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The harms of father absence are well-documented, and turning the tide of fatherlessness is what drives our work here at Dads4Kids. In the late 1990’s, Indigenous Elder Pastor Ron Williams (1940–2003), who also served as a Chaplain in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison (Kalgoorlie-Boulder), inspired the founding of the Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation in 2002 when he proclaimed, “Australia’s greatest need is fathers.”

Nowhere is the need for fathers more apparent than in the prison system. International bestselling author Dr. Warren Farrell has said, “prisons are basically centres for dad-deprived boys”, and in the United States, it’s estimated around 90% of inmates did not have a significant amount of father-involvement growing up.

Sadly, things are not much better here in Australia. I know from speaking firsthand with prison officers that the rates of fatherlessness for incarcerated people in Australia are similar to the US. Watch Dads4Kids’ new short film below to find out more.

Fatherlessness and the Inside-Out Fathering Program

Dads4Kids’ friend Glenn Berry has served as a prison chaplain at South Coast Correctional Centre for over ten years. He’s an amazing man with a big heart for people and he’s also an accredited counsellor (find out more here). In the film, Glenn shares what he’s witnessed working with incarcerated men, many of whom grew up without the guidance of an involved father. Too many men have never been shown how to be good fathers, husbands or respected members of their communities.

The Dads4Kids Inside-Out Fathering Program gives incarcerated fathers practical tools, guidance and encouragement to help them build a better future for themselves and their children. By supporting Inside-Out, you can help equip fathers for life beyond prison, strengthen families and break the cycle of fatherlessness for the next generation.

When I think about my own father, Dads4Kids cofounder Warwick Marsh, I’m filled with gratitude. Dad’s childhood was volatile, due to his parents not getting along, and he spent part of his early years in Scotland with his mother and brother, alienated from his father. I remember something he once said around our family table in my younger years, specifically to a friend of mine who had joined us for dinner.

This friend was going through his own relationship struggles, and sadly he’d also experienced a lack of good fathering growing up. That night at the table, dad said, “you’ve gotta break the cycle, cut it off. You must set your face like flint (a reference to a powerful Bible passage found in Isaiah 50:6–8) and decide to break the cycle of fatherlessness in your own life.”

I remember dad being very emphatic about breaking the cycle. It’s clear that he decided many years ago to set his face like flint, and that decision (one he continues to live by) changed the trajectory of his life, his family, and has been a blessing to millions of people over many decades.

Tuesday last week, thanks to generous supporters, Dads4Kids were honoured to provide lunch and graduate a group of inmates from the most recent Inside-Out Fathering Program at South Coast Correctional Centre (pictured above – faces blurred for legal reasons). In Session 3 of the 8-session program, we discuss the importance of family mealtimes. Reflecting on the program, one inmate, James (not his real name), shared with us how he couldn’t remember ever having shared a meal together with his family when he was growing up.

James was so impacted by that one idea from Inside-Out, he called each of his sisters, from prison, to confirm if it was true and they all agreed that they had never sat around the table together for a family meal. James has four kids of his own and he assured us that once he’s released from prison, if he’s able to be reunited with his children, he’ll certainly be having as many family meals with his kids as he possibly can.

Lovework

Watch, like and share the INSIDE-OUT short film. If you’re a dad, set your face like flint and commit yourself to being the best father you can be. Start small. Remember, in family life the little things are the big things.

If you can, put into practise regular family dinners where you turn the screens off, eat good food and spend time together. Commit yourself to breaking any cycles of fatherlessness in your own life. You won’t regret it.

Yours for breaking the cycle,

Nathaniel Marsh

P.S. It’s November, which means it’s Men’s Equality Month and International Men’s Day on 19 November is fast approaching! The theme for 2026 is The Future Is Everyone – download posters here, like and share the YouTube video, or click here for more ideas and things to do. If you’re encouraged by Dads4Kids work and can support our vision to help dads be the best they can be for their children, please call 02 4272 6677 or click here to make a tax-deductible donation.

P.P.S. Big thanks to all the dads, grandads and kids who joined us last weekend for the Dads4Kids Fun Camp – it was a wonderful time. Short film about the weekend and more details for 2027 coming soon!

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Image via Pexels.