Page 25 - Demo

Petero: I’m used to training every day, so, as I’ve said,
I’ve been getting up at 6am and running every day, then doing some weight training at home. It’s particularly important for me to stay physically fit. This really helps my mental wellbeing and I just find I start the day in a very positive way.
What are some of the issues that can arise further down the track from not tackling the issue of stress?
Duncan: I think it’s important to be able to talk with a mate about how you’re feeling. If you don’t, you can start to bottle it up internally and that can affect your health and wellbeing not only on a personal level, but also on a family wellbeing level. As a father it’s very important in this unique and challenging time to provide strong leadership at home for the kids. They need a good father figure so they can discuss how they’re feeling, and dads need to be able to play a supportive and nurturing role in the family at this time, no matter what the stresses are. If you can talk it out with a mate, and make some plans, get a little bit of advice and share the load,
this makes all the difference, I think. Longer term, you can be a better father and support your family.
Petero: I agree with Duncan. I think this is a wonderful initiative by The Fathering Project, and it can make all the difference to just be there to call a mate and check in on them. My first call was from Duncan and I thought this was
a really good initiative to get behind. I think you need to
check in and see how the isolation is hitting your mates.
It gives you a structure to work from and a check list you can run through with them so you can see what sort of support they might need. With so much uncertainty in the world and a few mates who’ve lost their jobs, I think there’s also the chance for blokes to have a sense of loss of identity. So, using this tool, 2Calls2Dads, is a good way to help your mates, and I know I really appreciated getting Duncan’s call.
Why is it important for everyone, more so specifically males, to speak and share how they’re feeling, and what they’re going through?
Duncan: Many of our mates have lost their jobs, and this affects not only the family but their feeling of identity
and who they are in the world. Men often define themselves through their job and their role as the main provider for
the family. Not in all cases, however. The loss of identity combined with isolation and working in a new norm, not going to work or to their office, is a very big change for
dads. This project helps to address a sense of loss and to identify the important role they can play in their family during this challenging time of lockdown, isolation, and also the road back out.
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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 23
RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • JUL 2020