SMS texts for new and soon-to-be dads

Invite a Dad to Sign Up

INVITE YOUR PARTNER  TO JOIN UP

If you are expecting a baby or have a child under 12 months of age – you can invite your partner to join up to SMS4dads. It’s FREE (and it’s easy to opt-out if they decide that it’s not for them). When a dad joins up, they enter their bub’s due or actual date of birth. They are then sent weekly text messages synched to their baby’s development. Let us know who the lucky dad is and we’ll send him an invite to join up to SMS4dads!

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PLEASE SEND AN SMS4DADS INVITE TO THE DAD BELOW

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Invite a Dad to Sign Up -

SMS4dads sends short texts with tips, info and links straight to dads phone.

The messages are designed especially for dads to help them:

  • connect with their bub 
  • support mum
  • and look after themselves

The messages help dads understand how important their role is and provide tips and info to get involved and feel more confident and connected.

 

Invite a Dad to Sign Up -

If you know a dad (or soon-to-be dad) invite them to join up by filling out the form above.

They’ll get sent a text to say,

 “Hey there, (name of invitee) thought you’d like to check out this free service – SMS4dads. It’s especially designed for new and expecting fathers. Check it out and join up here.

RESOURCES FOR YOUR ORGANISATION

Do you work for a health service? SMS4dads has a range of posters, flyers and resources that organisations can order online. They’re FREE and are designed to showcase positive images of new and expecting dads. This helps send a clear signal to dads that they are welcome in your organisation and that you value the important role dads play.

Order resources for your organisation today!
 

SMS4dads

SMS4dads sends three texts a week up until bub turns 1 year old.

Messages include simple tips and info sent straight to your phone just when you and your baby need it.

“I joined up to SMS4dads – it’s helped me so much trying to navigate the change in lifestyle with bub and mum.”
 
SMS4dads is FREE to all dads around Australia.
 

Check out this video to find out more about how SMS4dads works

 

SMS4DADS IS AVAILABLE IN ALL REGIONS ACROSS AUSTRALIA

Here's some content, info & tips especially for dads

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.