The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters educational program, known in Australia as HIPPY, was created in 1969 by Professor Avima Lombard of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. HIPPY supports parents to deliver a structured 60-week curriculum of learning activities, designed to make children ‘school-ready’ and develop a life-long love of learning.
In New South Wales, the program was launched in 2002, through the visionary efforts of Miriam Stein assisted by Penelope Toltz, and with the support of the National Council of Jewish Women Australia NSW Division. They also launched the Oodnadatta initiative ‘Building the capacity of Aboriginal women to create a thriving community in Oodnadatta’, comprising a camp for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at Dalhousie Springs and 10 workshops that supported the women in making representations to Government and NGOs and developing initiatives within their community.
HIPPY is now funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and operated at 100 sites across the country by The Brotherhood of St Laurence.