Rate My Professor Richard Fletcher

Associate Professor Richard Fletcher serves in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine at the University of Newcastle, where he leads the Fathers and Families Research Program (FFRP) within the Family Action Centre. His academic background includes a PhD in Paediatrics, Master of Medical Science, and Graduate Diploma in Health Social Science from the University of Newcastle; a Graduate Diploma of Infant Mental Health from the NSW Institute of Psychiatry; and a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Education from the University of Sydney. Fletcher's career trajectory at the University of Newcastle commenced in 1990 as a Health Educator with the Hunter Area Health Service, followed by Tutor roles in the Faculty of Health (1991), Lecturer Level B in Health Studies and the Discipline of Paediatrics, and Education Officer in the Equity Unit (1992-). He served as Consultant for the Department of Family and Community Services (2002-2003), Editor of the Australian Fatherhood Research Network (2008-present), and Lecturer Level C and Project Leader for the Engaging Fathers Project at the Family Action Centre (2009-present).

His research interests encompass fathers' roles in families, father-infant attachment, paternal perinatal depression, rough-and-tumble play, engaging fathers in services, fathers' mental health, Indigenous fatherhood, parenting, play and self-regulation, postnatal depression in fathers, public health, separated parents and child development, and strengths-based practice with families. Key publications include books such as The Dad Factor: How the Father-Baby Bond Helps a Child for Life (2011), The Assessment and Support of New Fathers: Father-Infant Attachment as a Basis for Psychosocial Assessment and Support (2008), and Bring Fathers In Handbook: How to Engage with Men for the Benefit of Everyone in the Family (2004). Notable articles are Fathers' Prenatal Relationship with 'Their' Baby and 'Her' Pregnancy - Implications for Antenatal Education (2022), Postnatal Depression in Men (2021), Connection, IT and Identity: SMS4dads as Health Promotion for New Fathers (2020), Rough-and-Tumble Play (2020), and Fathers' Perinatal Mental Health (2015). Fletcher offers consultancy on father engagement and has pioneered initiatives like the SMS4dads program to support new fathers.