Staff Profile
Dr Richard Fletcher
Team Leader
Family Action Centre
EditCareer Summary
Biography
As a natural extension of the development at the University of Newcastle of 'boyswork' a new area of gender-related practice linking social and physical health and education, Richard Fletcher, began to incorporate fathers into the program development model at the Family Action Centre which was focused on working with established services to help them include 'marginalised' groups into the normal service delivery. This approach, focusing on service providers rather than on the clients as 'the problem' had been successfully introduced into the Men's Health arena through the presentations and role of Richard Fletcher at national conferences and as advisor to state and federal government departments. In the case of fathers the Bernard van Leer Foundation agreed to fund a significant project, The Engaging Fathers Project, over five years to develop effective models of father engagement among services addressing the needs of children 0-8. This project led to research reports, resources and training for service staff in all states and territories. Change at the national level was achieved due to several initiatives: the Engaging Fathers Project was funded to conduct a review of fatherhood research in Australia (a recommendation from this review was to have a national Practitioners Forum to draw together examples of capacity building to involve fathers); Richard Fletcher had that key role incorporating fathers into the discussion at the Parenting in Australia national workshop hosted by FACSIA; Richard Fletcher and Judi Geggie presented invited seminars in Canberra to FACSIA staff; the Father Inclusive Practice Forum was subsequently funded. These activities resulted in changes to FACSIA management (funded programs are now required to report separately on the involvement of mothers and fathers - an important first step to addressing the lack of fathers involvement). State government departments and NGOs (for example Karitane) have begun to review their policies and standard practices to identify avenues for fathers involvement.
The Google Scholar search engine was used to determine how many people have cited Richard's work. A Google Scholar search using the search terms Richard Fletcher Australia found a total of seven publications, with a total of 44 citations. The publication with the most citations (25 citations) was:
Boys in Schools: Addressing the Real Issues Behaviour, Values and Relationships:
R Browne, R Fletcher, Finch Publishing 1995 cited by 25 people.
Another Google Scholar search using the search terms Richard Fletcher Family Action Centre found a total of 19 publications, with a total of 24 citations. The publication with the most citations was the book Fatherhood: Legal, Biological and Social Definitions, with 5 citations.
An ordinary Google search under Richard Fletcher Australia produced 11 results. An ordinary Google search under Richard Fletcher Family Action Centre produced 44 results.
Qualifications
- PhD (Paediatrics), University of Newcastle, 13/06/2008
- Bachelor of Science, University of Sydney
- Diploma in Education, University of Sydney
- Graduate Diploma in Health Social Science, University of Newcastle, 30/04/1994
- Master of Medical Science, University of Newcastle, 28/08/1998
Research
Research keywords
- Father-infant attachment
- Fathers
- Indigenous fatherhood
- Parenting
- Postnatal depression fathers
- Separated parents and child development
Research expertise
Designed and conducted research into fathers' role in families across diverse settings such as separated parents, new fathers, antenatal support, rough and tumble play with children, fathers using the web. Also research into practitioners' role in promoting father-infant and father-child contact for the benefit of the whole family.
Fields of Research
| Code | Description | Percentage |
|---|
| 160799 | Social Work Not Elsewhere Classified | 60 |
| 170199 | Psychology Not Elsewhere Classified | 40 |
Memberships
Committee/Associations (relevant to research).
- Editor - Australian Fatherhood Research Network
Appointments
Consultant for FACS
Department of Family and Community Services (Australia) | 01/01/2002 - 01/06/2003 |
Invitations
Connecting The Dots: fathers, boys, families and strengths
Working with Fathers: Achieving Positive Outcomes for Children conference Children North East, United Kingdom (Keynote Speaker)
| 2004 |
Families: Myths, Dreams and Realities
The National Association of Childbirth Educators (NACE, Australia (Keynote Speaker)
| 2003 |
Web-based information for new fathers
Second Biennial Parenting Conference , Australia (Paper Presented at conference)
| 2006 |
What we know about fathers
National Strategic Conference on Fatherhood, Australia (Paper presented at Conference)
| 2003 |
Beyond Dear Parents& making the invisible fathers visible
Reconceptualizing Early Childhood Education Conference on Research, Theory and Practice, Norway (Paper presented at conference)
| 2004 |
The missing father in everyday healthcare
Best Practice for Better Health! 6th UIHPE European Conference on Effectiveness and Quality of Health Promotion, Sweden (Paper presented at conference)
| 2005 |
Father-Infant Attachment
Australian Association for Infant Mental Health , Australia (Presented paper at conference)
| 2005 |
The Psychosocial Assessment of Fathers Antenatally
World Association for Infant Mental Health, France (Presented paper at conference)
| 2006 |
Teaching
Teaching keywords
- Father inclusive practice
- Fathers mental health
Teaching expertise
Designed and delivered courses and seminars on Health Research, Boys development, Engaging Fathers in Human Services, Separated Fathers, Fathers and Postnatal Depression to undergraduate and postgraduate level and to professionals in health, education and welfare.
EditPublications
No publications.
EditGrants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 43 |
|---|
| Total funding | $3,916,453 |
|---|
For project grants received where the lead institution is other than the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics.
- Indicates that the researcher may be seeking students for this project.
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
2013 (1 grants)
COPMI/FaPMI International conference and research meeting, Prato, Italy, 16 - 17 December 2013$1,800
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,800 | 2013 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1300834 |
2012 (1 grants)
Keeping the Infant in Mind: Cherishing, connecting and containing. AAIMIHI National Conference, Adelaide, 10 - 13 October 2012$1,454
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,454 | 2012 | 2013 |
| GNo:G1200906 |
2011 (2 grants)
Building Connections through Play-Interrelate$300,000
Funding Body: Interrelate Family Centres
2011 Biennial Meeting for the Society for Research in Child Development, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 30/3/11 - 3/4/2011$2,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Health
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,000 | 2011 | 2012 |
| GNo:G1100405 |
2010 (3 grants)
The Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids community program: Promoting family health through sustainable school and community partnerships$524,453
Funding Body: Coal & Allied Trust
Healthy Dads Healthy Kids for Indigenous populations$24,994
Funding Body: Hunter Children`s Research Foundation
11th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 7 - 9 July 2010$1,070
Funding Body: University of Newcastle - Faculty of Education and Arts
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,070 | 2010 | 2011 |
| GNo:G1000664 |
2008 (7 grants)
Coffs Harbour - Supporting separated parents with information on child development$210,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $210,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0189343 |
Dubbo - Engaging indigenous fathers in family relationship centres$210,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $210,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0189344 |
Gosford - Investigating the effect of commuting and stress on parent-child connectedness and parent strategies used to maintain connectedness$210,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $210,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0189345 |
Taree - Support for 'connecting activities' of young, at risk parents and 'long-distance' grandparents$150,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $150,000 | 2008 | 2010 |
| GNo:G0189346 |
Healthy dads, healthy kids project: feasibility and benefits of a father-focused child obesity prevention intervention$50,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
Brighter futures practice resource: including fathers in work with vulnerable families$26,725
Funding Body: NSW Department of Community Services
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $26,725 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189297 |
Father Involvement Research 2008, Toronto Canada, 22/10/2008 - 24/10/2008$2,500
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,500 | 2008 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0189526 |
2007 (6 grants)
Father inclusive practice in family - relationship centres (Interrelate Newcastle)$260,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $260,000 | 2007 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0188266 |
Improving Men's Participation in Primary Health Care Services in South Australia: Men and Children's Centres$60,000
Funding Body: South Australia Minister for Health
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $60,000 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0188158 |
Father Inclusive Practice Pilot$18,000
Funding Body: Department of Family and Community Services
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Consultancy/Tender | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $18,000 | 2007 | 2008 |
| GNo:G0187992 |
Australian Fatherhood Research Network: Identifying collaborative research groups and developing research on fatherhood and fathering in Australia$10,000
Funding Body: Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $10,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188320 |
Contract for development and authoring of AFRC Briefing Paper: 'Father-inclusive practice and associated professional competencies'$6,732
Funding Body: Australian Institute of Family Studies
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Consultancy | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $6,732 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0188321 |
Raising Children Network Website$2,000
Funding Body: Parenting Research Centre
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Project Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $2,000 | 2007 | 2007 |
| GNo:G0187339 |
2006 (4 grants)
Interrelate Family Centre's - Sutherland$325,000
Funding Body: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Family relationship program | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $325,000 | 2006 | 2011 |
| GNo:G0187055 |
Father-engagement competencies in the context of dispute resolution with families$65,000
Funding Body: Attorney Generals Department
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
|
| Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $65,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:18081763 |
Documentation of Engaging Fathers Project $50,000
Funding Body: Bernard van Leer Foundation
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
|
| Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $50,000 | 2006 | 2006 |
| GNo:18081793 |
A web-based fathers' network and health information service for first-time fathers$20,000
Funding Body: Hunter Medical Research Institute
2005 (1 grants)
Father-Inclusive Practice Forum$55,000
Funding Body: Department of Family and Community Services
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
|
| Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $55,000 | 2005 | 2005 |
| GNo:18081891 |
2003 (4 grants)
Indigenous fathers as transition tutors$63,486
Funding Body: Department of Education, Science and Training
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Vocational & Educational Guidance for Aboriginals Scheme (VEGAS) | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $63,486 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0182920 |
Developing Literacy Practices to Involve Fathers in the Lives of their Children.$30,000
Funding Body: Myer Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Social Justice Research Grants | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $30,000 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0181851 |
Fatherhood Research in Australia Project$19,800
Funding Body: Department of Family and Community Services
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Engaging Fathers Project | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $19,800 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0183833 |
Engaging Fathers Project$10,340
Funding Body: Hunter Sports High School - Gateshead
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $10,340 | 2003 | 2003 |
| GNo:G0182972 |
2002 (2 grants)
Engaging Fathers - II$800,469
Funding Body: Bernard van Leer Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $800,469 | 2002 | 2006 |
| GNo:G0181947 |
Young Aboriginal Fathers Project.$44,481
Funding Body: NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs
| Project Team |
|---|
| Professor John Lester, Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $44,481 | 2002 | 2002 |
| GNo:G0181605 |
2001 (4 grants)
Engaging Fathers pilot phase - March 2001 - February 2002$221,600
Funding Body: Bernard van Leer Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $221,600 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180655 |
Access by Men to Support Services.$38,210
Funding Body: NSW Department of Community Services
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Hunter Families First | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $38,210 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180654 |
Development of Education Kit for Responsible Consumption of Alcohol In-Schools Program.$9,897
Funding Body: Newcastle City Council
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Consultancy/Tender | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $9,897 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0180967 |
Responsible consumption of alcohol in-schools program.$9,897
Funding Body: Newcastle City Council
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Consultancy/Tender | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $9,897 | 2001 | 2001 |
| GNo:G0181009 |
1998 (1 grants)
DOCUMENTATION OF THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MEN'S HEALTH, BOY'S EDUCATION, MALE VOLUNTEERS AND THE FATHERING OF YOUNG CHILDREN$10,000
Funding Body: Bernard van Leer Foundation
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $10,000 | 1998 | 1998 |
| GNo:G0177833 |
1997 (1 grants)
Survey of Men's Health Services in NSW & Australia$5,000
Funding Body: NSW Ministry of Health
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research & Evaluation Grants | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $5,000 | 1997 | 1997 |
| GNo:G0177563 |
1996 (4 grants)
Fathers talking about risky driving to their teenage sons$35,220
Funding Body: NRMA Limited
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $35,220 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176320 |
Reviewing the Literature on Young Men, Masculinity and Drug Use.$14,912
Funding Body: Commonwealth Department of Health & Aged Care
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Research into Drug Abuse Grants (RIDA) | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $14,912 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176389 |
Photo Kit for Rural Young Men and Boys.$5,740
Funding Body: Burnside
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| New Ventures Scheme 1995 | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $5,740 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176354 |
What Next for Young Men?, UK, 31 October$1,156
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,156 | 1996 | 1996 |
| GNo:G0176939 |
1995 (1 grants)
Men's Health Matters - London - from 11 - 12 July 1995$1,517
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Travel Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $1,517 | 1995 | 1995 |
| GNo:G0175507 |
1994 (1 grants)
Australian men's perceived health care needs.$8,000
Funding Body: University of Newcastle
| Project Team |
|---|
| Doctor Richard Fletcher |
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| New Staff Grant | Chief Investigator |
| Total Amount | Funding Start | Funding Finish |
|---|
| $8,000 | 1994 | 1994 |
| GNo:G0174625 |
EditResearch Supervision
| Number of current supervisions | 1 |
|---|
| Total current UoN PhD EFTSL | 0.4 |
|---|
For supervisions undertaken at an institution other that the University of Newcastle, details are shown in italics, and the institution name is listed below the program name.
Current Supervision
| Commenced | Proposed
Completion | Program | Supervisor Type | Research Title |
|---|
| 2009 | 2013 | PhD (Behavioural Science) | Principal Supervisor | The Co-parenting Alliance, the Role of the Father, and Family Adaptation to a Child With an Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
