Background HIPPY in Australia

1
Background HIPPY in Australia

• The Brotherhood of St Laurence holds the licence
  with to operate HIPPY in Australia.
• Beginning in 1997, HIPPY was originally
• a one man, one site, show.
• HIPPY began partnering with other service
  providers in communities to deliver the program
• Over the next ten years HIPPY established sites
  in nine locations across three states in
  Australia
• Due to the Australian Governments commitment to
  roll-out the program, this year our sites have
  increased from 9 to 22

2
The Australian Governments commitment

• Roll-out HIPPY across Australia in partnership
  with the Brotherhood of St Laurence (BSL),
• Establish HIPPY in up to 50 communities over 4
  years
• It is hoped that during this time HIPPY will
  support up to 3,000 children.
• Provide opportunities for disadvantaged children
  to improve their school participation, leading to
  a capacity for greater participation in society
  and the economy.
• Funding of 32.5 million over five years was
• formally committed in the 2008 May Budget.

3
Location Selection Methodology

• Socio Economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) 2006 Scale
• Distribution of disadvantaged 0-4 year old
  children
• Criteria for selection included
• The allocated disadvantage score
• Proportion of children aged 0 4 years
• Capacity to effectively implement,
• including the presence of a capable service
  provider
• Geographic spread
• Due to a specific target for 2010 being regional
  Indigenous communities and rural locations, the
  Australian Standard Geographical Classification
  (ASGC) has also been utilised.

4
2009 HIPPY Locations
Alice Springs
Riverview
Inala
Windale
La Perouse
Claymore
Elizabeth Grove
Charnwood
Girrawheen
Moreland
Colac
Fitzroy
Rockingham
Moonee Valley
Winchelsea
Geelong
Sheffield
Burnie
Launceston
Smithton
Clarendon Vale
Rosebery
5
The National Evaluation

• An integral aspect of the Australian Government
  funding
• Partnership between Monash University and the
  Brotherhood of St Laurence, Research Policy
  Dept.

• The evaluation will build upon and provide an
  evidence base that HIPPY
• has integrity as an international program.
• supports children to develop skills and
• reach developmental milestones.
• parents learn about early childhood development
  and better understand their childs abilities and
  development.
• fosters school readiness, confidence and self
  esteem.
• has benefits that extend beyond the participating
  child to include supporting the learning of other
  siblings.

6
Partner Agencies
7
HIPPY Australia staff

• The funding of HIPPY Australia provided the
  opportunity to recruit capable and committed
  staff
• Corporate partner, AXA, initially enabled
  employment of
• National Manager
• National Coordinator - training
• Program Support admin
• Government funding has allowed us to employ
• HIPPY Accountant
• HIPPY Consultant program materials
• HIPPY Consultant curriculum development

8
HIPPY Curriculum Development

• Anne Stonehouse, Early Childhood curriculum
  consultant. (Anne is currently developing a
  National Framework for Early Childhood Education
  with group of early childhood experts).
• The outcomes of the consultancy provided HIPPY
  Australia with a review of Age 4 Activities, the
  development of a HIPPY Australia Framework and
  laid the foundation for the future work with Age
  5 Activities.
• Elisabeth Love and Sue Riley, recognized experts
• in the field of speech and language development.

9
Work planned for 2009

• Government funding now provides the opportunity
  for HIPPY Australia to use corporate partner
  (AXA) funding on review, development and
  production of materials, training DVDs and story
  books.
• It is proposed that the following work should be
  undertaken during 2009.
• Continue to employ Catharine Hydon, Early
  Childhood Education Consultant.
• Complete Age 4 Activities.
• Develop and produce Age 5 Activities
• Commission Two Story Books
• Edit three existing story books to make the books
  appropriate for the Australian HIPPY programs
• Produce training DVD/s
• Provide multi-language translations for new story
  books