“I was excited and a bit worried at the same time.” 

Tanner* was just 22 when he got the news that he was going to be a dad.  

Now 23, Tanner is the full-time carer of his 18-month-old daughter. Despite no longer being with her mother, he is embracing being a stay-at-home dad and confesses watching her grow has been both a joy and a challenge.  

“It feels like yesterday I could hold her in one hand. I enjoy watching her learn and figure things out for herself, but doing it by yourself is pretty hard too, I guess.” 

Before his daughter’s birth, Tanner admitted he got into a lot of mischief growing up and his life was heading down a dangerous path, but everything changed when he found out he was going to be a dad.  

“I’d probably be dead or in jail. She’s definitely changed my whole life around. Put me on a better pathway.” 

“As soon as I knew my ex was pregnant… I just stopped and wanted to be a better person for her… to give her the life I never had.” 

In late 2024, Tanner joined Brave after a worker had told him about it, and through his Brave mentor Cindy, he found real support.  

“I wanted to learn more on how to be a good parent and try to get all the information I could. They helped me lot more than other workers.” 

Cindy has helped Tanner smash some major goals. He’s bought his own vehicle, secured a lease on his own flat and set up a home for his daughter. He’s also taken a huge step towards gaining employment by meeting with a childcare centre and getting his daughter on the waiting list as he explores mechanic apprenticeship opportunities.  

Cindy added that while he tends to walk at his own pace and has a ‘rather laid-back approach’, he has made incredible progress in such a short amount of time.  

Tanner is determined to give his daughter the kind of life he missed out on.  

“Getting to do the things I never go to do – travel, go to amusement parks and all sorts of things like that.” 

*Name and image changed for privacy