Welcome to Sunbury Dads

Here you’ll find all the latest news and helpful resources to help you navigate life as a new Dad. Do you think this page is missing something? Email Nick so we can make sure this information is up to date for you.

 

Quick Links

 

Latest News

2025 Sunbury Dads

7th February 2025 – For our first session back Ben from MerriHealth is joining us to chat about their Family Foundations Program.

In a nutshell the program is for parents / couples parents of 0-5 year old’s and/or who are expecting, and want to strengthen their parenting partnership during pregnancy and the early years. The family seeking support are matched with skilled practitioners, with the program delivered either in the family home, online, from a neutral and safe place, for 1 hour a week and for 10 weeks in total.

During the skill building program, various topics are explored with the support of the practitioner including; the parents childhood experiences and impacts, expectations of parenting, conflict resolution, praise etc. The program comes with a manual that speaks to the topics and encourages the participants to write down goals, methods – accountability.

Hume is one of the municipalities that can benefit from this program – click here to find out more info about the program.

 

About our Sunbury Dads Program

 

Meet our Sunbury Dads Facilitator

Hi I’m Nick, I have had the incredible opportunity to be a stay at home dad for the last 2 years. To make this a reality, I retired from engineering and focused solely on parenting, and I am still discovering what it takes to be a father today and navigate the intricacies of a powerfully imaginative young mind. Since then I have returned to work and attending college full-time to pursued my long-held ambition to become a teacher.

Join me and other dads each Friday at 4pm, on the journey of being a father-figure, discovering what it takes to meet today’s needs of fathering.

Registration is FREE – click this link to reserve your spot today

 

Important Information for our Sunbury Dads attendees

We are located within the The Sunbury Community Centre which is a Hume City Council building and a shared space. To find Sunbury Neighbourhood House turn right from the main foyer and look for our yellow doors.

Baby Change – facilities can be found down the first corridor to you left as you enter the main building, located in the multipurpose toilets.

Grown up toilets – are down the second corridor to your left, past the little library & brown couches.

Toddler toilet – we have a toddler size toilet off our SNH Tea Room, this can be entered via the door from the Undercover play space.

SNH – is down the right-hand side corridor, you can find us easily by our yellow doors, note our Fish Tank is right next to the SNH Tea Room where you will find the previously mentioned toddler toilet plus there is a door bell on the office door should you need to find a staff member (during office hours)! Please feel free to use this tea room space to relax, feed your little ones or utilise our kitchenette, its generally a quieter space should your kiddos (or you) need it.

Sunbury Dads – is in the SNH Activity Room, at the entrance we will have a wooden table with Playgroup daily info/allergies and notices etc board for you to view each session and a class attendance list. please find your name & child’s name and tick off each week you attend. Should you or your child be unwell, please do not attend playgroup. If you wish to let us know of your absence you can do so via our SMS system – 0436 193 808. Please note we are a Nut & Egg free space, if you do pack a snack for your kiddos, please keep allergies in mind. Should we have a participant with severe/anaphylaxis we will send an SMS with this detail before your group commences for the term or when it is brought to our attention. We appreciate your support with is, should you have any questions please ask a staff member.

Back yard Playground – We have a fantastic secure backyard space that can be used by our families when SNH is open, please feel free to go and hang out there before or after playgroup. Down the second left hand corridor, past the toilets. As it is a shared space please tidy up after yourselves and please note the door lock directions as you head outside.

Any questions? Please see one of our friendly staff members!

Hope, Christie, Cathy & Nick

 

Helpful Resources

Equipping yourself with knowledge and support is key to effective parenting. Here are some valuable resources to guide you on your journey:

  • Books:
    • “Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child” by John Gottman
    • “The Whole-Brain Child” by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson
  • Websites:
  • Helplines: Services like Lifeline (13 11 14) and Parentline provide free and confidential emergency support
  • Community Services: Many local councils offer parenting workshops, playgroups, and fathering support groups. Check with your local community centre or library for programs.

 

Fathering Support

 

Hume Early Parenting Services

Location: Craigieburn, Broadmeadows

Contact: 03 9356 6700

 

The Centre for Family Studies

Location: Sunbury, Hume

Contact: 03 9744 1142, centre@centrefsf.org

 

Hume Parentzone

Location: Craigieburn, Hume Region

Contact: 03 9339 3789, www.humeparentzone.org.au

 

Dads in Distress (DID)

Location: Available in Hume region via online and local outreach

Contact: 1300 853 437, info@dadsindistress.org.au

 

Hume Men’s Shed

Location: 158 Evans St Sunbury

Website: https://sunburymensshed.com/ 

 

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV) – Broadmeadows

Location: Broadmeadows

03 9304 0515, rav@rav.org.au

 

The Fathering Project

Location: Available to families in Merri-Bek and surrounding areas

Contact: 1300 237 123 info@thefatheringproject.org

 

Dadfit Program

Location: various locations across Melbourne at local community venues

Contact: Ryan Carters ph: 0402 663 506

ryancarters@dadfit.au

 

Family Foundations

Location: Hume and Merri-Bek

(03) 9355 9901

Email: family.foundations@merrihealth.org.au

completed post-birth.

 

The Dads Group

Location: Statewide

Contact: www.dadsgroup.org

 

Aboriginal Men’s Crisis

Phone: (03) 8456 3044

Email: info@dardimunwurro.com.au

 

Beyond Blue – Men’s Health Information and Support

Location: Statewide

Contact: 1300 22 4636, www.beyondblue.org.au

 

LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Family Support – QLife

Location: Statewide

Contact: 1800 184 527, www.qlife.org.au

 

Men and Family Relationships – Australian Institute of Family Studies

Location: Online, serving Hume and Merri-Bek regions

Contact: www.aifs.gov.au

 

Men’s Health Victoria

Location: Statewide

Contact: info@menshealthvic.org.au

 

Men’s Referral Service

Location: Statewide (including Hume region)

Contact: 1300 766 491,

Email: www.mensreferralservice.org.au

 

Parenting in a New Culture (PINC) Program

Location: Broadmeadows

Reza Mousavi

Email: rezam@spectrumvic.org.au

Phone: 0419 290 140

 

Relationships Australia Victoria (RAV)

Location: Coburg Office

Contact: 03 9347 4616, rav@rav.org.au

 

The Good Grief Program – Relationships Australia

Location: Broadmeadows

Contact: 03 9304 0515, www.relationships.org.au

 

The Men’s Project – Jesuit Social Services

Location: Brunswick

Contact: 03 9381 3788, info@jss.org.au

 

The Men’s Resource Centre

Location: Various locations across Victoria (available to Merri-Bek and Hume)

Contact: 03 9663 6733, www.mensrc.org.au

 

The Orange Door

Location: Multiple locations including Broadmeadows (Hume)

Contact: 1800 319 355, www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au

 

VicHealth – Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing

Location: Statewide

Contact: 03 9667 1333, info@vichealth.vic.gov.au

 

Wellways Australia – Men’s Mental Health

Location: Statewide

Contact: 1300 111 400, wellways.org

 

Young Parents Program

Location: Broadmeadow

Contact: (03) 9301 5200

 

Local Playgroups

 

Messy Play

Location: Sunbury Neighbourhood House

When: 10am – 11:30am Tue, Wed, & Thur

Register: https://www.sunburyhouse.com.au/childrens-programs-pre-school-age/

Cost: $7.50 per session

 

Drop-in & Play

Location: Sunbury Neighbourhood House

When: 1pm – 4pm Mondays

Register: https://www.sunburyhouse.com.au/childrens-programs-pre-school-age/

Cost: Free

 

Music Play

Location: Sunbury Neighbourhood House

When: 9:30am – 10:30am Mondays

Register: https://www.sunburyhouse.com.au/childrens-programs-pre-school-age/

Cost: Free

 

Beehive 0-5

Location: Dulap Willem

When: 9-10:30am Fridays

Register: https://www.sunburyheightsps.vic.edu.au/page/126/Playgroups

Cost: $2 per session

 

Salesian Playgroup

Location: Lakeside Stadium, Salesian College Sunbury
When: 10:15am-10:55am, every second Friday during the school term beginning Friday 14 February 2025
Cost: $7 per child, per year.

 

Not-for Profit Children & Youth Services

 

Physiotherapy

 

Physiotherapy (NDIS)

    • This service is for children 0-12 years of age. No referral required.
    • Also accepting referrals from Melton, Mitchell & Hume Shire if client can attend the Sunbury site.

 

Physiotherapy (Community Health). No referral required.

    • This service is for children 0-12 years of age, providing short term supports.
    • Sunbury & Macedon Ranges clients only.

 

Occupational Therapy

 

Occupational Therapy (NDIS). No referral required.

    • This service is for children 0-8 years of age, providing up to 12 months of supports. No referral required.
    • We can complete functional capacity assessments to support NDIS documentation

 

Occupational Therapy (Community Health). No referral required.

    • This service is for children 0-8 years of age, providing short term supports.

 

Speech Therapy

 

Speech Therapy (NDIS). No referral required.

    • This service is for children 0-12 years of age, providing up to 12 months of supports.

 

Speech Therapy (Community Health). No referral required.

    • This service is for children 0-12 years of age, providing short term supports.

 

Audiology

 

Audiology diagnostic testing

    • This service is for children 0-18 years of age. No referral required