· Shaun's work embodies the principles of The Fathering Project's #SafeWithYou campaign, highlighting the importance of emotional connection, community support, and active fatherhood in ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
· Shaun has established various initiatives to connect fathers and help them navigate the joys and challenges of parenting, making a lasting difference in his community and setting a powerful example of modern fatherhood.
· The Fathering Project's annual Australian Fathering Awards showcase the critical role of fathers, father figures and workplaces in building safe, thriving families and communities.
Sydney, Australia, 29 August – Western Australian dad Shaun Chandran has been named The Fathering Project's Australian Community Father of the Year 2024 for his work in building the country's largest dads' group, connecting over 500 fathers across Perth to help them develop the support networks that are often overlooked.
The father of two launched Belmont Dads Group in March 2020 with the simple vision of wanting to find a community of dads to connect with. He quickly learned there were hundreds of dads who felt the same.
"Fatherhood is one of the most important roles in our lives. But it can also be filled with exhaustion, confusion and social isolation," said Shaun. "When I became a Dad, I was seeking to connect with other Dads so we could support each other and learn together."
Four years on, Belmont Dads Group has grown to the largest of its kind in Australia meeting weekly at the playground.
Today, Shaun has moved onto his next project, establishing a dads group at his children's school, St Maria Goretti's Catholic School. Earlier this year, with the support of The Fathering Project, he launched SMG Dads, focused on connecting fathers within the school community. Their inaugural event, "Paper Planes and Pizza," brought together over 200 fathers and children, highlighting the important role of fathers and how they contribute to families.
"I've always been guided by a principle of 'why dad alone when we can dad together?' The engagement in our dads groups emphasise the critical need among fathers to connect as a community."
The Fathering Project's Father of the Year Awards coincides with the launch of its 2024 Father's Day campaign, #SafeWithYou, which underscores the crucial role fathers and father figures play in ensuring the safety and well-being of children.
For Shaun, this message is personal. "The work of The Fathering Project resonates deeply with me because safety is found in the presence of connection and community — in creating spaces where fathers can come together without judgment, share experiences, and learn from each other," he said.
Jason King, a fellow dad from the SMG Dads group, shared the impact of Shaun's leadership: "He's created an important space for fathers to connect and grow. The sense of belonging and support within our group is a testament to Shaun's dedication. His work has truly made a difference, and this recognition is well deserved."
"Shaun has achieved incredible outcomes in connecting dads across Western Australia, building a strong community and showing the rest of the country what can be done when dads connect and learn from each other's experiences," said Káti Gapaillard, CEO of The Fathering Project. "This work is exactly what The Fathering Project is about, and we're thrilled to recognise him as our Community Father of the Year 2024."
