Dads can come together for an afternoon of social gaming in Geelong to help combat isolation and foster connections within the community.
Mental health charity DadLAN will launch the Geelong subnet with a free dad’s social group event at Hamlyn Heights’ Vines Road Community Centre on Sunday, September 21, from 1pm to 5pm.
Volunteer coordinator Tim Johns said the social gaming event would run each month to help fathers connect with others within their community.
“People either bring along a computer or use one that we’re able to lend them and we set up a network to play networked computer games against each other,” he said.
“Even though we gather and play computer games together, which you can do from the quiet of your own home, we emphasise in-person gathering with local people.
“It’s very easy to be disconnected and to go about your life not knowing your neighbours, so with loneliness at all-time highs, these opportunities exist to give people the opportunity to connect.”
Mr Johns is the father of an eight-year-old son and said he was looking forward to meeting with other dads to play computer games together.
“Loneliness and men’s mental health can be a hidden problem because stereotypically it’s not something that’s spoken about, but it’s a very important issue,” he said.
“I’ve had to actively work on making and keeping connections as I’ve become a parent and gone through life, which coincided with the pandemic and the changes to society that it brought.”
People are encouraged to contact Mr Johns at tim.johns@me.com for more information and to register for the event.
