HIPPY turns 25
In December, we came together to celebrate 25 years of HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) in Australia.
The first HIPPY site in Australia started in Fitzroy in 1998, delivered by the Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL). At the time, three Tutors were employed to work in the homes of the 20 families enrolled. The program gives parents access to fun, free tools and activities for them to undertake with their child, gaining new skills and confidence and connecting with other parents.
Since then, HIPPY has grown to be a leader in the early years sector, extending its reach nationally. We now have 587 tutors employed at 100 sites across Australia, including 50 working in First Nations communities. In the last decade alone, HIPPY has worked alongside almost 26,000 families, supporting thousands of parents and carers in their role as their child's first and most important teacher.
2023 HIPPY highlights also include:
- Growing to 100 sites and 63 different providers,
- Working with 34 language speakers,
- A growing focus on First Nations communities,
- Employing 587 tutors,
- Supporting 6,148 families, including children enrolled in the Age 4 and Age 5 cohort as well as our newly introduced Age 3 program.
Gathering at Father Tucker's Hall at our Fitzroy Head Office, we celebrated the program's longevity, the milestones it achieved along the way and its ongoing development as a critical early years program.
HIPPY will continue to celebrate this incredible milestone well into next year. Follow their journey at https://hippyaustralia.bsl.org.au/
