Give a Big Hand For Australia's Hands-On Dads!

Give a Big Hand For Australia's Hands-On Dads!
91% of Dads are just perfect in every way!!!

Last month we asked you to take the Australia's Most Hands On Dad Poll and let us know just how great Aussie dads are… We received almost 600 responses with over 90 per cent of Dads being nominated for Australia's Most Hands On Dad and just cannot be faulted in the Dad department!

We like to think that despite the stereotype of the typical Aussie bloke, Australian Dads are very hands on as parents. With more and more parents both working (44% of the families who responded), it's becoming ever more necessary for Dads to play equal role in general parenting and child care duties.

While 86% of dads are working, 14% are stay-at-home or single dads, acting as primary carers.

But whether working full time, part time or stay at home, Dads are playing a huge role in the day to day parenting and child care. Gone are the days when Dads left the child rearing to the mothers and only took part in the fun bits; today's dad is hands on in every way.

25% of dads do most of the drop offs – more than the mums – and 38% of couples do equal share. Of those Dads who don't do the lion's share of pick ups and drop offs, 22% pick up or drop off most days; and 19% at least a couple of times a week.

42% of dads ALWAYS take time off to look after sick children or do dentist/doctor's appointments; and 52% do occasionally.

85% of dads take active part in weekend activities (e.g. swimming lessons, football, ballet etc) with the kids; 12% do so occasionally.

55% of dads ALWAYS take the kids to weekend play-dates and birthday parties; with 34% occasionally taking them.

91% of dads were rated "Australia's Most Hands On Dad" - just cannot be faulted!

0% was voted "Dud Dad" (!); only1% as "Fair Weather Dad" – only does child care etc when it suits him; and 8% as "Good time Dad" – fairly willing but really only wants to do the fun bits.

Here are our Winners for 2010:

Joshua Wilder "not only cooks, cleans and works full time, he practices doing his daughter's hair so he can do that as well". AWW.

Baher Botros, "because he's been single dad for 3 years since his partner passed away, and he's raising a lovely, intelligent, 5 year old boy."

Kevin Berger, because he "started a school for other people's kids who were having serious trouble... The school builds hope and confidence into the lives of the students, especially the young mothers. He is a model of fatherhood to all the students and to their babies and children".

Ben Butof, the multi-tasking dad who "manages renovations, runs his own business from home, cooks & cleans, makes brekkie and manages to get the kids off and back from school every day – and takes in coffees for the child carers too"!

Nigel Cowan "for taking four months unpaid parental leave to look after his 3 month old son. He manages to have dinner and a hot bath ready for his wife when she comes home from work".

Greg Christodoulou because "he spends all day looking after his little girl, while his wife works. He does the cooking, cleaning, playgroups, swim classes, visits with grandparents, shopping…There is no task too girly that this man won't tackle"!!!

Ali Maruf, because "despite being brought up in a culture where women do everything he has taken on the stay at home role with enthusiasm and humour and in doing so has challenged gender roles in his family and community as well as provided his daughter with the best start to her life".

Dean Cotterill, because "he'll read the same story to his daughter five times in a row, seven days a week"!

Matt Browne - because "he's supported and re-structured his busy work life to enable his wife to follow her dream of being a midwife".

Chris Brown because "although he might not have that much time (due to work) to spend with his family, when he does he is amazing and they both enjoy watching him gag every time he changes a nappy, even though he has been doing it for over a year"!

Thanks to everyone who took the poll and nominated a Dad. We can't list them all and many people didn't leave names, but they are all very special Dads who should be very proud of themselves! We Hope you had a Great Fathers Day.