Research

Past Research

In Australia, a series of small research and evaluation projects undertaken between 2002 and 2007 illustrated the following very positive and recurring themes:

• eagerness in children to learn new concepts
• increased self-confidence of parents
• improved communication between parents and children
• positive impact on family relationships.
  (Gilley 2002, Grady 2002, Green 2003, Green/ Dean 2007)

HIPPY Australia would like to acknowledge the dedication and commitment of Dr Suzanne Dean, in driving the early work of evaluating the program in its first years in Australia. The work provided valuable insights, which helped drive adaptation of the program to local conditions, as well as the evidence required by governments and other supporters.

In 2007 a BSL/Monash University partnership was funded by the Victorian State Government, Rotary and the BSL to undertake an evaluation of 9 HIPPY sites in Australia. The sites include five locations in Victoria (Moonee Valley, Moreland, Winchelsea, Colac, Fitzroy, and Geelong), two locations in Tasmania (Burnie and Smithton), and one community with a high proportion of indigenous residents in New South Wales (La Perouse).

This evaluation has been used to inform the research design and questions of the current national evaluation so as to build the evidence base of the effectiveness of HIPPY in Australia.

Current Research

In May 2007, the Rudd government announced a five year funding program for HIPPY. The funding was part of the new government’s commitment to support early childhood education. The evidence showed that investing in the early years delivers significant social and economic benefits for individuals particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In 2009 the first of three waves of the three year national roll-out of HIPPY commenced. Thirteen new sites were selected for the delivery of the program in 2009: 4 in Tasmania, 2 each in NSW, WA and QLD, and 1 each in SA, ACT and the NT.

All 13 sites of the first wave of the three year national rollout of HIPPY are included in this evaluation covering all States and Territories except Victoria and Tasmania which both have the program already established.

The HIPPY National Rollout Evaluation aims to evaluate the appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency of HIPPY and whether the program was governed with good practice. Part of the reason for this evaluation is also to inform future funding from the Australian Government.

As the previous nine site evaluation (which started in 2007) has been used to inform the development of the national evaluation research framework, progress reports will include information on the progress and outcomes of the existing nine site evaluation of HIPPY as well, so as to inform progress and developments in the national evaluation.