Simply the Best: Jimmy Barnes and son David Campbell win Fathers of the Year award 2024
Rock singer Jimmy Barnes has shared the Father of the Year 2024 Award with his son, singer David Campbell.
The Fathering Project, who runs the awards, described Jimmy and David’s story as “one of hope, resilience and the power of reconnection.”
The 68-year-old Jimmy Barnes, AO, experienced an abusive upbringing and left his young son, David, in the care of his maternal grandmother while he pursued a career in music at the age of 17.
They grew closer when David became an adult and slowly re-established a deeper connection. “Rebuilding trust and understanding required vulnerability, patience, and a willingness to face the shadows of their past,” states the Fathering Project. “But through their shared determination, they have forged a bond that is stronger than ever.”
As Jimmy, a father of seven, recovers from open heart surgery in December 2023 and more recently, hip surgery, Today Extra co-host David is busy as the father of Leo, Billy and Betty.
“He is such an incredible human being and an amazing role model,” said Campbell, OAM. “As a father, seeing someone who has come from a really, really tough upbringing in Glasgow … he’s seen incredible domestic violence and abuse, and really should not be where he is today but the fact that he is a creature of evolution and change and is this dynamic force of nature, that he is constantly evolving and constantly changing. That’s the inspiration for me.”
Shaun Chandran, who has made a huge impact building communities for dads in Western Australia, was named the Australian Community Father of the Year 2024. Shaun founded the Belmont Dads Group in March 2020 where dads can connect, support each other, and navigate the challenges of parenthood together. It now has 500 dads attending on a weekly basis and Shaun has since established SMG Dads Group focusing on dads with school-aged children.
“Fatherhood is one of the most important roles in our lives. But it can also be filled with exhaustion, confusion and social isolation,” said Shaun. “When I became a dad, I was seeking to connect with other dads so we could support each other and learn together.”
Adam Desmond, founder of Binar Futures, was named Australian Sports Father of the Year 2024 in recognition of his extraordinary dedication to transforming the lives of over 2,000 primarily Aboriginal children across Perth. Binar Futures began as a small basketball team of six 15 years ago and now engages thousands of children across Western Australia in sport. “I started Binar Futures because I saw too many kids slipping through the cracks, feeling disconnected from their culture and community,” he says. “I wanted to create a space where kids could exercise while building a strong community and network, ensuring no child is left behind.”
Ansvar was recognised as Australia’s best workplace for Fathers 2024 because of its family-first approach. The insurance company offers 24 weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers and 6 weeks for non-primary caregivers. The company champions flexible work arrangements, allowing fathers to tailor their schedules to meet family needs and adopting a hybrid work model that combines office and remote work.
Meet all of the Fathering Project’s Australian Fathering Awards recipients.