Dads matter too: the Australian fatherhood research consortium

The aim or rationale for the presentation: The Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium exists to: advance the science of fatherhood; inform practice and policy that supports men and their families; and, promote healthy inclusion of fathers in family life. The aim of this presentation is to describe the development and functions of the AFRC, and identify how participation will benefit and inform midwifery practice. An overview of the content to be presented: This presentation will describe the history, membership, breadth of activities and development of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium (AFRC). A particular focus will be on the recently formed sub-group of the AFRC, the Paternal Perinatal Depression Network, which advocates for a system of mental health screening and support for all men becoming fathers in order to improve the wellbeing of all the members of the family. The relevance of the work to the conference audience: This presentation is relevant and timely given the recent announcement by the NHS England to offer a mental health check to partners of new and expectant mothers who have depression or anxiety. Providing father inclusive care and ensuring both the woman and her partner have optimum mental health should be a key goal of midwives and other health professionals. This is one of the key goals of the AFRC