Around the Grounds April

How many years have you been a part of the HIPPY program? Could you share more about your journey to becoming a Coordinator?

I have been the Coordinator at HIPPY Belconnen since 2009, from the very start of the National rollout, so that's 16 years now. My background is in the primary education sector in the ACT, where I taught in autism units, support units, and mainstream classrooms.

Warrick's passion for education and dedication to the HIPPY program shine through from his first response. His experience in the primary education sector has equipped him with valuable insights and skills, supporting HIPPY as a program for everyone and fostering an inclusive learning environment.

You have been a HIPPY Coordinator for 16 years; that's a long time. What does a typical work week look like for you?

Warrick shares that his week generally involves supporting HIPPY Tutors to connect meaningfully with their families, helping them deliver an education program that strengthens the parent-child bond and promotes early childhood development. He also shared that his now adult children used to help with HIPPY graduations.

We have a lot of fun in our workplace. Even though we come from different backgrounds, we learn from one another every day.

HIPPY Belconnen is certainly family-friendly, diverse, and inclusive.

We hear so many amazing and memorable stories from around the HIPPY Network. As the Coordinator at Belconnen, is there one you would like to share with us?

Warrick reflects on a very powerful story from his time at HIPPY. It centres on a HIPPY Tutor from a South Sudanese refugee background, whose long journey saw him travel through refugee camps and the USA before reuniting with his wife in ACT.

On learning about the HIPPY model, and that HIPPY Belconnen was the only one in the ACT, he wanted to bring the HIPPY program to the South Sudanese Dinka community. After finding 10 suitable families, he became a HIPPY Tutor himself, working with this community. Over time, this connection led to seven Dinka Tutors and seven cohorts of Dinka families in the program.

A strong believer in the power of education, this Tutor (already holding two Master's Degrees) pursued and completed a PhD last year. At his graduation, he credited HIPPY & Warrick's guidance to making his achievement possible.

Through his Pathways to Possibilities (P2P) project (called Crossing Bridges at that time), he set up the Lost Boys Memorial Project, a charity that raised funds and awareness for South Sudan. His journey back to Africa to deliver five donated wheelchairs was marked by extraordinary courage; he was caught in the outbreak of civil war, held at gunpoint, and ultimately fled to safety. Throughout this time, the HIPPY Belconnen team supported his family through the Emergency Relief Program.

Upon returning to Australia, he shared videos of the donated wheelchairs being gifted; one to an elderly woman in Kenya who had not been outdoors for a decade, and another to a young child.

Seeing the impact of our community’s donations moved people to keep giving. It was a reminder of how powerful connection can be.

What is your approach to building relationships with diverse families in your community?

When asked about building relationships with diverse families, Warrick shared that it’s something he approaches naturally. In fact, he turned to his staff for the answer, as it’s not something he consciously thinks about. They told him he is well accepted in the community because of his
non-judgemental nature, his good sense of humour, and his genuine interest in learning about different cultures and religions.

“You just do you,” they said to me.

Tell us about how you identify strengths and opportunities at your site

Warrick shared every family experiences HIPPY in their own unique way, which is what makes the program so special. He feels fortunate to work alongside Tutors who are creative, passionate, and think outside the box to find new ways to support their communities.

Knowing that many Tutors do not want to leave the role at the end of their journey is a true reflection of how much of a family HIPPY Belconnen has become.

What is your vision for this year?

Warrick remarks the 2024 was an unstable year, so his focus for this year remains on creating a calm, successful, non-eventful space.

He shared that the site has had a strong start engaging the Afghan community and is looking forward to building and strengthening those connections throughout the year.

What aspect of HIPPY brings you the most satisfaction?

Warrick feels that the most rewarding part of his work is seeing parents who once participated in the HIPPY program go on to train as HIPPY Tutors themselves. Watching them grow personally and professionally, and then supporting other parents through the program, is a powerful reminder of the impact HIPPY has on families and communities.

Our warm, supportive, diverse, and humorous workplace brings me real joy and satisfaction.