Samaritans provides the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) in Kempsey.

HIPPY is a free two-year program that supports parents and carers to help children make a successful transition to school and beyond through play based learning.

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Services

HIPPY is designed to fit in around daily family life. Parents are asked to spend 10-15 minutes a day doing fun educational activities with their child while a trained HIPPY tutor will meet with families at home each week or fortnight to practice the HIPPY activities.

The HIPPY approach is based on evidence that children’s earliest and most powerful learning comes from their family. HIPPY starts two years before Kindergarten and encourages children to ask questions, try new things and develop their confidence and passion for learning.

In the first year of the program, families learn skills to get their children ready for school and in the second year, parents learn more about supporting their children’s learning and development at school and at home.

Who we assist

Families are considered to meet the Priority of Access criteria if they have not completed HIPPY before and meet at least one or more of the following conditions:

  • the household holds a Health Care Card;
  • the HIPPY child is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander;
  • the HIPPY child resides in out-of-home care;
  • they have no income or are receiving a form of government support payment as their main source of income;
  • single-parent families;
  • the HIPPY child has a developmental delay or disability and can engage positively in HIPPY;
  • the HIPPY child's parent or carer identifies as having a disability;
  • the child resides with a carer (i.e. not a parent); or
  • the main language spoken at home is not English.

Are you interested in being part of the HIPPY family? Call us today!

Contact us

Phone: 02 6562 3705
Coordinator mobile: 0428 560 936
Email: [email protected]

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