About Dadfit
Our purpose, our story, and our team
OUR PURPOSE
We’re on a mission to make dadding a team sport
Becoming a dad is awesome. It’s also one of the hardest things you'll do. 7 in 10 feel more stressed after becoming a dad, 1 in 2 say their habits go downhill, and 1 in 4 feel isolated.
To create a gender equal future, we urgently need dads to be healthy, gender-equal parents. Yet traditional parent groups mostly reach mums, and there are few supports specifically for dads.
Dadfit’s purpose is to change this story, one dad team at a time. We want to create an Australia where every dad is supported to be the best parent he can be, enabling healthy, safe and gender equal families.
To create a gender equal future, we urgently need dads to be healthy, gender-equal parents. Yet traditional parent groups mostly reach mums, and there are few supports specifically for dads.
Dadfit’s purpose is to change this story, one dad team at a time. We want to create an Australia where every dad is supported to be the best parent he can be, enabling healthy, safe and gender equal families.
Making dadding a team sport
DADFIT
OUR STORY
How the Dadfit journey began
Dadfit was founded in 2023 by Ryan Carters and Sarah Darmody. When Ryan became a dad at 22, he felt like he was working it out alone. No one he knew talked honestly about the challenges of fatherhood. Sarah saw the potential of caring, connected dads to transform families.
After seeing the impact of the first Dadfit team on 15 dads in their local community, Ryan and Sarah decided to formalise the idea to support as many dads as possible. Dadfit has grown quickly into a community of 1,500+ dads in 25+ locations across Victoria, and we’re just getting started.
After seeing the impact of the first Dadfit team on 15 dads in their local community, Ryan and Sarah decided to formalise the idea to support as many dads as possible. Dadfit has grown quickly into a community of 1,500+ dads in 25+ locations across Victoria, and we’re just getting started.
Sarah, Ryan and their daughter
Ryan with his daughter and son
OUR AMBITION
Supporting 15,000 dads by 2030
We want to create an Australia where every dad is supported to be the best parent he can be, enabling healthy, safe and gender equal families.
We're aiming to support 15,000 dads by 2030, and to influence systems changes that improve family health, safety and gender equality across Australia. Dadfit's purpose is to change this story, one Dad Team at a time. We'd love you to join us.
MEET OUR TEAM
The faces behind Dadfit
Ryan Carters
Co-Founder & CEO
Dad of three · Dadfit Founder and CEO · Former pro cricketer · Ex McKinsey consultant · John Monash Scholar (Harvard University)
Tom Ruijs
Head of Programs
Dad of three · Dadfit Head of Programs · Organisational psychologist · Originally from the Netherlands
Mike Davis
Partnerships Manager
Dad of one and almost two · Dadfit Partnerships Manager · Innovation expert
Brad Tellis
Facilitator
Dad of three · Program coordinator · Wellbeing professional · Dad joke enthusiast
Barney Pienaar
Facilitator
Dad of one · Mental health advocate · Engineer and designer · Campervan expert
Andy Bell
Facilitator
Dad of two · Program manager · Musician
Ben O'Toole
Facilitator
Dad of three · Public speaker and facilitator · Program coordinator · Moustache grower
Simon Lee
Facilitator
Dad of one · Human rights advocate · Originally from Canada · Even more moustache than Ben
Ali Sert
Facilitator
Craigieburn Dad · Dadfluencer · Proud beard owner
Ashish Bansal
Facilitator
Wyndham Dad · Chef extraordinaire · Visited 50+ countries
Clinton Meehan
Facilitator
Geelong Dad but Saints supporter · Coffee loving trail runner · Film and photography
Dylan Lockyear
Facilitator
Richmond Dad · Skateboarding cyclist · Food, music and fatherhood
Jonathan Payne
Facilitator
Ballarat Dad · CFA volunteer · Camping enthusiast
Kaushik
Facilitator
Tarneit Dad · Engineer · Yoga teacher
Rory Bampton
Facilitator
Maribyrnong Dad · Football (yes, it is the World Game) buff · Board game designer
GOVERNANCE AND EXPERTISE
Our board and founders
Edward Kus
Chair
Dad of two · Legal, governance and strategy expert · Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and member
Sarah Darmody
Co-Founder
Mum of three · Award-winning author and journalist · Media and communications adviser · Women's health advocate
Simon Hogan
Director
Dad of two · Mental health expert and advocate · Operational Excellence Manager, Medibank (formerly KPMG and Alfred Health) · Former AFL player
Trudie Vos
Director
Mum of two · Senior NFP leader and consultant · Expert in scaling and sustainability · Diplomas in Business, Accounting, Applied Psychology and Management
Rob Moodie
Director
Dad and Granddad · Professor of Public Health, University of Melbourne · Former CEO, VicHealth · Former Chair, National Preventative Health Taskforce · Victorian Father of the Year, 2005
Committee and Advisory
Our expert advisory group and committee members
Peter Streker
Advisory Group
Psychologist · Senior Fellow in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Melbourne
Jacqui Macdonald
Advisory Group
Associate Professor, Deakin University · Convenor of the Australian Fatherhood Research Consortium
Srinivas Manchikanti
Advisory Group
Dad of one · Social impact consultant · Former teacher
Dr Kat Page
Advisory Group
Organisational psychologist · Leadership Partner, ByMany
James Chin
Audit and Finance Committee
Dad of two · Board director and executive leader · Ex Big 4 and Chartered Accountant · Masters of Business Administration · Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors
OUR PARTNERS
We work alongside government, community and philanthropic partners to reach more dads
Find your Dad Team
Making dadding a team sport
Dadfit acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which our Dad Teams meet, and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
Dadfit is a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible.
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