Caring Dads: Changing Fathers, Protecting Futures

In Australia, 1 in 6 women and 1 in 18 men have been physically or sexually assaulted by a partner. More than 2.9 million children have seen family violence before the age of 15. These statistics aren't just numbers—they represent lived realities, often locked behind closed doors.

At Stronger Families, we think lasting change begins with responsibility—and sometimes, with fathers willing to get to work. So we developed Caring Dads, a groundbreaking 17-week group program to engage fathers in taking responsibility for their past actions and developing safer, healthier relationships with their kids.

Why Focus on Fathers?

Too often, conversations about family violence exclude men who are willing to change. But when dads proactively engage in becoming emotionally available, respectful, and safe, they are able to reorient family life in profound ways. Caring Dads isn't a magic fix—it's a guided path grounded in evidence, compassion, and action.

Participants discover:

The effects of their actions on children and partners
How to express emotion without hostility
How to restore trust and connection
Co-parenting without conflict strategies

The program also goes deeper—into unresolved trauma, childhood patterns, and father identity. By connecting the dots between men's pasts and their parenting, Caring Dads does not merely stop harm—it rewrites futures.

Does It Work?

Absolutely. We've witnessed participants change—from disengaged or abusive fathers to men who are committed, calm, and connected. Many tell us it's the first time they've ever felt supported in changing—not shamed.

We collaborate with trained facilitators throughout the Binjarep/Whadjuk region and beyond, all of whom are experienced in trauma-informed care. The outcome is an honest but safe space where fathers can develop.

A Community Effort

Caring Dads is most effective when accompanied by services for mothers and children as well. That's why we also provide Strengthening Families—a wraparound service that offers therapy and support to mothers and children to heal and transition forward.

Collectively, the programs represent an integrated road to safer families, healthier communities, and brighter futures.