Recognising and celebrating the influence of fathers and father figures

Nominations are now closed for 2023.
The Australian Fathering Awards
brought to you by The Fathering Project

The Australian Fathering Awards

We are very proud to celebrate fatherhood by becoming the new home of the Australian Father of the Year Awards. Originally launched in 1957, these awards honour the precious role and journey of fatherhood from birth to beyond.

Here at The Fathering Project, our goal is to transform children’s lives through better fathering, helping dads to be the best dads they can be for themselves, their child and their family. Our research shows how critical good fathering is to the outcomes of a child’s life, so we are overjoyed to be able to work with the Australian Fathers Day Council to shine a light on this vital fathering role.

Káti Gapaillard
CEO, The Fathering Project
Geoff Lloyd
Chair, The Fathering Project
Maurice Newman AC
Chair, The Australian Father's Day Council

Award Overview 2023

The Fathering Project is proud to be coordinating The Australian Fathering Awards in partnership with the Australian Fathers Day Council. 

These prestigious awards aim to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role that fathers play within families, and in the wider community.

In 2023, there will be four Australian Fathering Award categories

2023 – Award schedule – Key Dates

10 June – Nominations close

14-20 June – Short-listed candidates informed

10 July – Award winners informed

31 Aug – National Announcement of Award recipients

03 Sept – Father’s Day – A day of celebration for all Aussie Dads

The Australian Fathering Awards 2022 Recipients.

Craig Foster father of the year

Craig Foster AM

2022 Australian Father of The Year 

Rick Pekan

2022 Community Father of The Year

Australian Sports Father of the year, Isaac Thomas

Isaac Thomas

2022 Sports Father of The Year 

KPMG Australia

2022 Australia’s Best Workplace for Father’s

2022 award highlights

Looking ahead at 2023

We are thrilled with the success of the Awards event in September 2022. The award recipients demonstrate the clear impact and value of fathers and father friendly workplaces on children, families and communities.  

The Awards received wide media coverage that for the most part focused on and promoted the significance of engaged fathers and father-figures, and the positive impact this has on the future of our children. 

We know that 2023 will only be bigger and better, and we can’t wait to uncover everyday men and workplaces doing extraordinary things for families, communities and most importantly – our children. 

With YOUR support and sponsorship, we can create a positive intergenerational impact for all Australian children. 

750,000+ Children's Lives Changed
450,000+ Fathers Supported
1000+ Partner Organisations
2 million+ Monthly Reach
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Play an active role in changing children's lives.

A better tomorrow for your children starts with you.

Research shows that supporting fathers do not only become more effective caregivers, but also alleviate the negative impacts of disadvantage and break generational cycles, resulting in happier, healthier and more resilient communities.

Join The Fathering Project by hosting a Paper Planes Fundraiser to spotlight the crucial role of fathers and father-figures in creating a brighter future for all children and families.

An all-inclusive, weather friendly, easy to host event that strengthens the bond between children and fathers/father figures to serve a greater good.

Previous recipients of Australian Father of the Year

Brendan Murphy

Paul Roos

Shane Fitzsimmons

Dr Mark Cross

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki AM

Dr Jamal Rifi AM

Dick Smith AO

Fathering Today

What Fathering Means To Me

I feel incredibly privileged to be the adopted dad to 5 beautiful kids aged 8 to 21.  Parenting is simultaneously the single greatest challenge and the single greatest joy in my life.  It’s a constant conundrum trying to balance the desire to be ‘fun dad’ and also serve their long-term needs, which sometimes means doing ‘un-fun’ stuff.  Balancing the need to be present and available at work and also present and available as a dad, is tricky too.  And then there’s the reflection part: ‘I should have handled that better’ or ‘I wish I had done X not Y’.  But I’ve grown to accept that success isn’t about being the ‘perfect’ dad.  It about being the ‘have a go’ dad, the ‘show-up’ dad, the ’shut-up and listen’ dad.  I don’t have words to describe the sense of pride and love I have for my kids. I just know that being their dad is the most precious thing in my life, and the most meaningful thing I will ever do.  

Michael, NSW – Proud Dad of 5

"Our mission is to educate, connect and empower fathers and father figures across Australia to prevent long term social, emotional and cognitive difficulties and create the conditions for children to thrive."

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