Dom Alford

Dom Alford is the Project Coordinator of Support for Fathers at Relationships Australia and has been in this role for the past two years. He has worked in the welfare sector for 12 years across child protection, foster care, parent education and teaching. Dom has experience facilitating fathers’ groups, implementing father-sensitive practice and, through the Support for Fathers project, has developed an extensive network and knowledge base of fathers’ programs and fatherhood research around Australia.

The Support for Fathers project, led by Dom, has officially launched a website with resources dedicated to supporting fathers across Australia.

The Support for Fathers website provides free information, advice and resources designed specifically for dads. There are a range of topics, including; different types of dad, healthy family relationships, bonding with kids, connecting with other dads, and dads at work. It also provides a toolkit for service providers working with fathers and families in terms of their engagement skills, understanding of current fatherhood issues and father-focused practice.

To share the website, resources and toolkit, the project is delivering a national roadshow comprising of workshops for fathers, families and service providers. The roadshow is successfully reaching rural and urban areas around Australia with very positive feedback.

All of this has been developed as part of a national Support for Fathers project with the overall aim of supporting men as fathers in their role as parents and partners, and the outcome being an increase in men’s involvement in gender equity and reduced levels of family violence in Australia.

The project is funded by the Department of Social Services as part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022.