Thanks Dad National Photo Competition and exhibition is unique – that is why it has been running for 11 years now and steadily grows each year. There is a really good reason for this enthusiasm from the general public. No where else in Australia can people publicly “thank” the men in their lives who genuinely help to make their children’s lives better, more interesting, more fun, more educational – and give the children a unique male response to life that is so important to ensure that children grow up as well balanced and happy adults.

You are encouraged to take spontaneous photos of men and children together, this is not a competition based only on photographic perfection – rather it is about capturing a ‘special’ moment between the man and the child. Not just dads either – in many cases the man who plays this important role is a granddad, uncle, step dad, friend, older brother or even sports coach. These are the men who enrich our children’s lives and at Thanks Dad there is an opportunity to ‘thank’ them for all they do and, at the same time, encourage more men to spend more quality time with their children.

This program helps to develop relationships between men and children across the country. This can only help build happier, and stronger, young people who will go on to be better parents to their children.