We’re delighted to have our very own James Capplis in a conversation with Jacinta Parsons (ABC Radio) and Simon von Saldern (CEO, Healthy Male) talking about DadLAN, support for dads, non-birthing parents, and health matters.
We’re delighted to welcome people to join us and experience connection and community.
See here for more information: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/lifematters/do-we-need-more-support-groups-for-new-dads/104468938
This month the volunteer spotlight is on Hayden (HAL), organiser of the Brisbane subnet and our computer repairer/stroggifier who makes his famous FrankenPCs out of various computer parts.
When did you join?
December 2023
Why did you join?
Start of a separation life wasn’t going well and the ad for DadLAN popped up in Facebook, needed friends and a place to connect to them as I had none.
What do you do at DadLAN?
Co-ordinate Brisbane subnet and handling hardware repairs for Queensland.
What do you get out of DadLAN?
Friendship, connection to others and a safe space to actually be myself.
What are some key experiences you have had in your subnet?
Met a lot of new people in my industry. Shared meals and getting to frag fellow dadlanners even in different states.
This month we hosted events in Brisbane, Sydney City, Sydney Inner West, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Central Coast NSW, Fraser Coast QLD, Bundaberg, Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Hobart, Canberra, Launceston, Bendigo.
We are delighted to have the ABC write about DadLAN. You can read the article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-08-25/fathers-overcome-loneliness-through-gaming-with-dadlan/104259066
And Sydneysider Taurean Sheridan gave a great interview to Sydney Breakfast – listen to the snippet below:
Another great DadLAN!
This month we hosted events in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Central Coast NSW, Fraser Coast QLD, Bundaberg, Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Hobart, Canberra.
Thanks to BattleBit Remastered for donating dozens of licenses to us so that we could play DadLAN vs Oceania as our national game this month
Once again, we offer a huge thank you to our sponsors; their contributions to catering and venue hire, equipment and more cannot be overstated. Thank you from all of us for aiding in our goal to improve mental health and support for Dads across the country.
This month DadLAN hosted another huge event in 10 locations across Australia: Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Central Coast NSW, Fraser Coast QLD, Bundaberg, Wollongong, Canberra.
Next month we are booting up: Hobart & Gold Coast (and maybe more!)
The Central Coast subnet almost didn’t happen this month because wind knocked out the power supply to the Spark CC venue! Not to be deterred, our subnet organiser and the venue provider got a diesel generator and Starlink connection going. Tremendous effort!
We continue to be humbled by the extraordinary support our sponsors provide; from catering to venue hire, to equipment, and more. Thank you from all of us – you are helping us grow and flourish in our goal to improve mental health and support for Dads across the country.
We also have a raft of big news and announcements:
At its core DadLAN cares deeply about data both in the wider mental health space and making sure to capture good and actionable data from events so that we know what is working and what isn’t. We have established a new internal research team and we are delighted to be able to collate these key statistics so far:
Andrew in Queensland ran a successful pushup challenge, raising $1260 for Headspace. Congratulations to all involved!
Each quarter DadLAN will run a competition for each subnet to encourage its participants to do the health thing they know they should do, but don’t. After all, you can’t have mental health without physical health.
This quarter we are focusing on Skin Checks. The subnet with the highest percentage of Dads who complete a skin check this quarter will get a trophy and a mystery box.
We encourage each subnet to engage in light competition and social pressure in order to win 🙂
We now have hoodies available to buy in our shop – perfect for winter!
June saw well over 140 DadLAN participants from nearly every corner of Australia join us for our biggest event ever! We even had several new Subnets (that’s what we call our local chapters of DadLAN) come online for the first time!
You can now find a DadLAN group in:
DadLAN has provided a supportive and inclusive space both in person and online that I didn’t even realise was missing.
DadLAN has given me a community again
Great initiative and helps blokes go into places well beyond gaming, things that we think we can’t ask mates because it’s not what men do.
We have an amazing team of volunteers who work on our networking/Wireguard infrastructure.
Hi Everyone
It’s been a week since DadLAN May, and what an afternoon! Games were played, lunch was eaten, friendships were solidified, and lives were discussed.
And with nearly 60 attendees across 5 locations plus remote players, we are getting dangerously close to maxing out the biggest maps in a number of games!
What the attendees said
DadLAN has provided a supportive and inclusive space both in person and online that I didn’t even realise was missing.
DadLAN has given me a community again
Great initiative and helps blokes go into places well beyond gaming, things that we think we can’t asks mates because its not what men do.
A huge thank you as always goes out to our supporters for the month:
It takes a decent number of people, both on the day, and throughout the month to make DadLAN happen, and a huge thank you goes out to every one of you.
DadLAN June is coming! Lock June 16th into your calendars and keep your eyes peeled for tickets which will be available soon. Also keep an eye out for the new subnets which will officially be coming (or returning) online!
On Sunday, DadLAN held our biggest event to date with 5 simultaneous in-person LANs alongside a remote contingent.
This was our smoothest event to date – local game, nationwide game, food and catching up with friends!
Big thank you to everyone who could make it, either on person or remotely, good to see so many of you in-game and IRL.
It takes a surprising number of people to make events like this happen, so thank you to everyone who contributes to the ongoing running of DadLAN, and to those who make these events possible.
Big thank you also goes to our partners and sponsors:
What a weekend!
This month was another great success, with the individual subnet games followed by a whole LAN game working a treat!
Big thanks go out to our partner WorkVentures for helping provide hardware and expertise!
Lastly, lock it in Dads – DadLAN April will be on April 14th! Ticket links coming soon in the Discord!
DadLAN is a group dedicated to the mental health and wellbeing of dads (and non-dads) across Australia.
We are a community of over 1000 members in our Discord and run monthly in-person gaming meetups.
Although our in-person events revolve around gaming, our Discord doesn’t with topics as varied as Dad and child health, internet safety, music, tv/movies and coding.
If this feels like a community that you could fit into, please join us on our Discord