A/Prof Jacqui Macdonald

We’re thrilled to announce @COPEorg as a new Gold Sponsor of #AFRS2026 🎉 Supporting emotional wellbeing through pregnancy, birth & early parenthood. Meet them at #AFRS2026 or learn more: cope.org.au

We’re excited to welcome back AFRS Gold Sponsor @dadsgroupinc 🎉 Championing positive fatherhood, community & support for new dads. Meet them at #AFRS2026 or learn more: dadsgroup.org

We are delighted to share that Hon Dan Repacholi MP and Hon Ged Kearney MP will give the opening address at the AFRS 2026! Spots are limited, don’t delay registering. Learn more & register: ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026 #AFRS2026

📢 Last chance to feature at the AFRS 2026! Final call for abstracts for posters to be included in our in-person poster presentation session that will take place on Day 1 of the symposium. 🔔 Submissions close 11:59pm AEDT Sun 15 Feb Learn more: #poster-abstract-submit" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026#post…

.@Deakin, with @healthymale_au, is developing the world’s first Preconception Paternal Mental Healthcare Guidelines. Have your say on the new guidelines before 27 January. Learn More: bit.ly/4pXgo3F

4 DAYS LEFT TO SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT! 🔔 Submit before 5pm (AEDT) Monday 10th November 2025 Don’t miss out! Final chance to submit an abstract on your father-focussed research or applied programs for AFRS 2026. Submit: #abstract-submission" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026#abst…

ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS EXTENDED! 🔔 Now closing at 5pm (AEDT) Monday 10th November 2025 This is your last chance to present at AFRS 2026 highlighting father-focussed research or applied programs! Learn more & apply: #abstract-submission" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026#abst…

Abstract submissions close in 10 days! Submit to present an oral or poster presentation at AFRS 2026 highlighting father-focussed research or applied programs. Learn more & apply: #abstract-submission" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026#abst…

In Victoria, 1 in 4 men who die by suicide are fathers of children under 18. That’s more than 120 dads every year. A new study highlights the urgent need for mental health support in early fatherhood. journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.11…

Who says men don’t go to the doctor? New research by the world’s largest longitudinal study on male health, Ten to Men, has found the majority of first-time fathers (84%) visited their GP in the year after their child’s birth. Yet more than a third of new fathers faced barriers to care, including long wait times, service availability, work commitments, cost, and transport. Full story: bit.ly/4miUMMZ

#Fatherhood researchers, services and practitioners, SUBMIT YOUR ABSTRACT to present at the Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium 2026! ausfatherhoodresearch.org/afrs-2026 Join us in Melbourne or online for an amazing symposium on 7 & 8 May 2026 #AFRS2026

SAVE THE DATE  Australian Fatherhood Research Symposium Thursday 7 & Friday 8 May, 2026 Melbourne & online An inclusive multi-disciplinary event open to all researchers, practitioners, organisations and policy makers with an interest in advancing the science of fatherhood.

Compared to married men, divorced men had almost three times greater odds of death from suicide. Separated men had an almost five times higher risk. This data reflects the intense emotional challenges that can follow relationship breakdown. Learn more: aibm.org/commentary/sep…

New research from the MAPP Study shows that men who had poor relationships with their parents were more likely to experience shame as adults doi.org/10.1007/s44202… 🧵1/4

Some men struggle to cope with the stress of a relationship breakdown. @JacquiMacd @zacseidler @Deakin @unimelb theconversation.com/separated-men-…

MAPP Study research shows that shame is a strong predictor of depression in men, but psychological wellbeing might offer protection! doi.org/10.1177/002076…🧵1/6

RESEARCH FINDS MANY PRACTITIONERS FEEL UNDERPREPARED TO NAVIGATE MEN’S DISTRESS Movember launches national rollout of Men in Mind tools to build trust, foster openness, and improve outcomes for men seeking support With Dr Zac Seidler @zacseidler , Clinical Psychologist & Global Director,Men’s Health Research,Movember @MovemberAUS & Associate Professor, Orygen @orygen_aus, The University of Melbourne @UniMelb AUSTRALIAN HEALTH JOURNAL SEGMENT Filmed in Sydney | June 2025 Movember’s Men in Mind expands nationally to equip mental health professionals with the tools to better connect with men before they reach crisis point. Research conducted by the Men’s Health Research team at Movember has found men account for three in every four suicide deaths in Australia, and more than 50% had sought help in the year before they died. These confronting figures expose a critical disconnect between men reaching out and the mental health system’s ability to engage them in ways that keep them connected to care. Movember is taking action to help close that gap. Led by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health, Men in Mind is an evidence-based training program developed by Dr. Zac Seidler, a clinical psychologist and Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember, that equips clinicians with the tools, confidence, and practical strategies to better connect with men before they reach crisis point. Despite their best efforts, many practitioners feel underprepared to navigate men’s distress in clinical settings. Men in Mind addresses this gap by providing practical tools to build trust, foster openness, and improve outcomes for men seeking support. The program is specifically designed for mental health professionals, including psychologists, counsellors, and other frontline mental health workers. Through a mix of self-directed online learning, video demonstrations, and reflective practice, Men in Mind teaches mental health professionals how to adapt their language, build rapport, explore emotional communication and respond to distress and suicidality in ways that resonate with men. It also includes interactive scenarios based on real client experiences. Australian Health Journal @AUHealthJournal spoke to Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director, Men’s Health Research, Movember about the world-first randomised controlled trial his team conducted demonstrating significant improvements in practitioners’ confidence and competence to engage and respond to help-seeking men. After completing the program, 82% of practitioners reported increased confidence working with men experiencing suicidality, up from 47% at baseline, with these gains maintained over time. The national rollout of Men in Mind follows strong interest from mental health services across Australia, with the program already being adopted in both public and private practice settings. Men in Mind is part of Movember’s broader commitment to changing the face of men’s health by backing scalable, evidence-based programs that support early intervention and work to improve the lives of men, their families and communities. Practitioners can learn more and enrol in the Men in Mind course at meninmind.movember.com. Source: Adapted from Movember Men in Mind Media Release 9th June 2025 Produced & published by AUDIENCED Get your interviews captured across Australia audienced.org/contact

Around one in ten men experience mental health issues after having a baby. But many don't seek help. @JacquiMacd @sam_teague1 @Deakin @jcu theconversation.com/when-new-dads-…

Today is International Fathers' Mental Health Day #IFMHD. The AFRC is delighted to partner with @MarkWilliamsFMH and @GidgetFndation to promote awareness that fathers need support & access to healthcare, for their own mental health, as well as their families'.

The AFRC was honoured to have Professor Craig Garfield share his knowledge and insights with us during his visit to Australia as Deakin University's Thinker In Residence. You can read about Craig's thoughts on his trip Down Under: luriechildrens.org/en/family-chil…