10 March 2024
In the Utzon Room
Talks and Ideas
We already know a woman can do anything a man can do in the workplace, but real change will happen when a dad can do what a mum does in the home. Are we there yet? Nowhere near. But some dads are showing us that becoming a parent shouldn’t have to kill equality in a relationship.
Co-curated by Bri Lee
| Date | Time |
| Sunday 10 March 2024 | 6.30pm - 7.30pm |
| Ticket | Price |
| Standard | $35 |
$8.95 booking fee applies per transaction
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
The only authorised ticket agency for this event is Sydney Opera House. For more information about Authorised Agencies, see the frequently asked questions below.
Sydney Opera House Insiders pre-sale
8am, Wednesday 17 January 2024
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What’s On e-newsletter pre-sale
9am, Wednesday 17 January 2024
General Public tickets on-sale
9am, Thursday 18 January 2024
In English
Wheelchair accessible
There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations available.
To book accessible seating contact Box Office via email or telephone on:
+61 2 9250 7777 (Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm AEST)
Find out more about accessibility at Sydney Opera House
Run time
This event will run for 60 minutes.
Event duration is a guide only and may be subject to change.
Age
Age guidance: 15+
This event contains adult themes and may include strong language. Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Osher GünsbergI’m a different person… The kid's not the only person who grows when you become a parent.
Get ready for some big dad energy
In days gone by, raising kids was a woman’s job and men were the breadwinners. Fast forward to 2024, and women are expected to work but men are only taking 12% of primary carer’s leave.
So, is it because they don’t want to step into fatherhood, or because they’re not able to? And how is this new generation of dads dealing with the evolving role of care? What are the joys and challenges of parenting in a world of changing labour conditions and work-from-home environments? This conversation will span being a queer dad, managing mental health, negotiating time pressures, and being present. Pull up a chair and listen to some of the best dads leading the way for other men to do more, too.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Sean Szeps, Not Like Other DadsIf parents aren’t talking out loud together on a regular basis about the rude realities of raising children, then how are we supposed to survive this roller-coaster ride?
Festival Multipacks
See more and save. Multipacks are available across the entire festival program, with the exception of workshops. See the All About Women program to help you plan your day, or read on to select your multipack by theme.
Osher Günsberg (he/him)
30 years, four different names and 67 separate haircuts don’t begin to describe how Osher Günsberg became one of Australia’s most recognisable media personalities.
From his radio career in Brisbane, to music television in the 2000’s, seven seasons of Australian Idol and now as the host of The Bachelor and The Masked Singer - Osher has been a guest in Australian living rooms across generations.
He’s one of Australia’s leading podcasters and is a passionate advocate for positive conversations around mental health and climate action.
Amar Singh (he/him)
Over the years, Amar Singh’s roles have been many and varied. He is a charity founder, social entrepreneur, diversity advocate and dedicated volunteer, and most recently, Amar’s efforts were recognised with a 2023 Australian of the Year Local Hero award – a title that he holds with pride.
Amar has become a respected community leader in Western Sydney and more broadly across New South Wales and the nation, where he, through his charity Turbans 4 Australia, goes above and beyond to support people and communities in need.
Sean Szeps (he/him)
Sean Szeps is the funniest dad in Oz—or so his mom claims. A podcast host, writer, and content creator, Sean is renowned for unintentionally becoming an advocate through sharing his experiences as a gay husband raising boy-girl twins.
Originally from America, Sean made the move to Australia and found success hosting parenting podcasts like Spotify’s The Dad Kit and Mamamia’s The Baby Bubble, swiftly amassing a devoted following. This led to opportunities to delve into writing about the queer parenting journey for platforms including the ABC, Mamamia, Kidspot, AdWeek, and The Daily Telegraph.
As a fervent supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community, Sean launched Australia’s inaugural coming out podcast, Come Out Wherever You Are, in collaboration with SCA’s LiSTNR. His guests, including Billy Eichner, Courtney Act, Abbie Chatfield, and Patricia Karvelas, have made a significant impact through their discussions.
His debut book, Not Like Other Dads, is a fearless, candid, and humorous memoir that challenges traditional parenting norms. It was released in June 2023, sharing Sean's journey of reinventing the rules of parenting.
Jamila Rizvi (she/her)
Moderator
Jamila Rizvi is a best-selling author for adults and children, as well as a columnist for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald where she writes about gender, diversity, politics and family. Jamila is the Deputy Managing Director at Future Women, where she champions gender equity in Australian workplaces through professional development, community and advocacy. Previously, Jamila advised the Rudd and Gillard Governments on gender, early childhood education, media and employment participation. She is a board member of the Wheeler Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas, and an ambassador for PLAN International and the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation.
Other information
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a six min walk to the Opera House.
Covid-safe information
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We’re committed to making your experience safe, comfortable and enjoyable, with a number of measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. We remind our audiences and visitors to please stay home if you feel unwell. If you need to discuss your ticketing or booking options, contact our Box Office team on 02 9250 7777.
The health and wellbeing of everyone attending the Opera House is our top priority. We have a number of safety measures in place including regular cleaning of high-touch areas, air conditioning systems that maximise ventilation, and hand sanitiser stations positioned in all paths of travel. While face masks are no longer required, we ask all our patrons and visitors to practise good hygiene. Please stay home if you feel unwell and read more about our flexible ticket options.
The Sydney Opera House no longer requires patrons to show that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. RESALE RESTRICTION APPLIES. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues. Opera Bar, Opera Kitchen and Portside are also available for you to enjoy.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
Mothers in the Margins
It is, we are told, one of the most rewarding things a human being can do, but motherhood can look a whole lot different when you’re raising your kid on your own. Join this panel of single mothers as they ask why society makes one of the greatest jobs in the world so damned hard.
Mary Beard
Join the world-famous classics scholar and feminist icon Mary Beard for this captivating conversation on her first-ever visit to Australia.
Write About Now with Jerico Mandybur
In this introductory workshop, Jerico Mandybur will guide participants to inquire into their lived experience, their values, and the singular role they can play in building a better world.