Celebrating a Decade of Australian Fatherhood Research
The Special Envoy for Men's Health and Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi, will launch the 10th anniversary of the Annual Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium (AFRS) at Deakin Downtown on the 7th of May.
Each year, the AFRS brings together a passionate and knowledgeable community of researchers, practitioners and policymakers with presentations, research summaries, round table discussions and networking opportunities to advance the science of fatherhood, inform practice and policy that supports men and their families, and promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life.
The 2026 keynote speaker is Associate Professor Zac Seidler, whose address — New Dads, Old Systems: How to respond to contemporary fatherhood with empathy, evidence and action — reflects the practical focus the Symposium has maintained throughout its first decade.
A Decade of Progress
Over 10 years, the AFRS has brought some of the world's leading voices on fatherhood to Australia. Past keynotes have explored how fathers shape children's development, the cultural diversity of fathering, First Nations fathers' experiences, and international lessons in father-inclusive policy.
The 2025 Symposium featured Professor Brenda Volling examining the many ways fathers matter for young children, alongside Associate Professor Richard Fletcher's reflective look at a decade of fatherhood research in Australia.
Why Fatherhood Research Matters
The research emerging from the AFRC's working groups makes a clear case for why dedicated attention to fathers matters - not just for men themselves, but for their partners, children and communities.
One in ten fathers of infants experience symptoms of common mental health disorders, yet fathers remain significantly underscreened by existing perinatal mental health services. A 2021 study led by Prof. Jacqui Macdonald found that simply asking fathers about their sleep may offer a low-cost, non-stigmatising gateway to mental health conversations. Across four Australian cohort studies involving over 1,200 fathers, poor sleep was consistently associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety and stress — suggesting a single straightforward question could open doors that more clinical screening approaches often cannot.
This builds on a 2020 scoping review led by Karen Wynter, which found that fathers' sleep problems in the first postnatal year are associated with poorer mental health, strained partner relationships, and reduced safety compliance at work, with clear implications for how health professionals engage with families of young infants.
Perhaps most sobering is research led by Prof. Rebecca Giallo using data from the Ten to Men Study. Among first-time fathers in the first postnatal year, 8.3% reported moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 5% experienced suicidal thoughts, and 3% had formed a plan. The strongest predictor of postnatal mental health difficulties was mental health status before becoming a father, reinforcing the need for screening and support in the preconception period, not just after birth.
The Consortium continues to investigate alcohol and substance use among first-time fathers and the factors that shape fathers' parenting confidence. This is research that will further inform how services can better reach men at this critical life stage.
Staying Connected
The Australian Fatherhood Bulletin gives dads a voice to share their experiences and provides up-to-date research on fathers' wellbeing and their role in their children's and partners' lives.
The 10th anniversary of the AFRS marks a significant milestone for fatherhood research in Australia. Registrations close on April 9. For more information, click here.