DIYFather and Plunket run Dads4Dads pilot course

DIYFather directors Scott Lancaster and Stefan Korn have successfully completed the first Dads4Dads course delivered as part of Plunket's Parenting Education Programme. Eleven fathers enrolled for the first course which was held at the Khandallah Plunket Rooms in Wellington.

The course was designed for fathers of children under one-year-old and covered key issues relating to parenting in general and specifically fatherhood. Scott and Stefan were keen to help fathers realise the importance of their role in helping their baby develop and emphasise that babies know their fathers right from the moment of birth.

Fathers are always welcome at and already attend Plunket's standard parenting courses – sometimes attending with their partners. But the Dads4Dads project offers another option for fathers. Because Dads4Dads is a course facilitated by fathers for fathers, it is a 'guys only' forum where dads can talk about issues around fatherhood without fear of judgement.

This first trial course was held in the evening over four sessions. Feedback from participants generally supported this arrangement although some of the participants would have liked more sessions. The next Dads4Dads courses will be run in February 2009 and it is expected that more courses will be run more later in the year upon successful completion of the pilot courses.