We have been working with fathers, uncles, pops, brothers and young men who will be fathers for many years now, in clinical work, in prisons, in schools and hospitals and with communities in every State. We know that men’s caring for family is important for everyone in the community. We see that non-Aboriginal laws and ways them men to bring up their kids with good support. Our old people had kids taken from them, they were punished for speaking language and practising culture and had their authority to be fathers, uncles, brothers and pops taken away by governments.
We know what the young men in our communities need. They need respect, good information about their job as a father, and connection to older fathers from the community.
This special edition of the Fatherhood Research Bulletin aims to do three things:
Raise the profile of programs and research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers
Map some of the programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers across Australia
Point to the gap in support for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers that needs to be addressed.
We are Kamilaroi and do not wish to speak for other communities. However, we do see the need for bringing support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers wherever they are.
Craig Hammond & Charlie Faulkner