An upcoming Gay Dads Conference to be held in Melbourne will be the first of its kind to take a national focus and highlight topics such as co-parenting, adoption, fostering and surrogacy for Gay Dads and gay guys wanting to become dads.

The 2010 National Gay Dads Conference, hosted by family support network Drummond Street Services, will celebrate fatherhood and allow gay dads to share their experiences and learn from each other.

“The thing with gay fatherhood is, it’s not a simple journey,” say the Drummond Street team. “If you’ve come from a straight relationship it can be pretty tough going and if you’re co-parenting, often there are lots of issues and hurdles to get through… and for surrogate fathers there can be the financial and emotional hardship.”

Tasmanian gay rights advocate Rodney Croome will be the keynote speaker.

The conference is about respecting the gay dad families regardless of how they’re formed, and aims to provide prospective gay dads a unique chance to look at various ways to create a family – guys who are thinking about fatherhood can come and see firsthand what it’s like from people who have kids.

The conference will feature topics including legal advice, ‘how-to’ guides for surrogacy and fostering children, co-parenting do’s and don’ts, advice on how to cope as a gay dad from a straight relationship, and advice on raising children.

“Gay men can find it more difficult to access help when faced with the different stages of raising children and share information such as, ‘my teenager is leaving home, how do I feel about it?’, ‘my newborn is teething does anyone have tips?’, ‘my five-year-old is going to school for the first time’.

“Women are well organised with mothers groups to talk about this, but men aren’t quite there yet – and this is what the conference is about.”

The 2010 National Gay Dads Conference is on September 18 and 19 at Richmond Town Hall, Melbourne. Cost $45 per family (childcare can be provided). To book phone Zoe Stafford on 9663 6733.