By Callum Ludwig
An opportunity for dads and male carers to have their say on what they’d like to see for them in local programs and activities is currently open.
The Yarra Ranges and Maroondah City Councils have each partnered up with allied healthcare provider Building Better Brains to expand on their Dads Chat project, which both Councils have recently held in local venues, opening up surveys for their residents to say what they’d like to see.
Tony Vallance from Building Better Brains said it’s super exciting and he’s feeling extremely positive about it.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the feedback from the surveys they’ve put out on the socials from both councils and really looking forward to using that data to dive in and create really useful, hands-on, locally-applicable resources for dads out there,” he said.
“A common theme I’ve heard from them is feeling isolated, so finding ways to help the dads feel connected, help the dads feel safe enough to share our stories, our scars and our stars, some of the awesome things that have worked for us and for our young kids,” he said.
“Also when things don’t work out, research has shown us that the zone of good enough parenting is 70 per cent so we need to be a bit reflective but not too harsh on ourselves when we’re not at our best because we all juggle so much, it’s about learning to reflect without too much judgment and then bounce back in and go at it again with our kids.”
Mr Vallance led a pair of Dads Chat events for the Yarra Ranges and Maroondah earlier this year, an in-person Maroondah event in April and an online event in the Yarra Ranges in July.
Mr Vallance said he encouraged dads and male carers to dive in to the project, even if they need to just sit there in the room.
“You don’t have to share if you don’t feel comfortable but once you’re there in person with a bunch of guys going through incredibly similar stuff, from the awesome parts of fatherhood to the more challenging parts,” he said.
“Being able to share it and realise that you’re not alone, to learn a bit about the brain and behaviour and techniques that we can do as dads to help our kids feel more connected, to help them with their big feelings as well, it’s just such an awesome opportunity,”
“I think having that local approach is super important because we outsource so many things in life, we might be looking at YouTube videos or TikTok videos or whatever it is about parenting or about various things, but speaking to, sharing with and chatting with other dads and being supported to learn a few more new things, to vulnerably share a few things and share some of our victories with a bunch of our local dads is awesome.”
For Yarra Ranges dads and male carers to give feedback and find out more about the Dads Chat Project, including local in-person consultation opportunities in local townships, visit shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/dads-chat-project.
Director of Communities at Yarra Ranges Council Leanne Hurst said they know there’s a gap in programs and activities for male carers and dads, so their teams are partnering up to learn more and develop a plan to address this.
“We’re working with Maroondah Council on a project to hear from dads and male carers of children under eight years, about things they feel would support them in their family role, social settings and the community,” she said.
“I strongly encourage all local dads and carers to share their feedback at Shaping Yarra Ranges, so we can develop programs and activities that support dads and male carers, their families and the wider community.”
For Maroondah dads and male carers, visit yoursay.maroondah.vic.gov.au/dads-chat-project.
Engagement for both Council’s surveys closes on 4 December.
