Investigators
Francis Mitrou, Vincent Mancini, Jacqui Macdonald, Jan Kabatek, Zac Seidler, Steve Zubrick, Vu Vuong, Jasleen Chhabra & Karen Wynter
Project description
Fathers play a critical role in children’s development, yet remain under-represented in research and associated policy outcomes, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of the role and long-term impact of father involvement. Despite social and policy shifts that increasingly recognise the importance of engaging fathers, structural barriers in data collection and limited evidence have constrained progress, underscoring the need for robust, father-inclusive research.
This project will use large-scale Australian longitudinal data to examine how fathers influence child wellbeing across developmental stages, from infancy to early adulthood. Adopting a comprehensive framework, it will capture multiple dimensions of father involvement including social, economic, and relational factors, providing a nuanced understanding.
The outputs of this research will fill a long-standing gap in Australian evidence on father involvement that will directly inform policy and practice. By identifying the contexts and conditions that optimise positive father involvement, the study will generate actionable insights to strengthen existing parenting policies, improve the inclusivity of parenting programs, and guide government investments in family wellbeing initiatives. More broadly, the work will enhance community awareness of fathers’ role in shaping child outcomes and empower families to make informed choices about caregiving.
Funders
Australian Research Council
External collaborators
Jacqui Macdonald, Jan Kabatek, Zac Seidler, Jasleen Chhabra & Karen Wynter