AN initiative to improve physical and mental wellbeing for young girls while simultaneously providing an opportunity to improve connections with their Dads, is being offered in Port Stephens.

Daughters & Dads Active and Empowered is a program developed by Professor Phillip Morgan of the University of Newcastle.

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It has already seen great engagement in the Hunter region and is currently being rolled out across NSW.

“Body image and self-esteem are major issues” said Prof. Morgan in his introduction to the program.

“Part of the problem is that girls are marginalised in sports and exercise contexts and society constantly bombards them with pervasive cultural messages that value them more for how they look than for who they are or what they can do.”

It was from a desire to address this issue while engaging fathers as “agents of change” that Prof. Morgan developed Daughters and Dads.

Jacob Springfield, a teacher and resident of Port Stephens, has been asked to bring the program to this area.

“I am personally involved in the program from studying it at university as an elective subject of my teaching degree,” said Jacob, who is working to build support and sponsorship so it can operate in Port Stephens.

“As part of this program you have to attend some of the sessions in the community and I thought it was so amazing and my keenness must have shown.”

Jacob is excited for the chance to make a difference for families in his backyard, and is encouraging any fathers who have young daughters to check out and register for the program.

“I have always been pushing to run this in Port Stephens and finally have the chance now.”

For more information, visit Daughters and Dads Active and Empowered Port Stephens Facebook page, or daughtersanddads.com.au.

By Lindsay HALL