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The City of Casey has developed a series of interactive, inclusive and exciting programs
for men to join in with their children aged 0 to six years.
These programs, targeted specifically to dads, step-dads, grandfathers and other men who
play an integral role in a child’s life, are critical to the fabric of the Casey community
and are being embraced by men living within the municipality.
>> KREY: As a dad it’s really been a tremendous opportunity to be able to sit down with the
kids one on one.
>> ANTHONY: We get to do fun things together.
>> KEVIN: Just really spending time with the kids. The kids look forward to it.
>> MICHAEL: "Are we going to the program? Are we going to this? Are we going to that?"
>> SHANE: "Let’s go! When are we going? Let’s go! Let’s go! Hurry up!" Pushing
me out to the car.
>> SHIVA: They’re waiting for me to come from work so they can come to the playgroup.
By offering a range of programs just for dads, the City of Casey recognises the important
role men play in their family structure.
Developing social networks and support channels among other dads, while spending valuable
time with their children, is important for men and the City of Casey’s range of programs
are available throughout the week, all year round.
>> ANTHONY: More than justifies the time taken to attend the activities.
They’re really good.
>> SHANE: Every night they’ve got something different to do. They’re making puppets
or drawing or colouring, reading books.
>> KREY: They look forward to it all week.
>> ANTHONY: Good bonding with your children. Good being with other dads.
>> STEPHEN: Anybody that comes along gets an opportunity to meet other fathers.
Talk about things.
>> SHIVA: It’s helped me with confidence raising up the children,
because I talk to the other dads.
>> KEVIN: It’s a good chance for me to just socialise with the other dads,
while spending time with the kids.
>> KREY: My wife gets some time away from all of us. Gets some time to herself.
>> ANTHONY: Really good for my wife because it gives her time without her husband in the
way and without the children getting in the way so she can either relax or can constructively
do things without having to worry about being interrupted, so she gets a lot done.
>> SHIVA: She likes a bit of time off for herself.
>> SHANE: Every Wednesday night she always planned something else to do because she’s
got two less kids to deal with.
>> STEPHEN: It’s a "win win" scenario.
The loose format of many of the programs allows dads to come and go as their schedules permit
and weekend activities are proving very popular.
>> KEVIN: There’s not commitment to come along. It’s come when you can and spend
the amount of time you can on the Thursdays or which ever day they can come along.
Meet dads living in the City of Casey, talk about parenting issues and discover new strategies
that will help you get the most out of being a parent.
>> SHANE: I certainly recommend it to other fathers. It’s really good if you haven’t
got a very big community base around yourself. You come here, there’s dads from right across
the board. So you get to meet new people, and you don’t have to feel so alone sometimes.
It’s good.
>> KREY: We came here with nothing but our suitcases a year ago. Didn’t know a soul
in town and so it provided the perfect opportunity for us to get involved with the community.
>> MICHAEL: Knowing that they have children there too, it’s like an extended family.
>> STEPHEN: I work long hours. Not really a social creature, so she likes the idea that
I get an opportunity to get out and socialise with other people
rather than just the people at work.
If you’re a new parent, programs are on offer that give practical support like caring
for your baby and how to be a hands-on dad.
Come along and create something with your child at one of the "Dads Matter" programs
where you can build, draw, even garden. These hands-on activities are great fun for
both dads and children.
>> KREY: In this setting you get to sit down have a "tea-party" with your daughter, cut
out some things, some craft and learn all your kindergarten skills again, and spend
some one on one time that’s 100% dad time.
>> SHANE: Gives the kids something different to do. They’re not stuck at home in front
of the television. I enjoy seeing them wanting to do something else.
>> STEPHEN: At home the children may not play with one another. But here, you might find
you’ve got a boy and a girl, not only are they playing with others, they’ll probably
play together, where at home they might be in opposite rooms, doing their own stuff.
>> KEVIN: It gives me a day, one day a week where I’m committed to spending time with
the kids. It adds a little more structure to the time that I spend with the kids.
>> MICHAEL: The benefits to me has been enormous.
New programs and initiatives are regularly introduced.
For a full list of current programs log on to www.casey.vic.gov.au or
contact the City of Casey on 9705 5590.
>> STEPHEN: It’s our time. We know that it’s out time, her time with dad.