What is HIPPY?

HIPPY stands for the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters. It is a free, voluntary home-based early learning and parenting program for families with young children.

HIPPY encourages parents to be their children’s first educator, engaging families in developing early literacy and numeracy skills.

How does HIPPY work?

Families start HIPPY the year before their child starts school (usually around 4 years old) and continue during their first year of school. HIPPY families spend around 10 to 15 minutes a day, five days a week, doing educational activities together. Parents are supported by a Home Tutor and through regular group meeting with other families.

The Home Tutor makes fortnightly home visits with the parent or carer to support them to learn activities which they then do with the child. Regular group meetings allow families to support each other and take part in fun activities. Parents and carers deliver a specifically designed and structured curriculum of learning activities, consistent with AEDC domains and Australian Early Learning Framework.

Who can do HIPPY?

Anyone can enrol to do HIPPY with a child.

First, your child will need to be the right age: families usually start HIPPY in January of the year before their child starts school.

Families start HIPPY the year before their child starts school (usually around 4 years old) and continue during their first year of school.

What are the benefits of HIPPY

HIPPY aims to provide a structured, education-focused early learning program at home to help prepare children for and to participate in school.

The benefits of HIPPY for children include:   

• encouraging a love of learning
• maximising chances of enjoyment and doing well at school
• promoting language and listening skills and developing concentration
• building self-esteem and confidence in learning
• improving communication between parents and children

The benefits for families include:

• Helping create a learning environment at home
• Increasing parents’ knowledge of child development and the way children learn
• Providing parents with opportunities to enjoy positive time with their children
• Enabling parents to be actively involved in their children’s education
• Supporting parents to meet regularly and promoting a sense of inclusion and connectedness with their community
• Increasing parents’ self-confidence
• HIPPY has an overall positive impact on family relationships
• Creating employment and training opportunities.

Want to know more?

Contact us today for more information on our programs in Whyalla and Port Augusta, or download the initial interest forms below.

Whyalla (08) 8649 0811 Whyalla Initial Interest Form See brochure

Port Augusta (08) 7628 3137 Port Augusta Initial Interest Form

Additional Resources

Want to learn more, check out the HIPPY Brochure or visit the HIPPY Australia or Brotherhood of St. Laurence websites.

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The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters is funded by the Australian Government.
The Brotherhood of St Laurence holds the licence to operate HIPPY in Australia