Ready and eager to learn
December 20, 2024
A group of children starting kindergarten in 2025 at schools in and around Launceston are ready and rearing to go.
This month, 31 children graduated from Anglicare’s Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) – a free, early learning program that gets children ready for the classroom.
Families enrolled in the two-year program are provided with activity packs, story books and other learning resources that they can use with their children at home. They are matched with a tutor – a parent who has already gone through the program – who guides them along the way.
“The program also offers opportunities for families to meet up regularly and explore their local community together,” says Program Coordinator Aparna Banerjee. She began her HIPPY journey as a parent with a child in the program, then became a tutor before moving into her current role with Anglicare.
HIPPY supports parents to become more involved in their child’s education and gives them the skills to move into a paid tutor position or seek other employment. Younger siblings catch the learning bug and can’t wait until it’s their turn. And it’s lovely to see a growing number of grandparents who are actively participating in the program as well.
BSL has commissioned research that highlights HIPPY’s effectiveness at a national level. In its latest report, 90% of parents surveyed believed HIPPY improves their children’s school readiness, and 93% said it gave them a love of learning.
Preparing children for the new school year – hot on the heels of Christmas – can be an expensive and stressful time for many Tasmanian families.
Anglicare’s 2024 Christmas Appeal set some donated funds aside for the purchase of essential items such as back packs, drink bottles, lunch boxes and clothing. They are being distributed to families around the State who are engaged with our services.
“We had a fantastic response to our Appeal this year,” said Parish Community Development Worker Margaret Savage.
School families, parish congregations, community-focused businesses and caring individuals all went above and beyond. They clearly understood that the need for support has never been greater.
Anglicare is also a grateful recipient of funds raised by the ABC Giving Tree Appeal. We used them to buy food items and food vouchers for families in need at Christmas, and again, some funds were set aside to help families afford education essentials.
Further information
Anglicare runs a number of free parenting programs for families with young children and teenagers. Find a course near you.
