What We Do
There's always something happening at RDV
Connection is the thing our members keep coming back for. Time with other rainbow dads, and time for their kids to be around other families just like theirs.
Playgroups
Your local, every week
Rainbow Dads Victoria runs weekly Saturday morning playgroups across Melbourne, currently on the north side and south side of the city, with more locations coming soon.
Playgroups are the heartbeat of RDV. They're relaxed, informal, and completely free. The kids play, the dads talk, and genuine friendships get built over time, one Saturday at a time. There's no booking required and no agenda. Just turn up, sign in and say hello.
For many members, playgroups are also where their children get something that's harder to find elsewhere: a chance to see other kids who also have two dads, or a dad who's trans, or a family that came together through surrogacy. That matters more than it might sound.
Whether it's your first time or your fiftieth, you'll always find a familiar face and a warm welcome.
Dads Only Events
Just the dads
Sometimes it's good to get together without the kids. Our dads-only events are a regular fixture in the RDV calendar, casual dinners, nights out, social catch-ups, and the occasional activity that's a little harder to do with a kid in tow.
These nights are a chance to connect with other rainbow dads as yourself, not just as a parent. To have the conversations that don't easily happen at a playground. To laugh, vent, share, and be in the company of people who understand what your life is like, because they're living a version of it too.
No kids required. No bedtimes to worry about. Just good company.
Family Events & Activities
Something for every family
Throughout the year RDV runs a range of family events and activities designed to bring rainbow families together in fun, creative, and memorable ways. These are the events where the kids are front and centre, and where they get to see their family reflected back at them in the best possible way.
From our popular Daddy Daughter Hair Workshops to family movie nights, gaming days, and picnics in the park, there's something for every age and every family.
Some events run regularly, some are one-off, and new ideas are always welcome. They're also a great entry point if you're new to RDV and not quite ready for a playgroup. A fun afternoon is a pretty easy first hello.
Weekends Away
Pack your bags
Once a year RDV takes things up a notch with a weekend away. A chance for rainbow families to spend a few days together somewhere away from the everyday.
These trips have become some of the most treasured experiences in the RDV calendar, and it's easy to see why. Something shifts when you spend more than a few hours with this community. Friendships deepen. Kids form bonds that last well beyond the weekend. Dads have conversations they didn't know they needed. And everyone comes home feeling a little more connected to something real.
Weekends away are open to all RDV members and their families.
Major Events
The big ones
Some events in the RDV calendar are the ones you plan around. The ones you talk about for weeks afterwards. The ones your kids remember.
Our major events, Christmas in July, Father's Day celebration, and our end-of-year Christmas party, are highlights of the rainbow family calendar in Victoria. They're bigger, they're louder, and they're the moments where the full breadth of the RDV community comes together in one place.
Father's Day holds a particular place in our hearts. It's a day that means something a little different to rainbow dads, and celebrating it together, surrounded by families who understand that, is something genuinely worth showing up for.
Pride Season
Celebrating together
Pride season is one of the most joyful times of the year for the RDV community, and we make the most of every moment of it.
RDV participates in Melbourne's Pride March, marching together as a community of rainbow families. We attend the Midsumma Carnival and show up loudly and proudly for the community we're part of.
For our kids, Pride season is particularly meaningful. Marching in the parade, seeing their family celebrated rather than just tolerated, being surrounded by people who look like them. These are the kinds of moments that shape how a child understands themselves and their place in the world. Our members tell us this matters. We believe it does too.
Come march with us. Bring the kids. Bring the flags. The more the merrier.
Fundraising
Giving back while having fun
Playgroups are free, and we work hard to keep as much as possible low-cost or free. Our fundraising events are what make that possible, and they're genuinely fun in their own right.
From our beloved Bunnings sausage sizzles to other community fundraisers throughout the year, these events are a great way to get involved, contribute to something you believe in, and have a good time doing it. They're also a wonderfully low-key way to introduce RDV to new families. There's something very welcoming about a snag on a Saturday morning.
All funds raised go directly back into RDV, keeping playgroups free, reducing costs where we can, supporting families, and helping the community keep growing.
Want to help out at a fundraising event? We'd love an extra pair of hands. Get in touch to volunteer.
