Dad works out male mentors (6,7)

I believe the answer is:

father figures

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'out male mentors' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether it can be defined by this definition.

'dad works' is the wordplay.
'dad' becomes 'father' (I've seen this in another clue).
'works' becomes 'figures' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'father'+'figures'='FATHER FIGURES'

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I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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