In the past 12 months since being named YMCA Victorian Father of the Year, Gabriel Carazo has continued to inspire dads and families in his community. Founder of R.A.D Dads a group for new dads that encourages and promotes nature-based active play – the group has grown to focus on education and structured activities.
Gabriel recognises that impactful community work requires action.
"To make a real impact with men, you need to 'do' things," he said.
If you're adding value to your community or family, it's a doing thing, and that can be acknowledged.
Despite initial challenges in securing funding, the group saw rapid growth. "The group grew exponentially," he said. The group went from 300 to approximately 700 members.
On the back of renewed interest, Gabriel, with the support of his partner Andie, started several new projects. One of these projects involved repurposing pallets to build mud kitchens for children. This not only reengaged the community but also raised money for the Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention group. "We were collecting pallets and building mud kitchens... selling and donating them to families for Christmas."
Gabriel dedicated countless hours to the R.A.D Dads group, treating it like a part-time job. He started a project to build a playground in a local community park, setting up a "science obstacle course day" to demonstrate its potential benefits to the council. "He spent two or three days leading up to the event outside, building an obstacle course out of pallets and staying up at all hours," said Andie.
Building on the momentum, Gabriel was recently asked to be a panelist on the 2024 Playgroup Conference program. This event, celebrating 50 years of Playgroups Victoria, will feature a significant discussion on how the interpretation of 'community' impacts what families seek and gain from their playgroup experience.
One of the most significant breakthroughs of his work has been reaching men who traditionally haven’t engaged in support groups, such as tradies and police. Through task-based activities like the mud kitchen project, he created an environment where men felt comfortable opening up about deeper issues.
There was this openness to speak about more significant issues, returning to a therapeutic support environment.
After winning the award, Gabriel's dedication only grew. He invested more time and effort into the group, undergoing training with Eco Warriors and starting Bush play groups. He also conducted extensive research on the importance of outdoor activities for kids. "I don't think people understood how considered every play group is and every Facebook post," reflecting the thoughtful planning behind his ideas.
Balancing community work with family life was demanding but rewarding.
The award gave me confidence to stretch myself further and faster, Gabriel said.
His efforts also caught the attention of local members of parliament and the media, which further validated the group's impact.
Looking ahead, he aims to create more structured programs and partnerships to expand the group's reach. "I'm demonstrating a new version of what a modern dad looks like—proactively engaged and involved."
His advice to others is clear: "Anyone who has an impact on some level of community should be nominated. It's about recognising those who show up at home and in their work, making a big impact on local families."