Out and About with Laura C

Please begin by sharing your personal journey with HIPPY?

My background is in Early Childhood, and I began my career working in childcare centers for many years before moving into a HIPPY Coordinator role at HIPPY Elizabeth in South Australia. I worked in that role for seven years, and it was incredibly formative for me, both professionally and personally.

After those seven years, I relocated to Melbourne to take on the role of Site Advisor. In the years that followed, I progressed into the Site Advisor Manager role and then into the Network Engagement Manager position. After my second period of maternity leave, I returned to HIPPY part-time, and I've thoroughly enjoyed my current role as Senior Projects Officer, where I've been able to work across a range of projects that support change, growth, and continuous improvement within HIPPY.

What influences your leadership style & what inspires you in your work?

There is so much about HIPPY that inspires me. In my early years with HIPPY, supporting Tutor pathways and being involved in the development of the P2P (Pathways to Possibilities) program was incredibly rewarding.

I am still in contact with some of the Tutors I supported, many of whom have gone on to work in fields such as nursing, mental health, and disability services; all strong, dedicated women who worked hard and continue to do incredible work within their communities

That's what keeps me going: knowing that the work we do has lasting impact, not just on children, but on entire families and communities.

My work on the Transition to ACCO project has been an extraordinary experience. It has expanded my understanding in so many ways, and it has been a great privilege to visit HIPPY communities across the country and to speak with, learn from, and listen to the stories and voices of the people within them.

Hearing what HIPPY means to Families and how communities believe it can best support First Nations children has been deeply impactful. It is a privilege that I continue to value, and one that I am committed to honoring through ongoing learning and reflection.

How does your personal journey influence your approach to strategy and culture within HIPPY?

I feel that my experience as a HIPPY Coordinator has been a real strength in my role within HANO (HIPPY Australia National Office). I am able to draw on my practical experience to guide how I contribute to the work, and to envision how decisions and projects may have an impact on the ground within our communities.

This experience has also given me a deep connection to the HIPPY model, I have seen firsthand the benefits it can have in Families' lives, and I understand how the model can be adapted to meet the needs of individual families while maintaining the fidelity and core principles that make HIPPY effective.

My experience and passion for HIPPY also allows me to positively contribute to the culture of the National Office by providing a strong connection to HIPPY's history, while remaining actively engaged and enthusiastic about how HIPPY can continue to evolve, adapt, and grow into the future

You recently attended the SNAICC Conference. Can you share what you learned and how it connects to HIPPY's work?

Absolutely. I attended the October SNAICC Conference, themed Our Culture. Keep it Strong. We Belong.

Given the work HIPPY has been undertaking over the past 18 months in the Transition to ACCO space, alongside the Brotherhood of St Laurence's commitment to self-determination for First Nations peoples and strengthening how HIPPY works for First Nations families in our focused sites, the conference was deeply affirming.

It reinforced for me that HIPPY is actively contributing to Priority Reform 2 of the Closing the Gap Agreement by supporting an already strong and sustainable community-controlled sector to lead and deliver HIPPY within their own communities for First Nations children and families.

The conference reminded me of the importance of listening, of centering community voice, and of trusting that communities know what's best for their children. That's the foundation of everything we're doing with the Transition to ACCO Project.

What's one thing you love about being part of the HIPPY team?

The people, without question. HIPPY attracts people who genuinely care about making a difference, and that shows up in everything we do. There's a shared sense of purpose and a real commitment to supporting families and communities that makes this work feel meaningful every single day.

I also love that HIPPY continues to evolve. We're not static. We're always learning, always improving, always listening. That commitment to growth and responsiveness is something I'm really proud to be part of.

You work across a number of projects. What does your day-to-day look like?

As a Senior Projects Officer, my work can be quite varied. It really depends on which projects are active at any given time.
Much of my current work has been focused on the Transition to ACCO Project, which has involved a lot of travel to Sites, meetings with community organizations, and supporting the implementation of transitions.

But I also work on other continuous improvement projects, support the development of quality frameworks, contribute to strategic planning, and collaborate with the wider HANO team on various initiatives.
Every project brings something different, which keeps the work interesting and meaningful.

What's something you're enjoying right now outside of work?

I love spending time playing with my children. My daughter Fern loves to draw and often asks me to draw unicorns and mermaids for her, which I'm getting quite good at! My son Leo is completely absorbed in the world of dinosaurs, which has me running around the yard stomping, roaring, and being chased daily.

I have also fallen victim to Elf on the Shelf for the first time as a parent. My husband Matt wanted to do it this year, and I was firmly against it, declaring it 100% his responsibility! By night two I was fully invested, sending him ideas and offering "constructive" feedback on how he could improve the scenes he was creating.

I am now totally obsessed and my social media algorithm has fully committed to it too

At the moment, I'm also loving being active. I attend BFT (Body Fit Training) daily and really enjoy being part of my gym community, where the energy is high and I've made some lovely friendships and connections with a great group of mums.