Men and family relationships

RAV offers a range of family and relationship services for men including counselling, men’s groups, family dispute resolution, assistance on relationship and parenting matters and education courses on relationship issues and personal growth.

Relationships

We offer services such as counselling, family dispute resolution and relationship education (courses) to help men understand how to manage relationships with their family, partner, children and friends. Our courses assist men to explore topics such as: managing emotions, understanding patterns in relationships, life goals, family influences, personality styles and dealing with conflict.

Rebuilding after separation and divorce

Assistance is available for men who have experienced the breakdown of a relationship and are going through the early stages of separation.

We offer courses to help men understand their reactions to the loss they have experienced, recognise patterns in the way they relate to their family members and develop a personal plan to start to move on.

We also have courses for fathers who are coping with the breakdown of a relationship, while trying to meet the needs of their children. We help dads and kids to stay connected through programs where separated dads and their children 'hang out' together. We also have groups for single and separated fathers to get and share knowledge and to explore issues that concern them.

Fathering

The 21st century is seeing greater demands on parents to adapt, and be flexible to new pressures in bringing up children. Our programs help dads to build their fathering skills and assist them to adapt to changing family, parenting and relationship pressures.

One such program is called Fathers Utilising Networks - FUN - for Kids and it is run in partnership with maternal and child health centres, community centres, kindergartens and primary schools. It aims to be fun, informative and help to break down social isolation and to foster new friendships between fathers. Dads are encouraged to get involved in their local communities, to make positive and practical contributions and to share knowledge and support.

To view an Evaluation Report of the FUN for Kids Program, visit our Research page. 

Download the FUN for Kids Brochure.

For more information about the FUN for Kids program, please contact Scott Hall at RAV Sunshine or call (03) 8311 9222.

Engaging fathers more effectively in child and family services is a growing challenge.  Research and the evidence base is also growing.  This CAFCA practice sheet - prepared by the Australian Institute of Family Studies - provides a snapshot of this research. 

If you are a separated dad, check out the Dads Online website, which has information as well as forums where dads can share their experiences. More...

DadsLink

RAV also runs the DadsLink program, in partnership with YMCA Victoria and the Life Is Foundation, to strengthen father-child relationships. DadsLink organises hands-on fathering activities, information on fatherhood via newsletters, community events for the whole family including our annual Dad's Day Out at the Quarantine Station in Portsea and Fathers Day Brunch in Boroondara, Dads & Kids adventure camps, seminars, discussions and support for dads.

To read Dadslink newsletters, visit the Dadslink website.

Other services

RAV offers individual and group counselling sessions for men on various aspects of relationships. Find out about Men’s counselling.

We have many courses and groups for men on topics such as managing relationships, fathering, rebuilding after separation and anger management. View upcoming Relationship Skills courses.

RAV also offers programs and courses to assist people who commit violence in the family to take responsibility for their violent and abusive behaviour and to encourage respectful ways of relating. There are also support services for men, women or children who have experienced family violence and abuse. Find out more about Family Violence Prevention Services. 

Contact your nearest RAV centre to find out more about services for men.

Developing father inclusive practice

For agencies/organisations:

Do you need training, consultancy and resources that will assist your organisation to engage Dads more effectively? Expectant fathers, new dads, dads and playgroups and kinders, child care, at home dads, single dads, dads and literacy and numeracy programs, dad's clubs at primary and secondary schools may all benefit.

Better connected and positive Dads make for better outcomes for kids, partners, families, and communities.

Please contact Scott Hall at RAV Sunshine or call (03) 8311 9222.

Browse the following articles and links:

Mothers matter article

National Literacy Trust website

Centacare new baby manual for Dads

Resources

Men often don't look at instructions, until something is seriously wrong. Don't wait until your relationship is in trouble. Use this manual as a set of instructions to renovate your relationship.

• Renovate your Relationship - A Manual for Men (pdf)

The following booklets were written to provide information and support for men going through separation and divorce.

• Men and Separation (pdf)
• Migrant Men and Separation (pdf)
• Migrant Men and Separation - Arabic (pdf)
• Migrant Men and Separation - Vietnamese (pdf)
• Parenting Plan – Share the Care (pdf).
• What about the Children? (pdf)
• Hearing your child's voice in family dispute resolution (pdf)