HOLISTIC - Sunshine Coast trial inspires national child-rearing revolution

A pilot program developed on the Sunshine Coast could reshape how we care for families across Australia with plans to expand it across Queensland and then Australia.

The Dads Group Integrated Model of Care (IMC) trial showed everyone in the family benefited when men played a bigger part in a child’s perinatal care.

Tom Docking, Dads Group CEO said the results can inspire a cultural shift across the country.

“For too long, dads have sat on the sidelines of perinatal care—present, but rarely engaged – that needs to change,” Tom said.

“Traditionally health and social supports have focused on mothers and infants during pregnancy and the first year of a child’s life – but there are big benefits of dads being more involved.

“This is a wicked problem. No single organisation can solve it. We need whole systems working together to better support fathers, mothers, and children.

“The Sunshine Coast has lit the path. Now it’s time to walk it together - statewide and nationally.”

A showcase on the trial of the Integrated Model of Care at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital attracted 60 health leaders, clinicians, researchers, policymakers, and frontline workers.

The model embeds peer support into maternity hospital, trains staff to engage fathers early, connects hospital, community, and digital support systems, and produces measurable improvements in mental health, connection, and service access.

More than 180 fathers engaged with the pilot and most said they felt better prepared for fatherhood – and many were referred into mental health, peer support, and community services.

Michael Hogan, Executive Convenor of the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership emphasised the value of collaborative, evidence-driven change.

“We do better together,” Michael said. “What surrounds us shapes us.”

Keppel Schafer, Director of Nursing & Midwifery Children’s Services, helped establish the father-friendly approach on the Sunshine Coast. “We needed to build something sustainable,” Keppel explained. “I didn’t want to pour time, money, and energy into something that ends when the funding runs out.”

Dr Karen Wynter, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Women's and Children's Mental Health at Monash University said father-inclusive care supports maternal care.

 “At the beginning, people assumed that including fathers meant mothers would be negated. But that’s not the case. Including dads strengthens the whole family care system.”