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June 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 Cann 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 Technoference. 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
Key Program Dates
We recognise that some sites are experiencing recruitment challenges.
To better support sites, the 2026 enrolment cut-off date is extended to 30 June 2026. There will be no further extension to the deadline.
We hope the extension provides practical support as you continue your recruitment efforts. If you have any questions, contact your Site Advisor immediately.
January-June 2026 due by 14 July. For assistance, contact ETO HIPPY support by logging a ticket via the HIPPY Support Portal
Term 2 ETO Data Entry Deadline. All activity from
1 APR to 30 JUN, including enrolments, pack deliveries, and journeys, must be finalised.
For assistance, contact ETO HIPPY support by logging a ticket via the HIPPY Support Portal
The August Edition of the Newsletter will be published in the week starting 28 AUG.
FY 2026 Annual Financial Report: strict deadline. No extensions will be made.
National Office Updates
HIPPY Australia has been invited to participate in a significant national project led by the Parenting Research Centre (PRC), in partnership with Playgroup Victoria and Our Place: the Early Home Learning Environment (EHLE) Network Project, currently in a national foundation-building phase.
The project focuses on strengthening early home learning across Australia. It recognises that everyday interactions between children and their caregivers (play, shared conversations, and daily routines) are critical to lifelong outcomes. The initiative aims to build a shared national understanding of how early home learning is supported, and to connect and scale effective practices across the country.
HIPPY's inclusion reflects the program's recognised role in the early years ecosystem. We will contribute to the national mapping component, offering our unique on-the-ground perspective, and will keep the network informed as opportunities for broader input emerge. Siska Frederick, Senior Manager of HIPPY Operations, is leading this work on behalf of HIPPY Australia.
We encourage you to express your interest in the early stages of the EHLE Network. You can do so here .
HIPPY Australia undertakes an annual review of insurance documentation across the Network. Letters regarding Insurance Certificates of Currency were sent to Site Leadership at the end of May 2026.
This update is information only and does not require any action from you.
HIPPY welcomes a familiar face back to the Brotherhood of St. Laurence with Lay Lay Swe, who joined the HIPPY National Office team in April, as our new Finance and Operations Support Officer.
Many of you in the HIPPY network will already be receiving emails from Lay Lay over your Finance queries.
Working closely alongside Manuel Solano (Senior Operations and Finance Officer), Lay Lay supports the Network's financial processes and other operational follow-ups.
Before returning to BSL, Lay Lay spent four years as a Finance Officer (A/R) at the State Library of Victoria.
Having spent 12 years with BSL’s core finance team as an Assistant Project Accountant before SLV, she is familiar with the HIPPY program budget queries and quarterly financial report submissions.
On a personal note, one of Lay Lay's favourite hobbies is window shopping and dreaming about the 'necessary' items she would love to buy!
Please join us in giving Lay Lay a warm welcome back to the team.
Finance Updates
A thank-you to all sites for your cooperation and diligence in submitting your recent Budget templates. The Finance team is currently processing these details and will be in contact with sites if minor adjustments are required.
LMS Updates
We like to ensure a prompt response and a quick resolution to LMS updates or changes requests.
When submitting LMS feedback, reporting broken links or update requests, we would greatly appreciate both the URL link and relevant screenshots. This allows the team to locate and address content issues efficiently, and streamlines the feedback mechanism
Submit all feedback via the Feedback Form , and technical queries through the HIPPY Australia Support Portal
ETO Updates
When entering new families onto ETO, please remember to submit their enrolment journey.
This data provides critical information about where a family is at the time of enrolment, so that their progress can be measured over time. This is integral information that helps inform DSS on HIPPY's viability as an early childhood education program, as well as allowing us to ascertain Priority of Access status for families.
A helpful step-by-step Enrolment Form Guide is available on the LMS.
A minor update has been made to the Professional Development form.
It now features a stand-alone option to easily record when tutors complete their Tutor Training modules on the LMS. The new version is available right now in the HIPPY Online Library .
If you need an ETO refresher or are onboarding new staff, remember the interactive ETO Refresher Module is available on the LMS.
For day-to-day solutions, compliance steps, or tech support, visit the HIPPY Support Portal
Communities of Practice (CoP) Digest
Can you create a short (2 min) promotional video for families explaining program structure (tutor gets trained, tutor visits you, you do activities with your child, Gatherings)?
Promotional video shorts are a great idea. However, current budget constraints reduce our capacity to plan and execute new promotional material.
Please make use of our existing video collection, available on the LMS:
- What is HIPPY? Our Five Essential Features
- Everywhere learning
- Home visits and group meetings
- Parents as Tutors
- Role Play
The National Office is open to working collaboratively with Sites to support the creation and sharing of promotional material, including videos.
For a list of questions and answers raised during the recent CoP sessions, please visit the HIPPY support portal
We acknowledge this requirement can be a genuine hurdle for Sites, particularly when a community partner can't confirm who will attend until close to the day, or when a presenter changes at short notice. The administrative load and cost involved, especially for small or remote sites, is a fair consideration.
This requirement comes directly from our DSS funding agreement, which is reflected in every site's sublicence and funding agreement. Under these conditions, anyone who has contact with children or vulnerable people while delivering HIPPY, including guest speakers, must hold a valid National Police Check and Working with Children Check (or equivalent). It isn't something HIPPY Australia is able to change, as it's a legal and contractual obligation tied to our funding, and a key part of how we keep families, communities, and our funder's trust intact.
For guidance on engaging guest speakers and other subcontractors, see the Engaging Subcontractors Guidelines , available in the HIPPY Online Library.
This requirement aligns with national child safety standards, the HIPPY Sublicence and Funding Agreement, each Delivery Partner's own child-safe policies, and DSS reporting expectations.
A national review into child safeguarding is currently underway, and we're working to ensure HIPPY stays aligned with any changes as they roll out. There are no changes to screening or risk requirements at this stage, we'll let site providers know promptly if and when anything changes.
Building strong enrollment and engagement takes time, consistency, and a focus on simple, relationship-based strategies.
To support your Site's ongoing engagement efforts, a new knowledge article has been published on the HIPPY support portal , bringing together practical, tried-and-tested ideas shared by Coordinators and Site Advisors across the network.
The core takeaway?
Prioritise word-of-mouth and back your Tutors and Families to lead it, whether through informal school-gate chats or sharing direct parent testimonials.
You don't need to try everything at once; start with one or two simple, focused approaches that suit your local context and keep them consistent.
Check out the full breakdown of actionable strategies on the HIPPY support portal .
HIPPY Training Opportunities
Collective Wisdom for Site Stability
Join fellow Coordinators for an interactive session exploring family retention through shared stories and practical, on-the-ground insights. There is no 'one size fits all' strategy; instead, successful retention requires a deep understanding of what is happening on the ground.
Exchange insights to identify shared learning, patterns and constraints collectively.
Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026 | Time: 12:00 - 3:00 PM (AEST)
Demand for MoneyMinded accreditation keeps growing, to accommodate a third and final training cohort for 2026.
Accredited coaches gain access to the MoneyMinded Hub, with over 150 financial topics, interactive handouts, case studies, and translated resources, as well as ready-to-use tools for money conversations with families.
Limited spots remain for Batch 3, secure your spot using the form: Money Minded Coach Training: Registrations
External Training Opportunities
In the June Edition of their Newsletter, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) mentions their Nest Wellbeing Framework. This framework was presented live nearly a year back, view recording here .
ARACY has shaped the national conversation on child and youth wellbeing for more than two decades. NEST is an evidence-based framework for national child and youth wellbeing. It was developed through extensive consultations with more than 4,000 children, families, and experts.
It outlines six interconnected domains that children need to truly thrive:
- Healthy
- Valued, loved, and safe
- Material basics
- Learning
- Participating
- Positive sense of identity and culture
It is another reflective tool, given its practicality, offering a strengths-based structure that translates the broad concept of 'wellbeing' into everyday priorities and relationships without narrowing the practice down to checklists.
To explore their implementation tools, visit: NEST Well-being Framework
The Centre for Community Child Health, a research group of the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, a department of The Royal Children’s Hospital, and affiliated with The University of Melbourne, is hosting a free session introducing the Relational Ecosystem Model (REM)
The online webinar explores how reframing relational practice as a system-wide foundation, rather than just an individual worker's skill. The panel will discuss how relational conditions shape trust, engagement, and child outcomes. They will also illustrate why major reforms, such as Thriving Kids, rely entirely on these conditions to succeed.
By purposefully connecting families, practitioners, organisations, and government policies, the model provides a practical framework for driving systemic change across the sector. This professional learning opportunity is for anyone looking to strengthen their local service networks to deliver a fairer, more equitable early years system.
Register directly via the link
Date: Tuesday 14 July 2026 | Time: 12:30 -1:30 PM (AEST)
Specific trauma-informed skills are valuable for facilitating parent and carer education groups.
The Australian Childhood Foundation is offering a comprehensive, interactive course designed for professionals in the early childhood, education, health, and welfare sectors who want to confidently create safe, respectful, and inclusive environments for families.
Expected learning outcomes
- The core philosophy of mindful, respectful, and inclusive parent group facilitation
- How to balance program content with real-time group dynamics and participant behaviours
- The practicalities of planning, resourcing, setting up, and co-facilitating a successful parent group
- The principles of adult learning and the distinct stages of parent group development
Format: 14 hours of virtual interactive sessions (4 workshops x 3.5 hours each) + 10 hours of independent research, journaling, and homework tasks
Recognition: Participants earn 24 Certified CPD hours upon completion
Prerequisites: Some prior experience facilitating groups is an advantage, but not essential; participants must commit to completing an in-session presentation
Cost: $1,360 (flexible payment plans are available)
For more details and to express your interest, email Australian Childhood Foundation directly.
Research across Australian early childhood networks, including recent studies on gendered speech patterns and early developmental disparities, continues to offer fascinating insights for early years practitioners.
According to ARACY, new observational research from the University of Queensland highlights how commercial and everyday environments subtly shape early development. In a study analysing 182 educator-toddler interactions, researchers noted that early childhood educators frequently adapt their language based on the gender mix of a group. Specifically, they used more 'desire' words (want, need) with girl-majority groups and more 'perception' words (look, hear) with boy-majority groups.
Because 'desire' language directly supports social-emotional development, the study raises important reflective questions for early years practitioners on ensuring boys receive equal opportunities for emotional vocabulary, especially given national data indicating boys are nearly twice as socially and emotionally vulnerable upon starting school.
This would be a useful reflective tool for HIPPY Coordinators and Tutors to consider:
- What does equal language-based emotional growth opportunities during home visits and Gatherings look like?
- How does ensuring children receive equal exposure to vocabulary as a powerful lever for growth?
The HIPPY National Office team tuned into the National Reconciliation Week webinar, All In for Growing Deadly Brains: Science, Culture and Community-Led Change for First Nations Children.
The team found meaningful learnings in the session, which illustrated how contemporary brain science is catching up with 60,000 years of First Nations cultural wisdom.
Key discussion points centred on the reality that early experiences shaping brain development (such as safety, deep relationship building, and connection to culture and kinship) must be treated as key biological necessities for children to thrive.
The panel made a case for community-led authority and self-determination as a viable pathway to reverse systemic gaps in youth justice and child protection. Insights and the featured Yiliyapinya Indigenous Corporation presentation slides can be viewed online.
To watch the video recording: All in for Growing Deadly Brains
For specific program enquiries, you can email the creators.
Network Success and Innovation
Hervey Bay's HIPPY community has a wonderful reason to celebrate! Children's drawings from local HIPPY families feature in Gambay Butchulla Yaa ("Together Butchulla Talk"), a newly launched book celebrating Butchulla language and the animals of the Fraser Coast.
The book was illustrated by Butchulla Elder Aunty Karen Hall, who worked with children from community services across the region, including HIPPY, to pair each animal with its Butchulla word.
Sharon, HIPPY Site Advisor, caught up with the Hervey Bay site to hear all about the official launch at Hervey Bay Library, where families joined storytime, language, dance and art activities to mark the occasion.
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As reported by Fraser Coast Regional Council, the project was supported by a $10,000 grant from the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, with additional launch sessions held at Howard, Burrum Heads, Maryborough and Tiaro libraries.
The Hervey Bay site received two copies of the book, which isn't available for sale. Instead, it will be used in the library's First Five Forever program and gifted to children as they join, meaning the artwork HIPPY children helped create will keep reaching new families well into the future.
It's a great example of how embedded HIPPY can become in local community life, with children's own creativity helping carry language and culture forward.
Read more:
Libraries launch new Butchulla language book | Fraser Coast Regional Council
Watch:
Launch video
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.
Keep an eye on our Facebook page for posts to like, share, and tag!
The focus of National Reconciliation Week is to encourage all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. The 2026 theme, All In, encouraged us to look at reconciliation as a collective responsibility requiring active, everyday commitment.
Across social media and our HIPPY Network, organisations leaned into community-led initiatives, supporting First Nations justice and self-determination is a shared responsibility.
2026 marks 40 years of Refugee Week and the milestone of one million permanent humanitarian visas granted by Australia since 1947. The theme, A Million Stories, is an invitation to reflect on the courage and contribution behind that number, each one a different journey that has helped shape the Australia we know today.
We have HIPPY children and families who are humanitarian entrants in our community, and Refugee Week is a meaningful moment to recognise that.
Three resources worth sharing with your team:
- Foundation House's Communicating Effectively with Families from Refugee Backgrounds in the Early Years tipsheet
- The Australia Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) practice paper on trauma and children's brain development
- The Outcomes Practice Evidence Network's trauma-informed resource series
The focus of National NAIDOC Week is to celebrate and amplify the rich histories, enduring cultures, and outstanding achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Marking five decades of the movement, the national theme for 2026 is 50 Years of Deadly.
It is a powerful reminder that when community leadership and First Nations culture lead the way, the next generation grows up proud, strong, and deeply connected.
All Australians are encouraged to walk together, get involved in local NAIDOC Marches, and celebrate the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. For more details, official resources, visit the official National NAIDOC Week website .
We want to celebrate your community's spirit! Please share your Site stories, highlights, Gatherings, and photos with us.
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