About the Annual Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium
The Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium (AFRS) has been run on a non-profit basis under the auspices of the AFRC since 2017. It is a vital forum for advancing fatherhood research and practice across Australia and beyond.
Each year, the AFRS brings together a passionate and knowledgeable community of researchers, practitioners and policymakers from diverse disciplines. Every symposium is unique, typically showcasing a dynamic program of keynote presentations, research summaries, round table discussions and networking opportunities that highlight innovative research and father-focused programs.
It’s more than a conference - it’s a collaborative space where individuals united by a shared commitment to understanding and supporting fathers can exchange knowledge and foster meaningful collaboration.
Get involved!
-
Register for 2026
The AFRS is back in 2026 and will be held on the 7th and 8th May at Deakin Downtown, Melbourne and online via Zoom.
-
Browse past highlights
Get a taste for the symposium by reading the program from past years or browsing the many insightful abstracts of research and service presentations.
-
![A conference room of seated delegates watch a presentation]()
2025
-
![2025 AFRS keynote speaker Professor Brenda Volling]()
2025
-
![A group photo of the 2025 AFRS attendees and presenters]()
2025
-
![A combination of online and in-person conference delegates listed during a group discussion]()
2025
-
![AFRS convener Jacqui Macdonald cuts a cake in celebration of 10 years]()
2025
-
![Delegates form a large group circle for a roundtable discussion]()
2025
-
![Delegates converse in small groups during the lunch break]()
2025
-
![AFRS attendees gather to watch the panel presentation]()
2024
-
![2023 AFRS attendees listen to a presentation by Dads Group]()
2023
-
![Four panelists present to attendees at the 2023 AFRS]()
2023
-
![AFRS 2022 attendees watching a presentation]()
2022
-
![AFRS 2022 attendess gather around a large table for the symposium round table discussion]()
2022
-
![Seated and online delegates watch a conference presentation]()
2022
-
![2019 AFRS panelists presenting to the room]()
2019
-
![The attendees of the 2018 AFRS gather for a group photo]()
2018
-
![Researchers stand in front of their poster presentations]()
2018
-
![Richard Fletcher presents at the 2018 AFRS]()
2018
-
![2018 AFRS attendees sit around a large table for the symposium round table discussion]()
2018
Testimonials
AFRS 2025
The 2025 AFRS featured a passionate keynote from Professor Brenda Volling: ‘How do fathers matter for young children’s development? Let us count the ways!’ and inspiring talks from invited speakers Professor Anna Tarrant (‘Co-creating a father-inclusive practice and policy ecosystem: insights from young fathers and family support in the UK’), Mark Williams (‘Advocating and campaigning to enhance policies and create inclusive pathways for fathers’) and Associate Professor Richard Fletcher (‘A decade of dads: an impressionistic history’).
AFRS 2024
The 2024 AFRS featured keynote presentation from Professor Milton Kotelchuck: ‘Engaged Fatherhood for Men, Families and Gender Equality: Advances in Research, Practice and Policy’ and keynote panel: ‘Supporting men’s health in early fatherhood: Lived experience journeys.’
Photo credit: Gary Richardson, www.grichphoto.com
AFRS 2023
The 2023 AFRS featured keynote presentation from Thomas Mayo: ‘Sharing the voices of First Nations fathers’ and Professor Natasha Cabrera: ‘What does culture have to do with it? Understanding diversity among fathers and its implications for children's wellbeing.’
AFRS 2022
The 2022 AFRS featured keynote presentations from Professor Craig Garfield on ‘Lessons learned from the United States: Including fathers in research, policy & beyond’; Professor Hiram Fitzgerald on ‘Fathers and Sons: The Risk-Resilience Continuum and Systemic Change’ and Dr Cameron Willis on ‘Making multi-sectoral collaboration work: Key ingredients for achieving sustainable change.’
AFRS 2021
The 2021 Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium featured a Keynote address by Professor Alistair Thomson, research presentations, workshops, and collaborative working group meetings. View session information and abstracts in the program below.
AFRS 2020
The AFRS 2020 was an online, trimmed down version of the Symposium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this event the working groups of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium hosted a series of online meetings in place of the symposium, to provide opportunities for networking and collaboration.
AFRS 2019
The 2019 AFRS featured keynote presentations by Professor John Aitken, Emma Walsh, and Professor Paul Ramchandani. There were also a number of interactive sessions and working group meetings. View session information and abstracts in the program below.
AFRS 2018
The AFRS 2018 featured plenary sessions, working group meetings, and poster presentations. Read more about the sessions and abstracts below.
AFRS 2017
The AFRS 2017 featured breakout groups on ‘Lifecourse perspective to understanding fatherhood’ and ‘Measurement in fatherhood research’. Abstracts of poster presentations and the full schedule of the event can be seen in the program below.