Indigenous Dads Celebrate 60,000 Years of Fatherhood

Indigenous fathers across Australia are pushing back against harmful stereotypes and celebrating a legacy of fatherhood that stretches back 60,000 years.

Author and Kalkalgal man Thomas Mayo remembers the suspicious stares he got simply for being with his own children in public. After the 2007 Northern Territory intervention, he says Indigenous men were nationally stereotyped as dangerous to their own kids.

"We remember that just holding our children in a shopping centre, [we] had suspicious eyes on us as if our children needed protecting from us because we were Indigenous men," Mayo said. He later became a single father to three young children, ironing their clothes daily and managing all their care.

Now a free text-messaging service called SMS4DeadlyDads is helping change the narrative. More than 1,000 Indigenous fathers have signed up to receive information about pregnancy, child development, and supporting their families.

Craig Hammond, a Gomeroi man who leads the program, says fathers are becoming more involved in parenting than ever before. "Everybody's there with the mum, you know, rubbing tummy and all that, but it's about supporting the dad through this stage," he said.

Fatherhood researcher Richard Fletcher, who helped develop the program, says Indigenous fathers need support that builds on their existing strengths. "They don't need support to tell them what they're doing wrong," Fletcher said. "They need support to help them be the dad they want to be."

The Ripple Effect

The impact goes beyond individual families. Mayo's book "Dear Son" brings together letters from Indigenous men reflecting on family, masculinity and culture, creating a resource for future generations.

Hammond ensures his grandchildren stay connected to their heritage by returning with them to country. These acts of cultural transmission strengthen not just families but entire communities.

Fletcher says Indigenous fathers play a crucial role in keeping children connected to family, culture and country. By supporting them properly, programs like SMS4DeadlyDads help preserve knowledge that has been passed down for millennia.

This Father's Day offers a chance to celebrate what has always been true: Indigenous men have been raising strong children and passing on vital cultural knowledge for 60,000 years, and they continue doing so across Australia today.