When Tom Fagernes moved to Australia, he carried with him a deep love of adventure and the idea of starting a family. Stepping into fatherhood for the first time, thousands of kilometres from relatives and lifelong friends, he quickly learned how isolating early parenthood can be and how that can take a real toll.
Without the familiar support of family and community, Tom experienced what many new fathers do: a sense of invisibility, uncertainty, and disconnection during the perinatal period. As the spotlight rightly focused on mother and baby, Tom’s mental and emotional load grew heavy. But what affected him, also began to affect his family—because when dads are disconnected, the whole family feels it.
Then came Man With A Pram.
That first walk—pushing a pram alongside other dads—opened a door Tom didn’t know he needed. He found connection, conversation, and community. It wasn’t just about being seen as a father; it was about sharing the journey with dads who “get it”.
Through Man With A Pram, Tom met dads and families who shared similar journeys, and those casual connections became lasting friendships. He built a local network of families that he and his partner could lean on, that his daughters could grow up around. The impact went beyond weekend walks—it reshaped his family’s everyday community. .
With the right support, Tom’s mental health began to strengthen. His relationship deepened as he became more confident and connected in his role. His partner felt more supported, less alone, and more understood. Together, they built a shared parenting rhythm that nurtured their bond and their connection with their children.
Tom’s daughters began to grow up surrounded by a community that normalised involved, caring, emotionally available fathers. Research shows that this kind of father engagement supports stronger attachment, better emotional regulation, and positive cognitive development in children—and Tom is living proof.
Today, Tom leads Man With A Pram events and Dads Group programs across the country. He brings the same heart to the work that he brought to that first walk, helping other fathers find their place, and helping families find their village.
Because Man With A Pram isn’t just about dads. It’s about whole families. It’s about perinatal mental health for both parents. It’s about stronger relationships, thriving children, and communities where no one has to raise a child alone.
Sometimes, all it takes is one pram, one step, and one open invitation—to change everything.
