Raised by a single mum of five and now a father to three daughters of his own, podcast host Matthew “Matty J” Johnson has been named 2026 Australian Father of the Year at the annual Australian Fathering Awards held at Admiralty House in Sydney today.
Matty has co-hosted Two Doting Dads with fellow father Ash Wicks since 2023, and the honesty and humour with which the duo tackle issues like men’s mental health, body image and child-rearing in the modern age has won them 100,000 monthly listeners.
“More than anything I want to reframe what fatherhood and Australian masculinity looks like,” Matty told the Weekly after receiving his award from Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC. “The days of one-dimensional old-school Dads are over. The true strength of a father is in being able to show vulnerability and emotion, not hiding it.”
Australia has approximately 4.6 million fathers, with a median age for new Dads of 34. Over 156,000 are single fathers, and 144,000 are stay-at-home Dads, with both numbers growing fast as modern men demand flexible work hours to help do their bit at home.
That’s reflected in Two Doting Dads, which is loved by mothers just as much as fathers. “Matty uses his platform to normalise conversations many dads have traditionally felt unable to have, while reminding fathers that being emotionally available is one of the greatest gifts they can give their children,” said The Fathering Project CEO, Kati Gapaillard.
Each year, before Father’s Day weekend, the Fathering Project – a national charity devoted to improving family wellbeing – recognises men like Matt who are redefining modern fatherhood. This year’s theme is “The Care Factor”, which celebrates the everyday care that helps children thrive.
“The Care Factor isn’t about perfect fathers, it’s about fathers who consistently show up through care, connection and presence,” says Kati. “When fathers feel supported and confident in their caregiving role, children thrive. These awards celebrate the fathers, workplaces and communities helping make that possible.”
Matt, 39, is the middle child of two older siblings and two younger brothers raised by a hardworking, ever-loving woman. “She faced my fast bowling, took me to the footy and taught me everything I know about how to be a supportive parent,” he laughs. “Mum also set me boundaries for behaviour, but no question or issue was off-limits with her.”
Matt and wife Laura Byrne, who met on the 2017 season of The Bachelor, raise Marly, 7, Lola, 5, and Poppy, 11 months as a team, inspired by the selflessness of Matt’s Mum.
“I’m part of a self-help generation where parents have parity of power in domestic and family duties,” says the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! runner-up. “None of us has all the answers, but showing up consistently, being present and being willing to learn alongside our kids is what really matters.”
Also recognised was Ballarat leader Will Austin, who won Australian Community Father of the Year for his work helping Indigenous men combat mental health issues and break cycles of intergenerational trauma. Will, a proud Gunditjmara man and father of three, has become a beacon for First Nations fathers and young people through his Yarn Bark, The Modern Dad and Turn to Me initiatives.
Australian Sports Father of the Year went to Scott Mutton from Bathurst, NSW. Scott has transformed countless lives in three decades coaching rural grassroots and elite youth football, helping young people face adversity and build resilience on and off the field.
Matt says the winning Father of the Year “will take some getting used to” but hopes the title reflects the growing movement of fathers who are embracing a more intentional approach to parenting. “My biggest fear in life was being a bad Dad, and my mistakes are still endless,” he laughs. “But every day I show up, not looking for perfection, but committed to learning.”
Matty J’s top 10 tips for young dads:
- It’s okay to lie to your kids. Sometimes you just need to take the path of least resistance. “The playground is closed” is sometimes the only way home.
- Embrace the word “no”. Your kids don’t need everything they ask for. Hearing no, dealing with disappointment and learning that the world doesn’t always bend to them will help them build resilience.
- Screen time is okay. Sometimes you need 30 minutes to make dinner, answer an email or simply have a minute to yourself. Just know what they’re watching and stay involved.
- It’s okay not to love every second. Parenting is hard, sometimes really hard. You’re allowed to find it exhausting, overwhelming or just plain shit sometimes. And if you’re not doing okay, reach out for help. You don’t have to do this alone.
- You don’t have to entertain children all day. Boredom isn’t an emergency. Let them work out what to do by themselves sometimes.
- Pick your battles. Not every sock needs to be on the right foot. Save your energy for the things that actually matter.
- Apologise when you get it wrong. You’re going to lose your temper. Show them what it looks like to own it and repair things.
- Dinner doesn’t have to be perfect. Some nights it’s vegetables and a balanced meal. Other nights it’s toast. Feed them and move on.
- Prioritise your relationship. The most important relationship your kids will watch is the one between their parents. They’re learning what love, respect, conflict and partnership look like by watching you. So, make time for each other; not just as parents, but as a couple.
- Your kids don’t need a perfect parent. They need a parent who is present, loving and willing to keep trying, even after a spectacularly chaotic morning with multiple meltdowns.
