Dr Fran Vertue is supervising a student’s Masters thesis at the University of Canterbury. This study will explore the mental health and parenting practices of New Zealand parents who have separated in the past year or two. We decided to conduct this study online, as it is convenient for most people, and helps to maintain […]

We have been approached to help recruit especially solo fathers to this study in order to make it as representative as possible of the population. See here for details. You’re asked to use the study code SOLOD if that applies to you.

Father & Child Trust is looking for fathers who have day-to-day care of at least one child eight years or under in either Christchurch or Auckland. The Trust is conducting what is believed to be the first study in New Zealand on the circumstances, issues and support of solo fathers and their young children.

New Zealand has 24,000 solo dads with dependent children, most of them in paid employment and typically plugging away without any direct support. How they became solo dads, whether they or their children need anything or if there is useful information to help them is not known. Another funding body has declined Father & Child’s […]