Strong fathers, strong families

The Strong Fathers Strong Families project aims to strengthen the role of Yolngu fathers in their families.

Involving fathers in the lives of their children is crucial for a child’s health, development and wellbeing.

The Strong Fathers Strong Families project is an Australian Government initiative that highlights the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander fathers, partners, grandfathers and uncles.

Community workers provide support for young Yolngu men to be healthy role models and active participants in the lives of their children and families.

As part of the Strong Fathers Strong Families project, the Yolngu community grows its own vegetables for cooking. The programme also helps families to prepare their own meals and to educate fathers and mothers about healthy eating.

Cooking and nutrition classes regularly attract between 15 and 25 enthusiastic young fathers, where they learn to prepare nutritious and tasty meals for their families.

Rrawun Maymuru is a community worker with Strong Fathers Strong Families.

“We want to see young fathers, young mothers on a positive path and that’s why I am very happy to work with young fathers and also hope to learn from them, they teach us and then we teach them, ” Rrawun said.

The Strong Fathers Strong Families program staff have also developed a close working relationship with the Families as First Teachers program at Yirrkala School, enabling the sharing of information to support family needs and facilitating referrals to health and support services.

 Weekly joint activities including family bush trips and playgroups attract between 18 and 30 families every week.