Questions from the Network

Q: The recent HIPPY bulletin seems to indicate a new requirement to allocate at least $13,000 per year for Tutor professional development. Is this accurate?

A:

No, this requirement is not new. Allocating funds (up to $13,000 per year) for Tutor professional development has long been an aspect of HIPPY’s operational expectations and is outlined in the HIPPY Operations Guide. This funding supports Tutors’ training and growth and contributes to HIPPY's success in building skills and opportunities for participating families. The figure is also reflected in the Annual Financial Reporting template, as well as other network communications.

Q: Are we to go ahead with enrolling Age 3 families for 2026. We do have a waiting list ready to start enrolling for 26/27 as well as employing two Tutors?
If DSS decides to withdraw funding for HIPPY at end of 2026, then the Age 3 will not be funded into 2027 for Age 4?

A:

We appreciate that the lack of certainty about an ongoing HIPPY contract post FY27 may create some uncertainty for site providers, particularly in relation to recruiting families for the 3-year-old cohort in 2026, those children who would be due to complete their 4-year-old program in 2027.

Please be reassured that we are working closely with DSS and negotiating a new contract.

While we understand that the current situation is not ideal, we are committed further engagement with the government to achieve the end result that children commencing in 2026 will be able to complete their 4-year-old program in 2027 with a new contract.

Thank you again for your ongoing commitment and support.

Q: The current requirement for HIPPY Tutor supervision is 30 minutes per week or 1 hour per fortnight. Time constraints can affect the quality of supervision. Would HIPPY Australia consider adjusting the minimum requirement to 1 hour per month for formal supervision, acknowledging that informal check-ins and day-to-day support remain ongoing?

A:

This is an insightful suggestion regarding Tutor supervision.

The HIPPY Operations Guide recommends formal supervision of either 30 minutes weekly or 1 hour fortnightly. While informal, day-to-day supervision is valuable, the Compliance Checklist (Requirement 13) sets this schedule to ensure timely support and strong family engagement.

Formal supervision provides dedicated space for:

• Addressing program challenges (e.g. retention, complex family needs)
• Supporting reflective practice and professional growth
• Ensuring accountability for pack delivery and responsibilities
• Reviewing P2P goals
• Providing feedback on supervised visits

This does not replace informal supervision but establishes a baseline for meaningful, development-focused conversations.

Given that many Coordinators and Tutors work part-time, scheduling can be challenging. A minimum of 1 hour per month, alongside frequent informal support, may help maintain quality without adding administrative burden.

This supports Tutor confidence and aligns with Outcome Area 3, which prioritizes capacity building through reflective supervision. However, monthly supervision may reduce timely responses to emerging challenges. Retaining current options allows flexibility while upholding program standards and Tutor well-being.

Please reach out to your Site Advisor or Line Manager to discuss what works best in your context and ensure supervision remains a priority.

A query was raised regarding Tutors’ salaries mentioned in the recent compliance bulletin post: Compliance Bulletin_August2025 | HIPPY Australia

Q: According to the Sublicence and Funding Agreement, Tutors should maintain a ratio of 0.4 FTE per 15 families. Allocations above this require discussion and approval.

Is there a possible conflict with the operations guide, which states: Allocate the Tutor(s) gross salary based on the FTE or work hours per year. This should be a minimum of 15 hours per week, equating to 0.4 FTE.

Can we please have more clarification regarding the “Allocations above this require discussion and approval” – most Coordinators stated they understood that the Tutors were required to be employed for 15 hours a week minimum but did not know that anything above this FTE required approval.

A:

To clarify the statement: “Allocations above this require discussion and approval”, this refers specifically to the family caseload ratio, not the minimum employment requirement of 0.4 FTE (15 hours per week).

The Sublicence and Funding Agreement requires a ratio of 0.4 FTE per 15 families. This means a Tutor employed at 0.4 FTE should manage no more than 15 families.

If a provider intends to increase a Tutor’s caseload beyond 15 families, which would typically require increasing their FTE above 0.4, this must be discussed with the Site Advisor. In some cases, an Adaptation Request may also be required.

This process ensures that any increase in FTE and caseload is appropriate, sustainable, and aligned with program fidelity and Tutor support.

In summary:

• Tutors must be employed for a minimum of 0.4 FTE (15 hours/week)
• Approval is only required when increasing the caseload beyond 15 families, which may necessitate a corresponding increase in FTE.