A new research fund set up by the Families Commission lists fathers as one of six priorities considered for funding amongst some more obscure themes such as ‘Impact of Global Climate Change on Families’ and ‘Intergenerational Transmission’. The fund will distribute $1 million per year, and complements the two existing research funds, ‘Blue Skies’ and ‘Innovative Practice’, each distributing $100,000 per year.
A families commission report compiled from community consultations in the three main centres also identifies the need for ‘fathers to be more engaged in parenting programmes and [to be] generally better supported in their parenting role.’
Participants in all three consultation meetings also identified one-stop family service hubs as an optimal method of delivery of support and education for parents.
The Families Commission was set up in 2004 in what was considered to be a concession by the Labour government to its then parliamentary supporter United Future. Its total annual budget is around $7.5 million.