Next generation of north Brisbane fathers launch game-changing new support group

The first of five new parenting groups for dads launches in Brisbane with young fathers flocking to seek support. 

Fathers are joining forces with Metro North Hospital and Health Service to provide a new support service for Brisbane men navigating their way through the unique joys and challenges of fatherhood.

Dads of Nundah will be the first of five northside support groups to offer new fathers the opportunity to meet for a couple of hours, once a week, to connect with each other and foster a sense of camaraderie and community.

The Dads Group provides new fathers with the opportunity to form connections with other families in their local area.

The effort will be headed up by father-of-two Nicolas Bonastre, who became connected with Dads Groups on the southside in 2018, at a time when he was a young dad who wanted to say goodbye to his partying ways and meet new, family-minded friends.

“A lot of my friends in my age group weren’t parents yet and so many of them drifted away,” Mr Bonastre said.

“We didn’t have the same things in common anymore – I stopped going out and drinking heavily because I had to get up early for the kids.

“I wanted to get to know other dads in my area and just be able to go down to the park together and feel a bit less isolated.”

Dads of Nundah founder Nicolas Bonastre and his two young children.

Dads Group is a nationwide network of support groups that give new dads the help they need to develop positive social relationships and find easier pathways to health services, if they need them.

“There’s so much support for mums with antenatal and post-natal care but there weren’t a lot of things for dads to engage in,” Mr Bonastre said.

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“If you look back to the generation before us, the typical dad did the working part and the mum did the housework but there’s a lot more gender equality now, there’s more stay at home dads and equal income households.

“A lot more dads want to get more involved.”

Dads of Nundah will have their official launch on Saturday.

Dads of Nundah will launch officially on Saturday, January 23 after a successful trial period in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The group has already amassed a following of hundreds on social media.

“It’s so rewarding to bring together such a diverse group of people and to have them go, holy crap, an organisation just for dads, this is awesome,” Mr Bonastre said.

“There’s a real need for it in the community.”

The whole family is encouraged to get involved.