Tony Miller OAM, Founder of Dads in Distress, The Impact of DIDS

Описание: We started out as Dads in Distress, on Father’s Day 1999. Our founder was Tony Miller OAM. Back then, we operated one dads group that met periodically on a veranda in Coffs Harbour, NSW.

Tony kicked off the group after he could not find any support that he needed as a recently separated and highly distressed dad; in fact, it led him to contemplate taking his own life more than once. Others heard about his work, and they volunteered to set up their own local groups.

Over the years, mums too started to come to our groups for support, so we widened our work to include mum support and, in 2017, we rebranded to Parents Beyond Breakup. We continue to operate a front line support service called Dads in Distress (alongside one called Mums in Distress). Still, our focus is where the greater lack of national support continues to exist – that is, with separated dads.

Two decades on and we’ve expanded our services to include a telephone helpline, LiveChat helpline, online forum and local ‘one to one’ mentors.

Our core ethos remains today as strongly as it did back in 1999, to provide support free and to utilise were possible only peer volunteers all of whom have been through it themselves. This makes all the difference when you’re all out of money and trust. Although we are in small part funded by the government, we continue to operate on very limited funds and rely heavily on the generosity of the public, trusts and corporate donors.

DADS IN DISTRESS
Find out more on dids.org.au
Helpline 1300 853 437