By Past President Tricia Reardon
To say that Rotary has amazing youth programs that help change lives and develop future leaders would be an understatement. We know that programs such as RYLA, RYPEN, MUNA and Youth Exchange along with Earlyact, Interact and Rotaract deliver exceptional outcomes for young people in building wonderful learning foundations. Added to these are also myriad successful club initiatives such as Camp Getaway, Wynspeak/Bayspeak to name just two. Well, Rotary now has the opportunity to expand on these programs through an exceptional initiative known as The Fathering Project.
Simply put, The Fathering Project is about building the engagement between children and their fathers/father-figures so that children have effective role models. At the same time, dads are also able to build networks, social and support groups, as well as having access to a range of resources to learn about the role of a father. The project was founded in 2013 by Professor Bruce Robinson in Western Australia, and has been so successful that it has expanded into New South Wales, Queensland, ACT and Victoria. Since foundation, The Fathering Project has developed a research arm, a library of fathering tips and resources and a core Dads Group program that works with schools to engage fathers and father figures.
In 2014, Professor Bruce Robinson was named West Australian of the Year for his work across medical studies and with The Fathering Project. In 2019 The Fathering Project was recognised as the Western Australian Men’s Health Award Winner, after having received endorsement and a $5.4m funding boost from the Federal Government.
Terry McAleenan is the Victorian Schools Manager for The Fathering Project and is passionate about the deliverables and a vision for every child to have an effective father figure. After hearing a talk about the project in 2012, he was so inspired that he became a volunteer for the organisation, eventually taking on a full time role encouraging schools to participate in the project. “There are three tenets that make this project successful,” Terry says. “The first is that it connects dads with kids; it connects dads with other dads; and it connects dads with the schools.”
Terry’s challenges with The Fathering Project are two-fold: creating awareness of the project within schools, particularly in the western suburbs; and, having trained volunteers to assist with the various events and activities for dads and their children. Rotary is well placed to help with both and District 9800 is keen to do so.
The impact of The Fathering Project is quite amazing. From increasing the academic, social and emotional wellbeing of children, improved school and family connectedness to increasing the wellbeing and social networks of dads. It is a project that also has the potential to reduce homelessness in young people by preventing it in the first place through improved communication and relationships in the home.
The Fathering Project can dovetail well with many of Rotary’s youth programs as an exciting, impactful adjunct. If you would like to know more, you can contact Terry McAleenan at terry.McAleenan@thefartheringproject.org. Terry has already been a guest speaker at Rotary Hawthorn, impressing and inspiring both Club President Dr Tilak Dissanayake and District Governor Philip Archer. In fact, DG Philip has since met with Terry to see how Rotary can support the project. He too would be happy to discuss how your club might get involved.