A Fatherhood Forum held on 1 May in Invercargill drew more than 60 attendees from non-profit and governmental agencies. The event was organised by the Families Commission and hosted by Our Way Southland, a collaboration of the four Southland-based Councils.
Southland is making father support a priority in their upcoming parenting strategy. Attendees reported that they found the presentations ‘inspiring’ and ‘incredible’. Presenters were Families Commission-sponsored speakers Harald Breiding-Buss (Father & Child, Christchurch) and David Mitchell/Philip Chapman (CM Research, Nelson) as well as Environment Southland’s Aaron Fox. It is planned to make the presentations available through the Our Way Southland website.

Help us start some playgroups around town. More here.

In a media statement clarifying their position on media reports about All Black Piri Weepu bottlefeeding his baby, the College of Midwives (NZCOM) says they support whatever works for the family – including fathers bottlefeeding their baby:
“Some members of the public [were] left with the perception that health professionals are unsupportive of dad’s bottle feeding their babies. Of course midwives and other health professionals support all families, whatever their circumstances, to do their best for their babies, including sharing the feeding times when breastfeeding is not possible.” says NZCOM CEO Karen Guilliland.
The media statement applauds fathers’ support for mother and family.

Book by Warwick Pudney and Éliane Whitehouse.

Young children can erupt like little volcanoes when they are feeling angry. It can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with, and can produce angry feelings in the parent or caregiver too.

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The government has released its Green Paper on Vulnerable Children, outlining problems and possible approaches to tackling child abuse in New Zealand, and wants everyone’s feedback. A special web site (www.saysomething.org.nz) has been set up, which allows people to comment on specific issues, or on the whole paper, and making a submission is a lot less tedious. The deadline for this is 28 February.
Father & Child believes that the government is genuinely interested in hearing people’s voices about this, and they have expressed that they’re keen to get more submissions from dads (or males) than they usually get.

Father & Child General Manager and founder Harald Breiding-Buss intends to step back from the Trust’s management early next year and we are looking for a new person to fill this role. It is part-time (20 hrs/wk)
and suits an active parent.
While still very small, Father & Child has had some exciting growth over the last two years with now eight staff members (all part-time) in three locations.
At this stage we are asking for Expressions of Interest before 22 January 2012. After an application and interview process we expect employment to start in mid February 2012. Harald will be available to provide training and a gradual transition.
More details, see here.

Father & Child has five spaces available at the moment in our free correspondence parenting course for dads who find it difficult to attend other courses. The 10-module course covers child development and parenting from babies through to teenagers and can be done as a whole or in parts only. Email us for info.

The documentary ‘Sons From Afar’ was shown on Maori TV 22 October 11 at 8.30pm. Some sharp-eyed F&C members spotted a familiar logo worn by one of the stars.

Tigilau Ness wearing one of our caps

From the promo:

“New Zealand hip-hop artist, Che Fu and his father, musician Tigilau Ness, share an intimate pilgrimage to their island homeland of Niue.

Their first ever journey to the tiny pacific atoll to perform at the Niue Arts and Culture Festival has a profound and unexpected effect on their whole family.”

The video is well worth watching. It is currently available from the list in the centre of the Pakipumeka page (you may need to scroll sideways).

If you want to look like a TV star, you can get your own F&C cap from our shop.

The Family Court is being reviewed by the Ministry of Justice and a consultation paper is now out and open for public submissions. See here.

Make a real difference in the community by working for Father & Child. We’re looking for a well-organised all-rounder in Christchurch to fill this position, which coordinates our local activities. For full details see here