Lessons from the transition of HIPPY to local First Nations organisations

How transitioning sites of the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) to ACCOs can provide a practical model for sector reform.

BSL works with local organisations to deliver HIPPY (the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters), a structured early years education model for families with three and four year-old children experiencing disadvantage. The program has been delivered locally in 100 sites by over 60 providers nationwide, including 32 ACCOs.

This paper aims to contribute BSL’s lessons from transitioning services to First Nations organisations to the community service sector and support a journey of transformation where community decision-making, culturally grounded program design and local First Nations leadership are central. The lessons are based on a large-scale national transition project as part of the broader sector transformation.

This work was undertaken in partnership with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children is the national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled peak body.