There isn’t much that can prepare you for becoming a father – anyone will tell you the lifestyle shift is monumental.
Like most, the birth of Gabriel Carazo’s child changed things forever.
“I had a fantasy of what being a dad would look like and then reality kicked in,” he said.
Seeking advice on the “transition from dude to dad”, Mr Carazo’s search soon exposed a “huge gap” in services available at a local level.
“I typed in dad support and nothing came up … there was nothing specific on what I needed.
“There were a lot of questions, like ‘how am I going to come home from work and know that I am doing the right thing by my partner and my kid before going to bed?’, but you can’t type that into the internet.”
The Macedon Ranges local figured that hearing from others’ experiences was the best way to learn about parenthood.
“After I became a dad, it was important for me to interact with people on the same journey … and hear what was working for them.”
Soon, Mr Carazo took matters into his own hands.
After “falling into a rabbit hole” on psychology and relationships five years ago, he began the RAD Dads program.
RAD – short for responsive, active, and dynamic – is a free, community-driven initiative focused on supporting and empowering dads through education, connection, and hands-on experiences.
It aims to help explore “barriers and limitations” to fatherhood that a lot of men face in the modern world.
Mr Carazo said the program places a major emphasis on accessibility, which means bringing it to others rather than the other way around.
“I load up a play centre into my car and take it to others because … a lot of dads have to work and don’t have a lot of time with work schedules, so we go to them,” he said.
“It’s set up to work around the needs of what dads want and how they can do it in terms of availability and capacity … so they can just participate and engage.”
Served by a background in community services and counselling, it didn’t “require a lot” for Mr Carazo to get this up and running, although it was unexpected.
“I never planned to do RAD Dads, I thought I’d be having fun with my kids,” said Mr Carazo.
However, with the three-year anniversary of RAD Dads coming up, and new sessions being added to Diggers Rest, the initiative continues to provide a crucial service to an underserved demographic.
“It has developed into a multifaceted and adaptable program – there is something there that resonates for the specific needs of each individual.”
“It can offer many different outlets for local dads to tap into support.”
In Sunbury, the Little Diggers Bush Playgroup offers outdoor activities like scavenger hunts and wildlife watching for children aged zero to three.
Sensory play sessions are run indoors, with a plan to create a hub for dads in the Melton area at the Diggers Rest Sport and Community Centre.
Details: www.raddads.com.au/
Eddie Russell
