Enrolments are now closed: To find out when enrolments will reopen in your area, get in touch through the contact form.

Life Without Barriers co-ordinates the HIPPY program (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) for Rockhampton (QLD), Deception Bay (QLD) and Whittlesea (VIC).

About HIPPY

HIPPY is a two-year, home-based, early learning and parenting program that empowers parents to be their child's first teacher and supports their transition to school.

As part of the program, parents receive free resources, activity packs and storybooks to assist in actively playing and learning with their child.

Each pack has activities for you to do with your child and ideas so that learning can happen anywhere at any time.

Parents are paired up with a HIPPY mentor who will visit them in their home fortnightly in age three and weekly in age four to practice the activities with them.

What is a HIPPY mentor?

Mentors are parents who are also completing the program with their child or have recently graduated from it.

They are trained in the program's activities and will practice them with parents at each home visit. Children do not have to be present when the mentor visits.

Mentors can be met at home or somewhere else, like a park or a library. After this, parents do the activities with their child.

Ready to go? We would love to hear from you.

How can we contact you?

Read our Privacy policy to learn how Life Without Barriers collects and respects any data you provide.

Who can apply for the HIPPY program?

  • Families who live in Rockhampton, Deception Bay and Whittlesea, who have a child turning 3 before the cut-off date (April 30th in Whittlesea or June 30th for Rockhampton and Deception Bay), who are willing to work with a HIPPY mentor and spend fifteen minutes a day doing fun activities with their child are welcome to apply.
  • Preference is given to families who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, or those on a health care card.
  • A commitment of two years is required.

HIPPY is fun and it's free

If you live in Rockhampton, Deception Bay or Whittlesea, contact Life Without Barriers now for more information of how this program will prepare children for formal school. Simply fill out the form on this page and a staff member will be in contact shortly.

The Brotherhood of St Laurence holds the licence to operate HIPPY in Australia. HIPPY is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Social Services. You can see the full program's website here.