The Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered (DADAE) program is a unique program for fathers or father figures (stepfathers, grand-fathers, uncles, older brothers or trusted family friend) and their primary school aged daughters. Developed by the University of Newcastle, the program educates and empowers girls, alongside their fathers to improve physical activity, sport skill proficiency and social and emotional wellbeing. The program focused on fathers as change agents for improving their daughters’ physical activity levels, sports skills, and social and emotional wellbeing.
Research has consistently demonstrated the unique and powerful influence dads have in shaping physical activity behaviours, learning ability, self-esteem, body image, social skills and resilience, especially for girls.
Across the four years from 2019-2023 the successful partnership between the Office of Sport and the University of Newcastle saw the continued delivery of the classic weekly program, a condensed weekender program and delivery partnerships with individual State Sporting Organisations across cricket, basketball, gymnastics and football.
From 2019 – 2023:
- 114 programs were delivered in over 50 locations in NSW (16 regional) to 2992 participants.
- 7 new Daughters and Dads program products were developed including sport-specific versions.
- 311 facilitators were trained.
Robust evaluation of the program shows that girls who participate in the Daughters and Dads program benefit holistically. They develop important sport skills to feel competent and confident to engage in sport, and consequently benefit from the advantages and opportunities this offers them. The program provides a platform for the girls to learn strategies to develop crucial social-emotional skills for life. Fathers/father figures learn how to be one-on-one coaches for their daughters, develop closer father-daughter bonds and add to the pool of gender equity advocates not only for their daughters but for women and girls in the wider community.
Put simply, for me it was life changing. Emphasising the importance of FMS (Fundamental Movement Skills) and activity levels in girls and the vital role a Dad plays in that. We will forever be grateful for the many lessons learnt and will be more active as a family and I will be a better parent as a result...A fantastic program that every father should do. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity.
Program participant dad
I enjoyed learning new skills but I also liked the fact that it taught us to have self-esteem which is very important because you will need to have that skill in your life. The best part was spending time with my dad because he works a lot and we do not see him lots so it was really nice to be able to have time put aside to spend with him.
Program participant daughter