ABOUT THE CONSORTIUM

The Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium (AFRC) was established in April 2017 at the Fatherhood Research in Australia Symposium II, held at Deakin University, Melbourne and co-hosted by the Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

Four working groups co-ordinate the national multi-site and multi-institutional collaboration. Our first domain of enquiry was fatherhood and sleep, specifically associations between fathers’ sleep and mental health. Three publications have already emerged from this body of work.

Sleep, mental health and wellbeing among fathers of infants up to one year postpartum: A scoping review (Literature Review Group)

How are you sleeping? Starting the conversation with fathers about their mental health in the early parenting years (Data and Analysis Group)

Preconception factors associated with postnatal mental health and suicidality among first-time fathers: results from an Australian Longitudinal Study of Men’s Health (Data and Analysis Group)

Current topics being investigated by the AFRC working groups: 

  • Effectiveness of father-inclusive interventions to prevent or reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and early parenthood: A systematic review (in progress, led by Dr. Karen Wynter - Literature Review Group)

  • Alcohol and other substance use: Associations with mental health problems among first-time fathers (in progress, led by Associate Professor Nyanda McBride - Literature Review Group)

  • Predictors of fathers’ parenting self-efficacy (in progress, led by Dr. Jennifer StGeorge - Data and Analysis Group)

  • Fathers and sleep: Formative intervention research (in progress, led by Dr. Levita D’Souza - Informing Interventions Group) 

AFRC members have a wide range of interests and are always looking to develop further fields of collaboration. Contact the chairs of the working groups (see below) for further information.

The AFRC GOOGLE GROUP:

Click the link below to join the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium Google Group. This group aims to:

1. Advance the science of fatherhood;
2. Inform practice and policy that supports men and their families;
3. Promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life.

When you request to join, please let us know the institutions or organisations that you work with and provide a short description on your fatherhood research interests. A sentence is sufficient.

The working groups, and their assigned chairs, are as follows:

Literature review group. Chair is Dr Karen Wynter, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University: karen.wynter@monash.edu

Data and analysis group. Chair is Associate Professor Jacqui Macdonald, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University: jacqui.macdonald@deakin.edu.au

Interventions group. Chair is Dr Levita D’Souza, Faculty of Education, Monash University: levita.dsouza@monash.edu

Scientific communications group. Chair is Dr Chris May, Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle: chris.may@newcastle.edu.au

Early Career Researcher contact. Lauren Francis, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Deakin University: lauren.francis@deakin.edu.au

The FATHERHOOD BULLETIN:

The AFRC works to connect practitioners, parents and academics with an interest in fathering. The AFRC Fatherhood Bulletin is a regular publication that supports this work by sharing insights into key issues in fathering. The Fatherhood Bulletin is produced by the Science Communications working group and led by Dr. Chris May.
Previous Bulletins have focused on topics such as parental leave, pregnancy loss, rural fathers, and successful fathering.

Our latest issue, #54, is all about the benefits of fathers sharing book reading with their children. This issue delves into fathers’ stories about their experience with shared reading, a guest editorial, links to services and a collection of abstracts that will bring readers up to date with the contemporary research literature on this topic. Click here to read Issue 54 and subscribe for upcoming Fatherhood Bulletin issues.