Around the Grounds with HIPPY Hervey Bay

If you had to sum up HIPPY in one word, what would it be?

"Connection," Mel says, without hesitation. It's a word she's earned: Melanie came to HIPPY as a parent, became a Tutor, and now leads HIPPY Hervey Bay as Coordinator. This means she knows how the program lands, from every side of the table.

"We might have three cups of coffee and a few conversations with a family before I even bring out what HIPPY is," she explains. "You need that authentic rapport for them to stay engaged, or feel comfortable enough to say, 'I don't think I can do this anymore,' before disengagement actually happens."

You need that authentic rapport before disengagement happens

Tell us about the Welcome to Baby Festival, how did it come together?

It started, Mel says, almost by accident.

A visiting local alliance coordinator mentioned wanting to replicate an event she'd seen in North Queensland.

We could have leapt across the table, we were so excited

Mel recalls, "What began as an offhand conversation grew into a weekly working group of early-years services meeting for four months. The event was hosted by Act for Kids and Central Queensland Indigenous Development Ltd. (CQID)

It was backed by Butchulla Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (BNTAC), Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC), Family & Child Connect, First 5 Forever, Anglicare, Child Health, and Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare, among others.

What did the day itself look like?

Held in Hervey Bay's botanical gardens and timed to land on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day, the festival was built entirely around removing barriers. Every stallholder brought a free, tangible activity to remove cost pressure and constraints on the community.
HIPPY's own contribution combined culture and craft: a pasta-necklace station using the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag colours, and an air-dry clay handprint station for the under-threes.

A local food vendor tailored her charcuterie cart to suit small children; there were free coffees for the first hundred people through the gate, a privacy-conscious breastfeeding tent, paramedics running quick first-aid tips, jumping castles and a petting zoo.

The day opened with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Uncle Travis of BNTAC, followed by a BAC dance performance spanning toddlers to adults. "No one was forced to participate; it was very organic," Mel says of the ceremony, "but anyone who wanted to walk through and receive a blessing could."

Our community can be a little reserved about new initiatives, but this event was so well received!

Tell me more about what this has paved the way forward for

The event drew a multi-generational crowd, grandmothers, aunties and kinship carers as much as parents — and generated eight expressions of interest for next year's intake. Just as valuable, Mel says, were the doors it reopened with other services. "It's opened up referral pathways and invitations." One community partner has since invited her to bring HIPPY along to their playgroup twice, with a return visit booked for late October. "Some of those families might not be ready for HIPPY yet because the children are too young — but it's building that reputation, so that when the time comes, they know where to find me."

It's opened up referral pathways and invitations

Wenchi, your leadership style seems to focus on 'best skills in the right places'. How do you support each other as a team?

We adopt a strengths-based approach organically.

I saw Michael’s drive and business leadership background, so I asked him to lead our Tutor training. He notices the intricate details like rapport-building and welcomes questioning... and collaboration.

Anh is incredible at the logistics; she planned our most successful community gathering when my own headspace was stretched. She organised everything: the planning sheet, materials, everything. We adopt a strength‑based approach without even talking about it. Everyone shines in what they’re good at.

Leadership is distributed, not consolidated, allowing the whole team to lead

I hear the team has a serious focus on themed Gatherings and cultural inclusion. Tell me more.

Highlighting the collaborative nature of these events: "Gatherings are a true team effort. While we focus on HIPPY delivery, the wider Play Matters staff provide essential childcare support, ensuring parents can fully engage in the activities while their children are safely cared for nearby," Wenchi shares with a smile. "Our recent multicultural gathering was possibly the best in HIPPY history."

Anh expands with "We celebrate everyone’s culture, sharing Lunar New Year traditions, Ramadan, and making Vietnamese rice paper rolls. One parent even shared a Ramadan activity book she had created herself."

Michael adds, "We want everyone to feel emotionally safe to contribute."

Inclusivity isn't symbolic here; it is practiced and celebrated. By staff, with the wider Play Matters team, and in the parent community

Finally, what is your vision for your HIPPY site and community for the remainder of this year?

"We want to see our graduation numbers reflect the deep engagement we see on the ground," the team agrees. "We are focusing on 'relational safety' and ensuring the National Office systems, like ETO, support our grassroots work. We are empowering parents to teach little minds and setting up future generations to parent with confidence."

We are creating unforgettable bonding experiences that last a lifetime.