Dr Richard Fletcher
Leader, Fathers and Families Research Program

While serving his apprenticeship as a plumber Richard attended night school to gain entry to Sydney University to study science. He taught science in high schools in NSW, Kenya and the United States.

After working for TAFE specialising in reaching marginalised groups, he was contracted to the Health Promotion Unit to examine domestic violence prevention. As a result he pioneered the development of Men's Health and Boys' Health areas of study. In 1992 he founded a community-based group, Fathers Against Rape, to conduct workshops with teenage boys in schools. As a lecturer in Health Studies in the Discipline of Paediatrics, University of Newcastle and Team Leader of The Engaging fathers Project, Family Action Centre, he has designed and delivered courses and seminars on Health Research, Boys’ development and Father involvement to teachers, nurses, occupational therapists, and medical students. His PhD thesis on fathers’ attachment to infants and children was accepted in 2008.

Position
Senior Lecturer (Level C), Leader, Fathers and Families Research Program, Family Action Centre, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle
Major Responsibilities: Chief investigator for eleven research projects in areas of: family dissolution; men’s health; parenting measures; mental health; and Indigenous wellbeing, communication and child development.

Publications - Books
Fletcher R 2008,The Assessment and Support of New Fathers: Father-infant attachment as a basis for psychosocial assessment and support, Verlag, Berlin. [308 pages]

Fletcher R 2004, Bringing Fathers In Handbook: How to engage with men for the benefit of everyone in the family, University of Newcastle. [136 pages]

Chapters in Books
Fletcher R 2010, ‘Including fathers in work with vulnerable families’ in F Arney & D Scott (eds.), "Think Child, Think Family: working with families with complex needs" Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.

Fletcher R 2006, ‘Male role models: emotional regulation, identity scaffolding and father’s involvement in schools’, in D Hartman (ed.), Boys – The Good News, University of Newcastle, pp. 25–37.

Fletcher R 2003, ‘Father’s role in family services: the Engaging Fathers Project’, in R Sullivan    (ed.), Focus on Fathering, ACER Press, Camberwell, pp. 125–141.

Fletcher R 2001, 'The Development of Men's Health in Australia', in N Davidson & T Lloyd (eds.), Promoting Men's Health. Balliere Tindall, Edingurgh, pp. 67–76.
Publications in Refereed Journals
Garfield C & Fletcher R (In press) “Sad Dads: A Challenge for Pediatrics” Pediatrics accepted 21/1/2011

Fletcher, R, May C, St George J, Morgan PJ, Lubans D. (In press) “Fathers’ Perceptions of Rough & Tumble Play: implications for early childhood services” Australasian Journal of Early Childhood. Accepted 16/12/2010 ERA = A

Fletcher R and StGeorge J (2010). "Practitioners’ understanding of father engagement in the context of family dispute resolution." Journal of Family Studies 16(2), 101-115.

Fletcher R & St George J Men’s help-seeking in the context of family separation, Advances in Mental Health (2010) 9: 49–62.

Morgan, P.J., Lubans, D.R., Callister, R., Okely, A.D., Burrows, T., Fletcher, R., & Collins, C.E. (in press). The ‘Healthy Dads Healthy Kids’ randomized controlled trial: Outcomes of a healthy lifestyle program for overweight fathers and their children, International Journal of Obesity, advance online publication, 10 August 2010; doi:10.1038/ijo.2010.151;.  IF= 3.640, ERA = A

Matthey S, Reay R & Fletcher R 2009, “Service Strategies for Engaging Fathers in the Perinatal Period – What Have we Learned so Far?” International Journal of Mental Health Promotion, 11 (2), pp. 29-41. ,

Fletcher R 2009, “Brief report: Promoting infant well being in the context of maternal depression by supporting the father”, Infant Mental Health Journal 30 (1), pp. 95-102.

Fletcher R, Vimpani G, Russell G & Keatinge D. 2008, “The evaluation of tailored email and web-based information for new fathers”, Child Care Health & Development 4 (4), pp. 439–446

Fletcher R & Visser A 2008, “‘Father Engagement’ in Family Relationship Centres”, Journal of Family Studies. 14 (1), pp. 53-65.

Fletcher R, Vimpani G, Russell G & Sibritt D 2008, “Psychosocial Assessment of Expectant Fathers”, Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 11 (1), pp. 27-32.

Fletcher R, Matthey S & Marley CG 2006, “Addressing depression and anxiety among new fathers”, Medical Journal of Australia, 185, pp. 461–463.

Fletcher R & Silberberg S 2006, “Involvement of fathers in primary school activities”, Australian Journal of Education, 50, pp. 29–39.

Friedewald M, Fletcher R & Fairbairn H 2005, “All-Male Discussion Forums for Expectant
Fathers:  Evaluation of a Model”, The Journal of Peri-natal Education, 14 (2), pp. 8–18.

Fletcher R, Silberberg S & Galloway D 2004, “New Fathers’ Post-birth Views of Antenatal Classes: Satisfaction, Benefits, and Knowledge of Family Services”, The Journal of Peri-natal Education, 13(3), pp. 18–26.

Fletcher R, Higginbotham N & Dobson A 2002, “Men's Perceived Health Needs”, Journal of Health Psychology, 7 (3), pp. 233–241.