Around the Grounds November

Janelle recently spoke with us about her journey with HIPPY Colac and the layers of impact that keep her inspired after seven years in the role.

Let’s start at the beginning, you came into HIPPY Coordination with a strong early childhood background. What drew you to this particular role?

My HIPPY journey began in July 2018 when I first stepped into the Coordinator role. I had worked across multiple early years programs within our organisation and previously worked in Early Childhood Education in various centres and Kindergartens in our community.

When I was approached about the HIPPY role, I was immediately intrigued. I hadn't been involved with the program before, but I was curious and excited by the idea of supporting families in such a unique and empowering way.

That was the start of what was to be a very long and evolving role here at HIPPY Colac, Meli

The more I learned about HIPPY, the more I felt it aligned with my values, particularly around early learning, relationships, and community connection.

& I haven't looked back since July of 2018!

How would you explain a typical week to someone outside the sector?

How would I explain my role as HIPPY Coordinator to someone... that's a great question, and honestly, one I still get asked a lot!

You mentioned even your family sometimes struggles to understand exactly what you do!

Absolutely! Even my family get a bit stumped with it, because I don't think they truly understand what I do when I try to explain it!

At the heart of it, my role is about supporting our Mentors so they can support their families.
A typical week is a real mix; there's always planning, training, meetings, and plenty of admin to make sure everything is running smoothly behind the scenes.
Then there's that big focus on connection, with our team, families, and the wider community.

One of the most rewarding parts is watching Mentors grow in confidence, develop new skills, and then seeing that positive flow-on effect in the families they're working with.

Colac is a small rural community with its own unique strengths and challenges. How do you approach building trust with diverse families in this context?

Building strong and trusting relationships with families really comes down to being real, consistent, and taking the time to listen.

HIPPY Colac being a small community, brings it down to that local connection. Local connection centres how we get to know families, listening to what's important to them, and supporting them in ways that actually make sense for their situation.

Being open, honest, and down-to-earth goes a long way, especially when working with families from diverse or culturally rich backgrounds.

We've taken time to build strong relationships with places like Cultura and the Neighbourhood House. This helps us connect with a wide range of families and the newly arrived families in our community.

Having those partnerships means we can take more of a wrap-around approach, so families feel supported not just by us, but by the whole community.

The Mentor role seems to be where you find the most meaning. Can you share a story about a Mentor whose journey has stayed with you?

The Mentor role is such a unique and powerful opportunity for parents who've been part of our program. Over the years, I've had the privilege of supporting many Mentors on their journey, each with their own story of growth and success, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been part of that.

One Mentor who really stands out to me is Sarah.

Sarah first connected with our organisation through a young parent program. Over time, she participated in many of our Early Years programs, and when her child was old enough, she joined HIPPY as a parent. Later, she stepped into the role of HIPPY Mentor, and Sarah often mentions, that's when everything started to shift.

Through the P2P pathway, Sarah completed a Certificate IV in Community Services and began studying for her Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care. What stood out most was watching her truly blossom. She went from being a quiet young parent to a confident young woman with goals, direction, and belief in herself.

She had started study before but never finished. So this was a really proud and empowering milestone. It was a privilege to walk alongside her on that journey and witness her transformation.

Stories like Sarah's are exactly why this work matters.

It's not just about early learning, in the process of becoming the one who bonds with their child over learning, there is a shift in the Parent's journey. It's about growth, confidence, and the ripple effect that happens when someone is given the right support at the right time.

Earlier you've mentioned wanting to create spaces for families to "slow down" in our fast-paced world. What's your vision for HIPPY Colac this year?

This year, the vision for our HIPPY site and community has been about building stronger connections: bringing families together through Gatherings, fun excursions, and relaxed coffee catch-ups. We live in such a fast-paced world, so the team here really want to create space for families to slow down, spend quality time with their children, and just enjoy the simple things: laughing, playing, imagining together.

One thing we're especially excited about is building on the bush playgroups we started last year.

Nature play is such a rich learning space. It encourages curiosity, creativity, and connection, and it gives families a chance to step away from the noise and just be present with their children. We hope that by offering these kinds of experiences, we can help reduce parental stress, create a sense of community, and empower parents in their role.

And just as importantly, we want our HIPPY team to feel empowered too; to know how valuable their work is and the real difference they make in the lives of families.

Seven years is a significant commitment to one program. You tell me your Site Advisor called you a "HIPPY veteran". What keeps you inspired?

What I love most about HIPPY Colac is how many layers there are to the impact. It's not just about helping children get ready for school; it's about supporting parents, strengthening families, building confidence in our Mentors, and creating real change in our community.

It all matters, and it all connects.

I've been in this role for seven years now, though it honestly doesn't feel that long. Time flies when you're doing something you love.
Our Site Advisor Belinda recently called me a "HIPPY veteran," which made me laugh, but also reminded me just how lucky I am to have been part of something so special for so long.

One of my favourite parts is seeing the HIPPY Children graduate. The big smiles, the sense of pride! it's just beautiful. And watching the parents grow in confidence over the year is just as powerful. It's the bonus. You can see that shift in them, where they start to believe in themselves, and it's so rewarding to be part of that journey.

But the thing that keeps me inspired more than anything is the growth I see in our Mentors. The confidence, the leadership skills, and that moment when they start to see their own potential. It always brings out the big emotions for me, it's amazing.

The Mentor role is something really unique, and I feel genuinely proud to play even a small part in their story.