2010, a new and exciting year!

It is with pleasure that I welcome our new 2010 HIPPY partner agencies. HIPPY brings together many service providers who add their own local experience, knowledge and other programs for HIPPY families to benefit from.

The support that is provided for a HIPPY coordinator by their partner agency is demonstrated in two important ways. The first is the supervision and support to the coordinator by their line manager and the second is the agency’s engagement with the local community and other service providers. 

At the HIPPY Australia National Coordinator’s Training held in Melbourne last December, I noted that all the line managers and coordinators highlighted the importance of regular supervision. I want to acknowledge the great support that has been provided to coordinators and I know that this level of assistance will continue.

I would like to commend all existing coordinators for the leadership and support they provide to their home tutors. I would also like to share with you a comment made to me by a home tutor regarding her relationship with her coordinator.

‘My coordinator is inspirational to me at work and what I have learnt helps me with my life’.

I would also like to acknowledge the good work that is undertaken by HIPPY advisory groups or committees. The members bring with them diverse skills, knowledge and the capacity to raise HIPPY’s awareness with a wider audience.

In my experience good committees are kept small, have a specific focus or purpose and meet on a regular basis. By regular, I mean identifying what needs to be done at what time in the life of the HIPPY year. We all have busy lives, so a good thing to do is to talk with members, identify the purpose and then the functions or activities that the committee will undertake.

What an exciting year this will be as the 13 programs that commenced in 2009 will experience the reward of organising their Age 5 graduation. For the first time, graduation ceremonies will happen in every state and territory across Australia.

Graduation is a very exciting and busy time, so it is important that coordinators and tutors take the time to sit with parents and complete the graduation and evaluation survey.

The survey provides a good opportunity to talk with a parent about their experience and their child’s experience doing HIPPY.

This year will be the first year that HIPPY coordinators and home tutors deliver the new Age 5 activities, so a journey of discovery and enjoyment is before you.

On behalf of everyone at HIPPY Australia have a great 2010 and remember together we make HIPPY a rewarding and fun experience for many families.

Carmen Calleya-Capp, National Manager HIPPY Australia  

HIPPY Australia welcomes four new team mates

Due to the rapid growth of our program, HIPPY Australia has now welcomed on board four new team members.

The new staff have a great range of skills, knowledge and experience that will benefit the work of HIPPY Australia.

We are very happy to introduce each team member to you as we embark on another exciting year in the life of HIPPY in Australia.

Christine Wakefield, HIPPY Consultant
Christine joins us from HIPPY Moonee Valley where she previously coordinated the program.
With hands on experience in delivering HIPPY and from working in diverse communities, her knowledge will be a credit to HIPPY Australia.

Mog, aka. Magdalene van Golstein Brouwers, Office Support and Administration.
Mog’s previous working life was spent at the Melbourne Museum, providing office support to the CEO. 

In her few short weeks at HIPPY Australia she has already given our office a much needed organisational makeover and has us feeling very looked after!

Sandra Andrews, HIPPY Consultant
Sandra comes to HIPPY with a background in movement and learning and extensive teaching experience in the early childhood sector.
Her most recent appointment was as Foundational Learning Facilitator across a multi school campus with an emphasis on mentoring and training Prep – Year two staff. Her knowledge in the area of curriculum will enhance the HIPPY team’s ability to support sites.

Sandra has hit the ground running since starting with HIPPY Australia and we commend her on picking things up so quickly!

Sherri Longbottom, HIPPY Consultant, Indigenous programs.
Sherri has been involved in HIPPY for almost 10 years now. As a coordinator for the HIPPY La Perouse program in NSW, she spent time in Israel training with the founder of HIPPY, Professor Avima Lombard.

She brings with her many strengths and skills, not only to our team but also to the Indigenous communities that she will be working with. 

Pictured: A drawing of mother and child reading a HIPPY book, by a HIPPY Moonee Valley participant.