About the
AFRC

The Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium (AFRC) is a collaboration of researchers, practitioners and policy makers.

The Consortium was established in April 2017 at the Fatherhood Research in Australia Symposium II, held at Deakin University, Melbourne and co-hosted by the Family Action Centre, University of Newcastle.

This consortium aims to:

  1. Advance the science of fatherhood

  2. Inform practice and policy that supports men and their families

  3. Promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life.

Working Groups

  • Literature review group

    The Literature Review group was formed to evaluate and synthesise the existing literature on fathers.

    Chair:
    Dr Karen Wynter
    Monash University
    karen.wynter@monash.edu

  • Data and analysis group

    The Data Analysis group was created to enable better collaboration across studies with research data on fathers.

    Chair:
    Associate Professor Jacqui Macdonald
    Deakin University
    jacqui.macdonald@deakin.edu.au

  • Interventions group

    The Intervention group was created to bring together researchers, practitioners, and policy makers interested in contributing to the development and evaluation of intervention programs for fathers.

    Chair:
    Dr Levita D’Souza
    Monash University
    levita.dsouza@monash.edu

  • Scientific communications group

    The Science Communication group was formed to translate the AFRC group’s findings from the research domain into the public domain, raising the profile of fathers in policy and practice.

    Chair:
    David Hawkins
    Deakin University
    david.hawkins@deakin.edu.au

View Working Group Publications

Get Involved!

  • Join the AFRC Google Group

    The Google Group is a mailing list for AFRC news and updates on publications by AFRC members and events of interest. Any announcements made by members are moderated by the AFRC.

    Join Now

  • Subscribe to the Fatherhood Bulletin

    The Fatherhood Bulletin gives dads a voice to convey their experiences of fathering and provides information about up to date research on fathers’ wellbeing and on their role in their children’s and partners’ lives.

    Learn More & Subscribe

  • Attend the 2026 Symposium

    The annual Australian Fatherhood Research Sympoium will be held on 7 & 8 May 2026 at Deakin Downtown, Melbourne and online via Zoom.

    Learn more