A series of posters will soon be appearing in preschools, Maternal and Child Health offices and community venues, highlighting the role of men as caregivers.
The Men as Carers poster series is a project from Counciland Eastern Domestic Violence Outreach Service (EDVOS), showing men in the community caring for their children.
Yarra Ranges Mayor, Jim Child, said the series was designed to push back on outdated stereotypes and show men in a range of caregiving roles.
"As a community, we've made great strides in unpacking old ideas, and outdated stereotypes of men and dads as hyper-masculine and unemotional – which we know has a negative impact on body image, on mental health and on family dynamics," he said.
"We know that men and dads can be caring, vulnerable and fun – they have a role to play in teaching, shaping and supporting children.
"Every family looks different – some have no dads, while some have more than one. But we know that, traditionally, there hasn't been much media showing men as caring, empathetic or vulnerable.
"This series has local men and their kids, photographed in caring roles - picking up their kids from daycare; having storytime in the backyard; tending to animals; cleaning the house and, of course, playing.
"The posters are a celebration of fathers and men in caring roles, and a reminder that taking on caring roles, finding time for activities and embracing vulnerability is good for men's mental health, identity and, of course, their family lives."
The poster series was developed with a reference group of Yarra Ranges dads and carers, who are all passionate about gender equity. They contributed to the concepts, the designs and messaging, and feature with their families in the series.
The photos have been designed into posters and social media tiles, which will be shared in community facilities and on social media and available through Level Playground.
The series follows the You Can't Be What You Can't See poster series, which showed Yarra Ranges residents of all genders in diverse career and recreation roles. These were used in preschools, early learning facilities, and schools to remind children that they can do and be whatever they want in their lives, unrestricted by gender.
