How it works

Joining up is easy – and IT’S FREE!  

To enrol, simply enter your baby’s due date or date of birth. If your partner is more than 12 weeks pregnant or your bub is under 12 months you join up by filling out a quick survey.

Once registered, you will receive three messages a week.

Some messages provide tips and encouragement. Others are health related to looking after your bub, and also about being mindful of your own health and ways to support your partner.

#BeingDad
Info & Resources

MoodTracker

Checking in with dads 

Part of the messaging supports dads and their mental health.

A set of MoodTracker interactive texts are interwoven within the messages that ask  how you’re doing.

If a dad says he’s not coping, a health professional from a relevant service makes contact to check in and see if he would like some support.

The Flow

How it works - how it works
Expecting parents copy

What are the messages like?

Many of the messages are in the “voice” of the baby, so it feels like your baby is talking directly to you.

The messages are brief and some have links to more info.

They include suggestions and ideas about looking after your baby, providing support to your partner, and also about taking care of your self.

 
 
EXAMPLE MESSAGES
 
Although it is noisy in here I will be able to hear your voice from about 20 weeks. 
Try telling me about the things we will do together
 
If you’ve been at work all day you might be able to support mum by taking me out for a walk dad. This will give us more time to get to know each other.
 
So, I pass a lot of wind. Well – I’m growing fast and I have to eat a lot so my gut is very busy. What’s your excuse?
 
 

Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.

“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.

In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.

Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.

Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.

“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people.  They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.

“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.

SMS4dads

Richard Fletcher

Associate Professor, PhD

Richard credits a varied career, a talented and innovative team, and much life experience for affording him the insight needed to address the challenges related to actively engaging dads.

After completing his masters in Medical Science, studying epidemiology, Richard earned his PhD focusing on fathers and attachment.

“Fathers are invisible in many places, and that is endemic. Not because people dislike fathers, but because the system is set up to be focused on mothers.”

Some services and organisations are aware of the need to engage dads, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.

“When people are challenged about this, they generally want dads involved,” Richard affirms.

“Often, however, they just don’t know how to do it.”

Richard works with health professionals on issues related to fathers, and has delivered many antenatal programs for expectant dads.

He credits his own family with giving him an understanding of the role of fathers needed to make his work relevant.

“I have three daughters and two stepdaughters,”

“My kids would say they taught me just about everything I know and they’d be right. They’ve taught me a lot, and still do.”

Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.

“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.

In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.

Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.

Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.

“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people.  They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.

“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.