New fathers in NSW will benefit from new health and mental health checks, as the Minns Labor Government delivers $1 million to support men’s health charity Movember.
The funding will allow NSW Health to partner with Movember to pilot health and wellbeing checks for new and expecting dads.
The initiative will focus on the father’s health and wellbeing, including their mental health. This will provide an opportunity to discuss overall mental wellbeing, identify any support needs, and connect fathers with relevant services, information, and resources where appropriate.
Depression affects one in ten dads between the first trimester and the year after the baby’s birth. Anxiety conditions affect one in six dads during pregnancy and one in five in the postnatal period.
Men involved in the pilot program will receive a resource pack with advice on available community resources, including how to seek mental health support.
NSW Health delivers universal psychosocial screening for new mothers through Safe Start to identify mental health and psychosocial risks early in the perinatal period.
The pilot program builds on the Minns Labor Government’s $112.3 million to boost mental health care in the 2025-26 Budget, to ensure mental health support remains accessible and affordable. It includes:
- $43.3 million over four years for Lifeline to deliver its 13 11 14 crisis telephone line, as well as text and webchat services.
- $64.8 million to extend services under the NSW-Commonwealth Government National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement.
- $4.3 million to support mental health peak bodies.
Further information on mental health supports for new or expecting parents can be found on the NSW Health website at A guide for dads: Caring for your family during perinatal mental illness.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Ryan Park:
“Becoming a dad is an incredible, life-changing experience – but it can also be challenging.
“It’s not always easy for men to put their hand up and say they need help, and this pilot program aims to make that a little easier.
“These early checks will mean that we can deliver extra support for dads who need it, sooner.
“We want to support dads to be the best version of themselves, not just for them but also for their families.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson:
“The arrival of a new baby changes everything and it can be scary, overwhelming, or difficult for a number of reasons. Looking after dads’ mental health isn’t just good for fathers, it’s good for the whole family.
“This pilot will connect with dads at a critical moment to ensure they know what supports are available should they need them.
“Better health outcomes don’t happen by chance, and giving new dads this support at existing appointments makes it easier for them to seek help.”
Quotes attributable to Jeremy Phillips-Yelland, Director, Policy & Advocacy, Movember (and new dad to baby Leo)
“As a new dad, I’ve seen first hand the incredible care provided to my son, Leo, as well as his incredible mum Kate – right throughout her pregnancy and following the birth – but at no stage did any one check in on me. That will be a story familiar to dads from right across the country and it is a gap that the NSW Government is looking to fix through this first-of-its-kind investment into the mental health of new dads.
“I’m sure like many new dad’s, fatherhood has been a dynamic shift in my life, with changes bringing great joy but also more stress, less sleep, and newfound isolation. Building a routine health and wellbeing check for new and expecting dads, into the perinatal care pathway, is a simple and practical step that could make a meaningful difference for families. These checks will be able to get new dads the support they need, when and where they need it. Healthier dads means healthier relationships, healthier families and healthier communities.”
Quotes attributable to Dr Michael Wilson, Research Fellow – Men’s Health and Relationships, Movember (co-author of Movember’s More than a Provider report)
“We know that when dads are doing well, the whole family benefits. Yet new dads often feel that if they reach out for support, they’re taking attention away from their partner or baby. With this pilot, we’ll be able to explore what happens when we have a dedicated practitioner telling dads that their health matters too – and looking after themselves is actually critical to their role as a dad.
“Antenatal and child and family health services are rightly focused on the health of mums and babies. Yet we know when dads are supported too, the whole family benefits. What’s so exciting about this investment is we’re able to add targeted support for dads into the health system, so we can ensure the whole family is supported in those critical early months of a child’s life.”
