For 25 years, families across Geelong have grown in confidence as their children’s first teachers, thanks to HIPPY – a free, home-based program celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2025.
On Friday 5 December, past and present participants and mentors gathered at Wathaurong Booln Booln Cultural Centre to celebrate an initiative that has shaped parenting journeys and transformed countless lives.
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is a two-year program for children from around age three, helping them transition successfully to school by fostering a love of learning.
Geelong became Australia’s second HIPPY site in 2000, following its launch in Fitzroy in 1998.
Today, the program operates in 15 countries and 100 sites nationally, including Surf Coast and Colac – which are delivered locally by leading for-purpose agency Meli.
HIPPY builds children’s social and emotional skills, literacy, language and concentration, while boosting confidence and empowering families to support learning at home.
It also creates career pathways for parents, who can train as mentors to guide new participants – often leading to further study or employment.
Mother-of-three Nyakim Gatkuoth joined HIPPY as a participant before becoming a mentor.
“It allowed me to be the parent I want to be – the mother I needed to be,” she said. “I realised there is no one-size-fits-all parenting style.”
Lymarni Maramba, mother to a non-verbal son, spoke through tears of joy about her experience.
“I was a little bit lost, I felt really alone and isolated,” she said.
“I was looking at this child, and I couldn’t help him. He was non-verbal. I didn’t know what he wanted. I felt detached and disorientated, but I needed to give this boy a life. I wasn’t being the mother I wanted to be.”
Through HIPPY, Ms Maramba learned activities tailored to her son’s needs.
“Because of HIPPY our interactions are more positive. It made me the mum he actually deserves,” she said.
Meli CEO Robyn Hayles said the 25-year anniversary of the HIPPY Program was an important milestone that showed how much the Geelong community valued giving children the best start in life.
The celebration also marked the launch of My Body in Wadda Wurrung Language, the first children’s book by local early childhood educator, writer, and artist Kristi Watts.
A proud Wadda Wurrung and Gunditjmara woman, Kristi partnered with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative, HIPPY Australia, and Meli to create the book, which will feature in welcome packs for new HIPPY families from 2026.
To learn more about HIPPY Geelong, Surf Coast, or Colac, visit www.meli.org.au/hippy
Photo: Rob Evans, Sarah Poole, Amie de Hoog, with Sarah’s sons Oscar and Levi, at the 25-year celebration on 5 December.
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