HIPPY’s impact and value underlined in evaluation reports

Evaluations commissioned by the Department of Social Services (DSS) affirm HIPPY’s positive impact on children's learning and development, parental confidence and connections to community.

The success of HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) is showcased in comprehensive evaluation reports that were discussed at Australia’s leading national family wellbeing event, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) Conference , last month.

The evaluations found HIPPY was:

• Widely regarded as accessible, equitable and supporting parents in their ongoing role as their children’s first teacher,

• Supporting families from diverse backgrounds,

• Effectively reaching families experiencing higher levels of need, and

• Building strong connections between families, communities and services.

Participating parents overwhelmingly reported positive experiences, with many describing "life-changing" improvements in confidence, English language skills and social connections. 

The evaluations and analysis were conducted by the Parenting Research Centre, Curijo, IPS Management Consultants and the Australian Centre of Evaluation. Findings are being used to support continuous improvement across the national HIPPY network, helping sites respond to changing community needs while continuing to deliver a high-quality program.

Head of HIPPY Australia Clare Seddon thanked the parents, tutors, coordinators and service providers who contributed their experiences and insights: “It’s a fantastic program and the outcomes are the collective work of everyone across the HIPPY network. Together, we’re helping children get the best possible start in life, right around Australia”.

“These findings provide a strong foundation for continuing to invest in early years approaches like HIPPY, which support children’s learning and development, allowing them to thrive when they get to school and building parents' confidence as their first teacher,” Ms Seddon said.

The reports found the free early years program was enhancing the home learning environment, improving indicators of early literacy, strengthening parent-child relationships, increasing parents' confidence and engagement in their child's learning, and building stronger connections between families and their communities.

Read more insights at the HIPPY website . 

The full evaluations are available on the  Department of Social Services website .