HIPPY’s First Nations commitment

At the start of 2023, our Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) team sought to strengthen its commitment to First Nations culture through the learning it provides young children.

HIPPY supports children's learning and development through structured learning and encourages parents to be their child's first teacher. At its heart, HIPPY encourages children and parents to come together to explore and learn using the HIPPY activity packs and story books.

HIPPY strives to deliver a program that is culturally aware and reflects our commitment to reconciliation in a number of ways.

When launching its new curriculum for 3 year old children, HIPPY added a child friendly Acknowledgement of Country. It asks children to connect with the land, the sky and family as they acknowledge the traditional custodians. First Nations culture was also made more visible by featuring the artwork of Lena Smith on HIPPY activity packs.

Lena Smith is a Kamilaroi Yinarr woman, mum of two from Moree in New South Wales and a former HIPPY parent and tutor. As part of the HIPPY tutor program and its parent workforce development activities, HIPPY supported Lena to follow her love of painting and establish a successful art business. Lena's artwork is highly regarded in the community and features on landmarks around Moree. Now, her beautiful artwork adorns HIPPY's activity packs that supports children's communication and creativity as well as their social and emotional development. The packs feature a range of different characters, including an echidna, koala and turtle.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL) proudly operates HIPPY throughout Australia with assistance from the Federal Government's Department of Social Services. Since 2008, the Government has supported and expanded the program to be delivered in 100 communities nationally, including many that feature Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.