More than $100 million has been committed to HIPPY to support ongoing programme delivery in the first 50 locations and expand the programme to an additional 50 locations, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The first 25 new communities were selected to commence programme delivery in early 2014 with the remaining 25 new locations expected to start in early 2015.
Photo courtesy: Apunipima Cape York Health Council Photovoice project. Photographer Grace Morris’
Sunset in Pormpuraaw’
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is a two-year home-based parenting and early childhood programme that helps parents and carers to be their child’s first teacher.
HIPPY builds the skills of parents and carers to help prepare their child for school.
The programme also offers some parents and carers a path to employment and local community leadership.
Parents and their children enrol in the programme in the year before the child commences formal school and participate for two years. The programme activities are designed to be integrated into the daily life of the family. The first year of the programme focuses on pre literacy and pre numeracy skills. The second year extends these activities and provides parents with additional information about children’s learning and development.
Each programme location is staffed by a qualified coordinator and a team of home tutors, who are usually past or current parents participating in the programme who live in the community.
What funding is available?
More than $100 million has been committed to HIPPY to support ongoing programme delivery in the first 50 locations and expand the programme to an additional 50 locations, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
The first 25 new communities were selected to commence programme delivery in early 2014 with the remaining 25 new locations expected to start in early 2015.
From 2015, HIPPY will be operating in 100 locations across Australia, targeting around 2350 children (aged four years old) each year.
Community Nominations 2014
The department is seeking nominations from communities who would like to have HIPPY delivered. Twenty five communities will be selected to commence programme delivery in early 2015.
For further information on how to nominate your community for HIPPY please visit HIPPY Community Nominations 2014.
Community Expressions of Interest 2013
The outcome of the HIPPY 2013 community selection process has been finalised. The following 25 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander focused communities have been selected to have HIPPY delivered in their community from 2014.
| State | Communities |
|---|---|
| NSW | Albury/Wodonga |
| NSW | Armidale |
| NSW | Broken Hill |
| NSW | Moree |
| NSW | Orange |
| NSW | Raymond Terrace/Port Stephens |
| NSW | Wellington |
| NSW | Willmot/Shalvey/Emerton/Hebersham |
| QLD | Bundaberg |
| QLD | Burdekin |
| QLD | Hervey Bay |
| QLD | Palm Island |
| QLD | Toowoomba |
| QLD | Upper Ross |
| QLD | Warwick |
| WA | City of Armadale |
| WA | City of Gosnells |
| WA | East Kimberley |
| VIC | East Gippsland |
| VIC | La Trobe Gippsland |
| VIC | Mildura |
| SA | City of Onkaparinga (Aldinga Beach/Christie Downs/Morphett Vale/Hackham West/Huntfield Heights/Noarlunga Downs) |
| SA | Murray Bridge |
| SA | Riverland |
| NT | Palmerston |
| NSW | Albury/Wodonga |
The Brotherhood of St Laurence and HIPPY Australia recently completed a competitive process to select the suitable programme providers to deliver HIPPY in these communities. Further information is available on the HIPPY Australia website.
Want to know more?
Visit the HIPPY Australia website for further information on the programme.