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JUN 2026
EDITION 27
From the National Office
Enhancing the Home Learning Environment: Insights from the Sector
It's been a busy month on the advocacy front. The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) are continuing positive discussions about future HIPPY program arrangements, working closely together on program design and delivery options to ensure continued support for vulnerable children and families. We'll share further updates as they become available.
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a sector event alongside our leadership team, which centred on the critical importance of the early home learning environment. A key highlight was the launch of a report exploring evidence-based ways to enhance home learning, with significant takeaways for everyone involved in HIPPY program delivery.
The event featured a powerful keynote address from Warren Kane of the Parenting Research Centre (PRC). Warren shared contemporary Australian research highlighting the foundational role of home learning environments and offered excellent provocations on how early years practitioners can best support parents without adding to their burdens.
HIPPY's core philosophy of empowering parents as their child's first teacher resonated strongly with many attendees, serving as a timely moment of validation for our work, reframed in modern, contemporary sector language.
One of the most compelling concepts introduced was the Technosphere. A term describing how modern technology can unknowingly interfere with day-to-day parenting and family interactions. Rather than placing blame on parents, the research emphasises that families need supportive, modern resources to help them navigate digital boundaries and foster deep connections in a rapidly changing world.
It remains my favourite word and concept of the month.
Clare Seddon | Head of HIPPY and Early Years
Reflections from the First Nations Governance Network Meeting
Earlier this month, the First Nations Governance Network gathered for the first time in-person on the lands of Meanjin. I felt privileged to attend the gathering alongside the HIPPY National Office team and senior leaders from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across the country.
Sitting in that room alongside such phenomenal leaders was one of the most significant privileges of my career. It was a deeply impactful experience that genuinely brought everyone together.
We often hear about the incredible value of HIPPY through the eyes of our coordinators, tutors, and past parent families. Hearing directly from senior organisational leaders, GMs and CEOs, about how they see HIPPY working in their communities, and what the program truly means to them, was profoundly moving.
This meeting took place around Sorry Day, which hit me quite hard this year. It brought home a deep realisation: having these vital conversations about true program self-determination is only possible because of the immense groundwork laid by those who came before us. Seeing leaders who have known each other and sat on national forums for decades, navigating their own histories and personal journeys, yet still showing up in the same spaces to push for betterment in their unique communities, was genuinely inspiring.
At the HIPPY National Office, we recognise that we are custodians of this program. There was a vast amount of work done before us, and there will be many who carry it on after us. I feel incredibly lucky to be part of this change process, and I am deeply grateful to everyone whose historical efforts made these spaces possible
Next steps include gathering insights from the attendee survey to directly inform the next stages. As HIPPY Australia plans the calendar for the rest of the year, the intent is to host two more online network meetings before an in-person gathering.
Annie Kent | Senior Manager, First Nations Network
Key Program Dates
National Office Updates
Finance Updates
LMS Updates
ETO Updates
Communities of Practice (CoP) Digest
HIPPY Training Opportunities
External Training Opportunities
Network Success and Innovation
Days of Recognition
At HIPPY, we recognise and celebrate a variety of important dates, including some cultural and religious observances that reflect our commitment to inclusivity, family, and cultural diversity.
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