Compliance Bulletin

Measuring the program’s impact for children, participating families, and Tutors happens at both a site and network level.

Children

Outcomes for children are measured at the time of enrolment, the end of Age 3 and again at the time of graduation. The focus for this Outcome Area is on children's readiness for formal education and their love of learning.

Families

Family information is collected through forms such as the enrolment and journey forms, pack delivery forms, and family support, which can be used at the site level to track program delivery, the confidence and progress of families’ learning journeys, and the supports provided to families.

At a network level, this data can be used to demonstrate program efficacy, illustrate the range of enrichment opportunities families are accessing, and identify patterns such as points in the program where families may need additional support.

Tutors

Tutor information, collected through Tutor training, professional development, supervised home visit, and P2P forms, can be used at the site level to monitor and support Tutors’ development and growth, allowing Coordinators to deliver training responsive to Tutors’ development needs and to structure supervision around a Tutor’s caseload.

At the network level, this information can show HIPPY Australia how long Tutors are typically in the role, common areas of professional development (which could prompt the creation of whole-of-network training opportunities), and whether certain concepts need to be featured more prominently in the Tutor training guides.

The timely input of accurate data makes supporting effective planning and delivery easier.

When Coordinators have access to up-to-date data they can use ETO’s reporting features to see how Tutors and families are progressing. Reports allow Coordinators to see such data as what packs their families are on, the referrals that have been made for each family (and by extension their current needs and priorities) and the time Tutors are spending with families.

All of this information can very quickly paint a picture of what is going on at a site and support the identification of gaps in delivery.

Monitoring and evaluating network data drives much of HIPPY Australia’s quality improvement work at the network level. Many projects and initiatives have been developed in response to reviewing and reflecting on data from sites.

For example, early exit information, reports from Coordinators and a national study of recruitment and retention have shown that, after the initial few months of HIPPY, the time that families are most likely to disengage from the program is during the summer break between Age 3 and Age 4 delivery. This led to the development of a Recruitment and Retention Guide that supports sites’ planning and 1 2 3 GO! optional activity packs for families to stay connected with their site over the holidays.

Other initiatives prompted by program monitoring include:

• HIPPY’s partnership with Goodstart Early Learning: Acknowledging that many Tutors wanted to continue their early years journeys beyond their time with HIPPY, HIPPY Australia and Goodstart have created direct employment pathways to careers in Early Childhood Education.
  You can view details here .

• Targeted network webinars: Hosting webinars on topics identified by Coordinators and Tutors as being particularly relevant, including supporting a comprehensive understanding of the NDIS early childhood approach and navigating Services Australia.

As HIPPY Australia approaches the end of its current Grant Agreement with the Department of Social Services (DSS), and we move into 2026, advocacy becomes more critical than ever.

Demonstrating the program’s national success and continued relevance is a key focus of our performance management and evaluation strategies.

HIPPY Australia leverages all available data, both qualitative and quantitative, to influence and advocate for the program’s ongoing impact across the country. This includes compelling evidence provided by sites that helps shape key advocacy messages, such as:

Nationwide reach: HIPPY operates in nearly 100 communities, including 50 First Nations-focused sites, delivering meaningful outcomes in every state and territory.

Free, at-Home support: HIPPY empowers parents to be their child’s first teacher, strengthening families, building confidence, and laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

Proven outcomes: Each year, 5,000 families participate, with 96% reporting improved parenting skills, highlighting HIPPY’s role in fostering resilience and capability.

Inclusive by design: Over 25% of children in HIPPY have a disability or developmental concern. The program equips parents to support and advocate for their children’s unique needs.

Pathways to employment: Since 2020, HIPPY has employed 1,138 tutors. 25% were first-time workers, and 65% transitioned into further employment, showcasing its contribution to local workforce development and economic participation.

By collecting and analysing this data, HIPPY Australia can clearly demonstrate the program’s outcomes and outputs, whether it’s tracking the growth of parents, children, and Tutors, or monitoring access to training and development.

This evidence is vital in advocating for the program’s continuation, ensuring HIPPY remains a transformative force in the lives of thousands of families nationwide.

Research

HIPPY Australia’s monitoring and evaluation has been fundamental in building the program’s evidence base. Periodically, the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Department of Social Services (DSS) have commissioned specific research into the program’s efficacy. Examples of this include:

• The HIPPY longitudinal study
• The Tutor study
• Recruiting and retaining families in HIPPY

As a member of an international network of programs, HIPPY Australia’s research also feeds into multinational efforts to demonstrate the programs impact and efficacy.

The HIPPY International literature review collates five decades' worth of HIPPY research, showing the program has made a significant impact.

The assessment component consists of the Assessment of Program Quality (APQ) visit, which is currently under development.

The APQ was previously used to evaluate the quality of program delivery across sites. While it has not been used in recent years for a variety of reasons, it is currently under review and will be relaunched in 2026 with updated content and structure.

In the interim, HIPPY Australia has implemented the Quality Tool, which facilitates structured conversations with families, Tutors, Coordinators, and Local Managers. During Quality Visits, Site Advisors use this tool to ask a series of questions about participants’ experiences and perceptions of program quality. The tool supports continuous improvement by gathering feedback and identifying strengths and areas for development. Any compliance issues identified during the visit should be addressed on-site, and the Annual Compliance Checklist should be updated accordingly. The template is available here .

The monitoring component consists of two key tools:

Compliance Checklist

The HIPPY Sublicence and Funding Agreement compliance checklist (also known as the "compliance checklist") is a structured monitoring tool designed to assess whether Site Providers are meeting the requirements of the Sublicence and Funding Agreement. It promotes safer, more consistent, and effective program delivery aligned with national standards.

The checklist includes 17 key requirements across five core areas:

• Child Safeguarding and Risk Management
• Training and Staffing
• Family Recruitment and Retention
• Program Delivery and Data Management
• Governance and Communication

The checklist is typically completed annually by the site's Site Advisor online. When used as a part of the APQ visit, the checklist will be completed by the APQ assessor.

By completing the checklist, sites demonstrate awareness of their compliance obligations, support quality assurance efforts, and contribute to accountability across the HIPPY network. It is a vital tool for ensuring that program delivery remains consistent, safe, and aligned with HIPPY Australia’s expectations and contractual commitments.

Provider performance and improvement plan

The HIPPY provider performance and improvement plan aids HIPPY Australia in monitoring and assessing the performance of a HIPPY site that is not meeting key contractual obligations. This framework is currently being developed and is anticipated to launch in 2026.

Coaching and capacity building covers Support visits, where Site Advisors travel to sites on an ‘as-needs’ basis when it has been determined that the site needs focussed support that cannot be achieved through regular remote contact. Support visits may or may not include one or more of the following:

• Completion of the Compliance checklist
• Review of existing Development plan goals (or discussion of new goals)
• Targeted support and coaching, and
• Discussions with key HIPPY provider stakeholders.

Though not exclusively part of coaching and capacity building, annual Development plans, where sites set themselves a maximum of three goals and review them biannually, are an important opportunity for sites to grow their practice.

Other tools used to monitor and support sites include:

• Site Advisors’ monthly site catch-ups, including report monitoring and coaching
• Development plans, reviews, and visits
• The completion of online learning modules
• Face-to-face training
• Individualised training and support from the Quality, Performance and Administration, and Network Engagement teams

The Sublicence and Funding Agreement requires that the HIPPY provider inputs and maintains accurate program data, entering all data in a timely manner. This includes:

• entering data into ETO within ten business days of the activity occurring
• ensuring HIPPY data is ready for quarterly upload to the DSS data exchange (DEX) database within 10 business days of the end of quarter (missing this deadline has significant ramifications for the program)

All HIPPY providers are required to complete an ASoSC form to declare their compliance with safeguarding obligations for the previous year (as outlined in the Sublicence).

This statement is one of HIPPY Australia’s milestone reporting obligations to the DSS. To meet this requirement, each Site Provider must:

• Conduct a HIPPY program-specific risk assessment for the preceding year, identifying and addressing risks associated with program delivery at their site
• Declare that a system of safeguarding training and compliance has been established and maintained
• Confirm that all staff understand and adhere to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, their respective state/territory safeguarding standards, and the Victorian Child Safe Standards, with particular emphasis on Standard 1: Cultural Safety

The ASoSC form will be sent out to site providers by November 2025 and must be returned to HIPPY Australia by 30 January 2026. Organisation-specific templates will be provided in the November communication.

This report is completed biannually and is entered into ETO. The report includes information on:

• Recruitment and retention
• Program delivery to families
• Tutor training and development
• Support needs
• HIPPY stories (narrative demonstrating the impact of HIPPY)

This report is completed biannually and is entered into ETO. This report provides a summary of site operations, outlining how the Line Manager has supported the Coordinator strategically and operationally.

This includes the annual financial report, the financial year budget and the biannual financial actuals.

Yes, there will be. The new cycle will be explained in a new quality assurance guide.

In 2025, we are conducting Quality Visits to a number of sites instead of Assessment of Program Quality visits (APQs). We are currently working on redeveloping the APQ Tool which will be ready for use in 2026.

We anticipate launching the guide in 2026.

Yes, you can. Please contact ETO Support to set up a session.