Recently published data on marriage and divorce in Australia have caught media attention: according to the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the crude divorce rate has dropped to 2.3 per 1,000 residents (2023).

Single dads often carry tremendous weight. Some of the toughest times in my entire parenting journey happened when I was a single father. But I have also experienced joy in my life that, apart from being a parent, I never would have known existed.

When I was single, I had more downtime than I cared for. Now, as a father of two very young children, I treasure any time I have alone. It is only in such moments that I am able to step back, gain perspective, and think strategically about my life, my family, and our big-picture goals.

I fought back tears while listening to “To Be a Man” by Dax. This song about the meaning and challenge of being a man tells us that all men need encouragement, especially when we are tempted to stay, for despairing silence kills.

Many dads come to me in tears after losing their wives, kids – everything. I call it the empty time. It's not a pretty story. Nor was it meant to be.

Just as new moms are warned about mood swings, new dads need to be tipped off that they’re at risk for stress and depression too.

Male victims of sexual violence, and there are many thousands of them from all over the world, are often ignored. Here's more research into male victims that the world wants to stay hidden.

Fatherhood, far from being “toxic”, is an incredible protective factor that majorly reduces a whole variety of risks for children. The benefits of fatherhood extend far beyond the home, impacting children's health, safety, and future success. Keep that in mind next time someone uses the phrase “toxic masculinity”.

When I called for men to talk about their mental health, I wasn’t sure what the response would be. But the comments from readers show that many men do want to speak about their emotions, although they feel they are not being heard.

Bruce Robinson argues that every father must learn to give unconditional love to his children, and is explicit about dads telling their children about their unconditional love for them. I agree, but it is darn difficult.

When I became a father for the first time, a little under two years ago, my priorities and perspective on the world changed in ways I was not expecting.

Decades of messy conversations have taught us that timing matters. Editing ourselves – and choosing the right moment – almost always leads to better listening, deeper understanding, and a stronger connection. 

John Stapleton's latest book, "Failure: Family Law Reform Australia", is a scathing critique of Australia’s family law system, timed to mark the 50th anniversary of the Family Law Act of 1975. It is a sobering tale of institutional overreach, human cost, and a democracy too timid to fix its own messes.

Dr Arthur Brooks, a professor at Harvard University, spoke at the recent ARC Conference in London on "The Science of Happiness". Start your own study on the Science of Happiness, put it into practice, teach your kids the same and create a very happy family in the process.

The adversarial nature of family law encouraged false accusations from the earliest days of its formation. Changes which have set in since the turn of the millennium ensure there is no consequence for making false accusations, at least on the mother’s part, and have simply made the situation worse.

One of the key ways fathers shape their children is through play. Studies show that dads spend a larger percentage of their parenting time engaged in play, often favouring more physically active, rough-and-tumble interactions, like me with Squish at the beach.

There’s no better sound in the world than my daughter’s rapid-fire giggle. And as it turns out, the laughter she experiences during these crucial chapters of her childhood comes with benefits that will leave a lasting imprint.

This DEI-based system is a key part of the reason why family men are killing themselves in such numbers – a system designed to chew men up and spit them out. Any decent suicide prevention program would ask what can be done to protect men from this fate.

As a father, prioritising exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only will you reap the physical and mental health benefits, but you’ll also strengthen your role as a positive influence in your kids’ lives.

There are a few well-researched, but often overlooked aspects to ensuring solid development in a child’s life. The first crucial component is the positive involvement of a father in the life of the child. The second is related to the marriage relationship between the father and mother.