Matty ‘J’ Johnson can officially add Australia’s ‘best dad’ to his list of bragging rights – although he admits the honor feels a little awkward.
Last week, Johnson, 39, was named Australian Father of the Year at The Fathering Project’s 2026 Australian Fathering Awards at Admiralty House in Sydney, with the honor of recognizing fathers and male role models who make a difference in the lives of children.
But the former Bachelor star was the first to admit that the prestigious award felt a little awkward: He described the experience of being celebrated as a father as “very self-indulgent.”
The Two Doting Dads podcast host, who shares daughters Marlie-Mae, Lola and Poppy with wife Laura Byrne, admitted he was still coming to terms with the title.
“It’s still getting used to it, it feels a bit strange,” he said on Weekend Today on Sunday.
“It feels extremely self-indulgent to go to Kirribilli House with the Governor General to be presented with the title of Father of the Year.
Matty ‘J’ Johnson can officially add Australia’s ‘best dad’ to his list of bragging rights – although he admits the honor feels a little awkward. (Pictured with Australian Governor General Sam Mostyn AC)
“It’s one that hasn’t really sunk in yet.”
While Johnson himself struggled to understand his new status, his eldest daughter Marlie-Mae was not bothered.
The seven-year-old has apparently wasted no time in using her father’s new title to boost his reputation on the playground.
“She tells kids at school, ‘My dad is pretty sure he just won the best dad in the universe award,’” Johnson said. The Daily Telegraph.
Marlie-Mae wanted to know exactly how her father had managed to win the coveted prize, admitting on Weekend Today that he had submitted footage of himself giving his three young children horse riding rides during the grueling competition.
‘She asked me: how did you win it? Did you have to race the other dads?’ he said.
It seems Johnson now has a particularly difficult reputation to live up to at home.
The father-of-three welcomed his youngest daughter, Poppy Pearl, with Byrne last September, and with her first birthday approaching, he admitted life with three children has become a ‘huge juggling act’.
But the former Bachelor star was the first to admit that the prestigious award felt a little awkward: He described the experience of being celebrated as a father as “very self-indulgent.” (Pictured with wife Laura Byrne and two of their children)
The Two Doting Dads podcast host, who shares daughters Marlie-Mae, Lola and Poppy with wife Laura Byrne, admitted he was still coming to terms with the title. “It’s still getting used to it, it feels a bit strange,” he said on Weekend Today on Sunday
Between spending time with his wife, entertaining Marlie-Mae and Lola and caring for their infant daughter, Johnson said finding the balance has been an ongoing challenge.
The award also gave Johnson the opportunity to speak about something that he believes extends far beyond his own family: the changing attitudes toward masculinity and what it means to be a good man.
Highlighting the disturbing rates of sexual abuse and domestic violence in Australia, he said there was an urgent need to rethink the way boys and men are taught to behave.
“The recent incidents and statistics of sexual abuse and domestic violence across Australia are appalling in this country,” he said.
“I really hope that for men and for young boys growing up, we can reshape what it means to be a man and masculine.”
But after all the serious talk about fatherhood, Johnson has a much simpler plan to celebrate Father’s Day.
Instead of a lavish gift, the father of three is hoping for the ultimate luxury for any exhausted parent: some peace and quiet.
“I think I’ll probably try to visit Icebergs solo without the kids,” he joked.
