Matty ‘J’ Johnson has a new title to add to his resume: Australia’s “best dad” — even if he is the first to concede the recognition feels a touch uncomfortable.
The 39-year-old media personality was honoured last week as Australian Father of the Year at The Fathering Project’s 2026 Australian Fathering Awards, held at Admiralty House in Sydney. The award celebrates fathers and male role models who have had a meaningful impact on children’s lives.
For the former Bachelor star, however, being singled out for praise as a parent was not something he found easy to embrace. Johnson admitted the prestigious honour felt “very self-indulgent” and more than a little awkward.
Johnson, who hosts the Two Doting Dads podcast, shares three daughters — Marlie-Mae, Lola and Poppy — with his wife, Laura Byrne. Despite building a public profile around family life and fatherhood, he said the new label was still taking some getting used to.
“It is still settling in, it feels a bit strange,” he said during an appearance on Weekend Today on Sunday.
‘It feels extremely self-indulgent to be going to Kirribilli House with the Governor-General to be given 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 honour feels a little awkward. (Pictured with Australia’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC)
‘It’s one that hasn’t really sunk in yet.’
If Johnson himself was struggling to comprehend his new status, his eldest daughter Marlie-Mae had no such trouble.
The seven-year-old has apparently wasted no time using her father’s new title to boost his credentials in the playground.
‘She’s been telling kids at school, “Well, my dad’s pretty sure he’s just won best dad in the universe”,’ Johnson told The Daily Telegraph.
Marlie-Mae wanted to know exactly how her father had managed to take out the coveted prize, with him admitting on Weekend Today that the gruelling contest saw him submit footage of him giving his three young children horsey rides.
‘She’s asked me, how did you win it? Did you have to race the other dads?’ he said.
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It seems Johnson may now have 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 ‘massive juggling act’.
But the former Bachelor star was the first to admit the prestigious accolade felt a little awkward — describing the experience of being celebrated as a dad 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 is still settling in, 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 baby daughter, Johnson said finding the balance was an ongoing challenge.
The accolade also gave Johnson an opportunity to speak about something he believes extends far beyond his own family — changing attitudes towards masculinity and what it means to be a good man.
He pointed to Australia’s troubling rates of sexual abuse and domestic violence, saying there was an urgent need to rethink the way boys and men are taught to behave.
‘The recent incidents and the stats Australia wide of sexual abuse and domestic violence, they’re horrific in this country,’ he said.
‘I really hope that for men and for young boys growing up that we’re able to reshape what it means to be a man and masculine.’
But after all the serious talk about fatherhood, Johnson has a much simpler plan for celebrating Father’s Day.
Rather than a lavish present, the father-of-three is hoping for the ultimate luxury for any exhausted parent — some peace and quiet.
‘I think I’ll probably try and hit up Icebergs solo without the kids,’ he joked.