The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters is a two year home-based parenting and early childhood enrichment program that empowers parents and carers to be their child’s first teacher. The program builds the confidence and skills of parents and carers to create a positive learning environment to prepare their child for school. The program also offers some parents and carers a supported pathway to employment and local community leadership.

The Australian Government has committed $32.5 million over five years (2008-2012) to roll-out the program to 50 communities nationally and support around 3,000 families.

How does the program work?

Parents and their children enrol in the program in the year before the child commences formal school and participate in the program for 2 years. The program activities are designed to be integrated into the daily life of the family. The first year of the program provides activities which support 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 program location is staffed by a tertiary qualified coordinator and a team of home tutors.  The home tutors are usually past or current parents participating in the program who live in the local community. Home tutors are paid employees and receive training and support from the coordinator.

Home tutors schedule regular visits with parents to work through the program activities in the family’s home. Parents are also encouraged to participate in regular parent group meetings. Role-play is the usual method used by home tutors to facilitate the understanding of the parents about how to do the activities.

What benefits does the program deliver?

The evidence is clear that families play a crucial role in children’s ability to learn in the formative early years. The program supports positive parental influences by developing foundations for learning and providing parents and carers with confidence and skills to contribute to their child’s learning environment. These aims are consistent with key policy initiatives across Australia and reflect the Australian Government’s commitment to achieve better early childhood outcomes for all Australians.

Benefits for children:

• Encourages a love of learning
• Maximises chances of enjoyment and doing well at school
• Promotes language and listening skills and develops concentration
• Builds self esteem and confidence in learning
• Improves communication between parents and children.

Benefits for families:

• Helps create a learning environment at home
• Increases parents’ knowledge of child development and the way children learn
• Provides parents with opportunities to enjoy positive time with their children
• Enables parents to be actively involved in their children’s education
• Supports parents to meet regularly and promotes a sense of inclusion and connectedness with their community
• Increases parents’ self-confidence
• Has an overall positive impact on family relationships
• Creates employment and training opportunities.

What is the role of the Brotherhood of St Laurence?

The Brotherhood of St Laurence, through HIPPY Australia, has exclusive licensing rights from HIPPY International to run the program in Australia and is responsible for managing the implementation of the national rollout. The Brotherhood of St Laurence has sub-licence arrangements with other not-for-profit organisations to deliver the program to the selected community.

How are communities selected for the national roll out?

The program is targeted at disadvantaged areas with a high proportion of families with young children. A range of factors are considered to identify suitable areas to locate the program including analysis of the Socio-Economic Index for Areas 2006 Scale: ABS Census information; and the Australian Standard Geographical Classifications.

For the 2011 selection process, the Australian Early Development Index results were also used, where available, to identify appropriate locations. In addition, consultations with relevant state and territory departments were conducted to ensure establishment of the program in a particular area would not clash with current jurisdictional programs that may be similarly targeted.

Is the program delivered to Indigenous communities?

In 2010, the program was established in two Indigenous-specific communities in the remote locations of Katherine (Northern Territory) and Mount Isa (Queensland). Monitoring the program in these locations will provide an indication of the success of the program for Indigenous communities in remote areas. In addition, there are a number of HIPPY programs operating with a high number of Indigenous families, for example: HIPPY Inala, HIPPY Mount Morgan, HIPPY LaPerouse and HIPPY Alice Springs.

How long is the program funded for and what will that enable?

Partner organisations will receive funding until December 2012 to provide for key elements of the program. This includes the employment and training of tutors and program coordinators, local operating costs and tailored program materials.

How are locations distributed across Australia?

The program is being progressively rolled out to 50 communities across Australia. In 2009, the program was delivered in 22 communities (13 new and nine existing). In 2010 the program was established in another 13 communities and in 2011, the program will be rolled out to a further 15 new communities.

Jurisdictional Roll-out

Locations Currently Operating

A number of locations have an expanded catchment area and families in neighboring suburbs are able to enroll in these programs.

The table below lists the 35 locations operating in 2010 and the partner organisations delivering the program.

Locations to begin operating in 2011

The table below lists the 15 new locations to begin operating in 2011 and details of the Partner Organisations which will deliver the program.

Where did the program originate?

The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters began as a research project in Israel in 1969. The program currently operates in the United States, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Canada, El Salvador, Italy, Australia and New Zealand.

In 1998, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, through HIPPY Australia, established the first Australian program in the City of Yarra, Victoria.

How do parents receive assistance through the program?

There is no cost to families who wish to participate in the program. Parents and carers can contact the partner organisation in their community (listed above) or HIPPY Australia to find out more information about the program and how to participate.

How were partner organisations selected for the national roll-out?

Once locations were identified, the Australian Government and the Brotherhood of St Laurence called for expressions of interest from organisations within the selected communities to establish and deliver the program. Partner organisations were selected on the basis of the following selection criteria:

1. Understanding the needs of the local community.
2. Demonstrated links with the local community and other service providers in the area.
3. Ability to successfully implement the program within the local community.
4. Ability to implement the program within the specified budget.

For further information, visit the HIPPY Australia website or phone (03) 9445 2400, during business hours.