Hi Everyone,

I often feel that FATHERS are often given 2nd place, when both MOTHERS & FATHERS ARE VITALLY IMPORTANT TO THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN’S OUTCOMES. Sometime this is at different stages of a child’s life.

AND BY ‘FATHERS’ I ALSO INCLUDE ‘FATHER FIGURES’ – THOSE IMPORTANT POSITIVE MALE ROLE MODELS WHEN A FATHER IS UNABLE TO GIVE IN A LOVING WAY, WHEN A FATHER CAN NO LONGER BE THERE THROUGH ENSTRANGEMENT OR, SADLY, DEATH OR A DISABILITY WHICH MAY LIMIT THEIR CAPACITY, OR FOR A NUMBER OF OTHER REASONS, INCLUDING WORK COMMITMENTS, EG DEPLOYMENT.

My Father lost his Father to appendicitis when my father was only 11. I know that he had an Uncle who stepped in as a FATHER FIGURE. My Mother’s father died when she was only 10. Her Grandfather became her FATHER FIGURE.

I have taken the following article from ‘The Fathering Project’ – a project which is now run in many Australian schools to support Dad’s. https://thefatheringproject.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpYbL6fDy-QIV1IdLBR1tlQD3EAAYASAAEgKYQfD_BwE

It is usually run by a school community member who supports ‘Dads’ through organising events for the Dads of the school on a monthly/bi-monthly basis. PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING AN ACPS PARENT (DAD.CARER) MAY LIKE TO DO FOR THE FATHER FIGURES IN OUR COMMUNITY OF ACPS????

Why fathers matter

The crucial impact of fathers and father figures on child development and wellbeing. Fathers and father figures play a critical and distinct role in children’s lives and the evidence demonstrating fathers’ potential to positively influence their children’s health, social success and academic achievements is indisputable.

Current research shows that targeted and universal interventions aimed at promoting positive parenting behaviours and fathers’ engagement increase fathers’ involvement, significantly improve child outcomes, and prevent harmful and anti-social behaviours.

Health and development

Fathers who demonstrate accessibility, engagement and responsibility have children with fewer emotional and behavioural problems, better language development, better life and social skills and fewer problems with peers. Father engagement and involvement has been associated with increased levels of social responsibility and capacity for empathy, social maturity, self control and self esteem.

Education and school engagement

Consistent parenting from fathers is predictive of increased NAPLAN scores across Year 3, 5 and 7 and results in fewer difficulties adjusting to school and improved academic progress.

Father involvement in school and educational activities is associated with improved cognitive outcomes, few behavioural difficulties and greater school enjoyment in children.

Mental health and addiction

Involved and engaged fathers provide significant protective and positive impacts on their children’s mental health including prevention of mental illness and more positive attitudes towards help seeking.

The influence of fathers and father figures on child and adolescent alcohol and illicit drug use may be distinct and stronger than that of mothers, with children from father-only or father-absent households more likely to engage in cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use.

Behaviour and Delinquency

Children and adolescents who have more involved fathers or father figures are less likely to engage in delinquent and anti-social behaviours such as property, violent or drug related crime, cheating at school or participating in gang fights – particularly for boys.

The odds of increased sexual risk behaviours or teenage pregnancy are lowest when fathers or father figures are present throughout childhood, and father or father figure support has been associated with increased protective sexual behaviours such as condom use among adolescents.

‘THE FATHERING PROJECT’ website - https://thefatheringproject.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpYbL6fDy-QIV1IdLBR1tlQD3EAAYASAAEgKYQfD_BwE – has many articles of being a dad/father figure. You can even subscribe to their newsletter and receive helpful hints in your inbox.

Next week the students of ACPS will be learning about Mental Health and how to look after themselves and OTHERS. We are asking students and staff to wear something yellow on Thursday, September 8th and to bring a gold coin donation which will go to KIDS HELPLINE – Students will learn of this great organisation for 5 – 25 year olds, through which they can ANONYMOUSLY contact trained counsellors on the phone 24/7 about ANY issue that concerns them. The KIDS HELPLINE WEBSITE has some fantastic information and activities for children, teens, young adults and parents also: https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Each student will receive a small card with the KIDS HELPLINE details on it for them to keep.

So, A VERY HAPPY FATHER’S DAY FOR ALL OUR FATHERS AND FATHER FIGURES!

Robyn Mulholland (School Chaplain)

robyn.mulholland@education.vic.gov.au

Grade 5/6