For the first time ever Man With a Pram will be held in Busselon on Saturday, September 4 starting at the foreshore Youth Precinct from 9am.
The event is a Man Walk Busselton initiative to support dads and create a village that raises a child, it is also part of a national movement by the Dads Group.
The event is being held to encourage dads to get together to walk, talk and support one another on an ongoing basis.
New dads, mums, grandparents and friends, are encouraged to join the walk with prams and carriers.
Event organiser and new dad Greg Wood said the initiative was being held as a way to get new dads together as they started their parenting journey.
"The event gives anyone that has a newborn, or their second or third child, an opportunity to connect," he said.
"Traditionally there isn't a service for that or an opportunity to meet with other dads informally.
"It is globally understood there is a necessity to get dads and families together, and this event provides an avenue for that."
Man Walk Busselton founder David Barton said between one in ten to twenty men developed signs of clinical depression during early parenthood.
"It isn't often well accepted, part of getting together and acknowledging it is also trying to de-stigmatize and normalise the fact that guys find it tough.
"Reach out to one another, reach out to their partner, reach out to other blokes or if necessary, health care services which are there rather than bottle it up and struggle.
"The knock on effects of that are not only negative for them but also negative for the whole family unit.
"Helping dads is helping everyone and helping them be stronger supports for mums as well, it increases the empathy piece for each other."
Mr Barton said research showed that the most formative age for a child's development was from the time they were born through to school years.
"Particularly their attachment, which is really important," he said.
"If we can help guys to be empathetic and be in a better place, they can foster a stronger attachment that is helping setup the child for life and their life journey.
"It can be quite formative to hopefully get guys talking about this and setting them up for future connection."
Along with fun activities, food and coffee vans, Mr Barton said existing groups in Busselton that were working with dads would also be at the event including Regional Men's Health, Circle of Security, South West Counselling and the Radiance Network South West.
To register for the free event please visit manwithapram.com/.
