworks.

6. Public awareness and stigma reduction – Through national MWAP campaigns, DG shifts cultural narratives, normalises help-seeking, and promotes equitable caregiving.

7. Equity and diversity inclusion – DG actively partners with Indigenous, CALD, rural, and low-income communities, tailoring programs for context and cultural safety.

This alignment demonstrates The DG IMC is a ready-made delivery partner for Thriving Kids, leveling up in an area with a critical national gap (fathers) bringing lived-experience, national reach, and a proven systems model to meet the Plus Paternal framework head-on .

Recommendations

1. Embed father-inclusive practice into Thriving Kids design as a core principle, not an optional add-on. Require father engagement evaluation across mainstream/community settings.

2. Scale What Works: models like the Dads Group Integrated Model of Care and peer-led father programs nationally. Fund hospital, community and digital Dads Groups as part of Thriving Kids rollout.

3. Invest in Existing Models of care: Workforce capability. Develop accredited micro-credentials in father-inclusive practice for midwives, nurses, GPs, ECEC staff. Train practitioners to engage fathers, screen for distress, and make warm referrals.

4. Co-design with equity groups. Engage First Nations, CALD, young, rural, and low-income fathers in program design and leadership.

5. Data & accountability. Build shared data evaluation infrastructure to track father

engagement, referrals, and outcomes. Publish an annual report card on father inclusion under Thriving Kids.

Conclusion

Thriving Kids has the potential to transform early developmental support — but only if both parents are included as equal partners. By embedding father-inclusive practice, funding peer-led models, and measuring outcomes, Thriving Kids can strengthen family systems, prevent intergenerational disadvantage, and ensure children thrive in their first eight years.

With 10 years of experience in Perinatal Program co-design and delivery as well as national place based programs, Dads Group stands ready to partner with government, states/territories, and communities to make Thriving Kids a father-inclusive success.

References (selected)

• Philpott et al., Global Mental Health (2022): paternal stress/anxiety/depression rates.
• Paulson & Bazemore, JAMA (2010): pooled paternal depression prevalence.
• Le Bas et al., JAMA Pediatrics (2025): paternal distress and child development outcomes.
• Dads ’n Peers Evaluation, Metro North HHS (2021): outcomes for parents, fathers, and midwives.
• Connecting Dads of Capricorn, FRSA eJournal (2025): place-based collaboration and father engagement.
• USC–Dads Group Summary Report (2019): systems model, suicide/DV prevention links.
• Thriving Communities DG Report, Queensland Govt (2022): regional implementation outcomes.
• Australian Government, Thriving Kids Fact Sheet (2025).

Fathers have historically been left out of the systems of family support - this is significantly

contributing to perinatal risk for mothers and fathers and infants in the early years.

Please contact Dads Group to explore ways of scaling working models of care that meaningfully include fathers and father figures.

Thomas Docking :
CEO : Dads Group
Founder : Man With A Pram