Support for Fathers

The Australian Government is inviting organisations via a restricted process to apply to deliver services under the Families and Communities Program / National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022/Support for Fathers from 2017-18 to 2018-19. Funding will be offered to one organisation as a result of this process.

For all children, parents and caregivers are their most important role models. The way parents engage with and look after their children, and how they interact with each other, has a profound impact on children. It also influences how children will behave as parents and develop and maintain intimate relationships.

The transition to parenthood is a time of increased risk of domestic violence. Research indicates that becoming a father can have a transformational impact on men, particularly in regards to attitudes on gender equality. It is for this reason that strategies aimed at young men and fathers, at this time, have the potential to foster positive and respectful attitudes and behaviours in future or current relationships. 

The aim of the Support for Fathers activity is to contribute to a reduction in violence against women and their children, by engaging young men and fathers to better understand and appreciate the importance of their (current or future) role as parents and partners; as well providing them with evidence-based tools, strategies and knowledge to improve their confidence as both parents and partners in order to develop, maintain and role-model healthy and respectful relationships with family members. 

This grant provides one-off funding to develop and implement a strategy targeting young men and fathers in these ways, with a particular focus on engaging them through their interactions with existing service providers.

The strategy must be implemented through Commonwealth, state and territory providers who have contact with young men and fathers across health (including parenting), education, family and relationship (including family law and counselling), care and corrections, men’s behaviour change and homelessness services. It is expected that the successful applicant will engage with these providers to build their capacity to engage young men and fathers to develop skills and knowledge in these areas. This could include materials for distribution to young men and fathers.

The successful applicant must be aware of existing as well as new and emerging work to engage young men and fathers throughout the life of the project, including the Support for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Fathers activity (also supported by Department of Social Services). This is to ensure that messaging across projects is aligned and duplication of effort is avoided.

More information

More information about the Support for Fathers Activity, as well as requirements for applicants, can be found in the following documents that form the Application Pack:

• Program Guidelines Overview
• Funding Round Summary

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Organisations and individuals interested in Department of Social Services grant rounds are encouraged to subscribe to receive alerts when new information is made available.

Contacting the Community Grants Hub

If you would like assistance please call the Community Grants Hub Hotline on 1800 020 283 and/or support@communitygrants.gov.au.

More information about the Community Grants Hub can be found at the Community Grants Hub website.

Please quote 2016-810 – Support for Fathers when you phone or email the Community Grants Hub.