Dads Equip Project
“Dads equip group”. There are very limited services to support the needs of dads within a family with children on the autism spectrum. This can lead to significant issues for children with many dads experiencing poor mental health or disengaging from the family unit. The “dads equip group” is a year-long project and new way of addressing family support, by providing male led, empowering and positive mental health and mentoring support to dads with children on the autism spectrum. This group will run from the spectrum journeys hub in Lilydale and a male facilitator will design a specific dads based program to help dads understand Autism in a real and practical way, as well as support them to learn about embracing their role as dad of a child with additional needs and equipping them with strategies to support themselves, their children and their family unit. The aim will be to run the group every 2 or 3 weeks. The group will allow for structured workshop learning, guest speakers, activity based connection and the development of a new, supportive and understanding peer network to scaffold the support around each participant. Through the program, dads will be provided with additional materials to help them thrive between meetings, as well as appropriate referral, should they need additional support.