A YEARLY $30 million commitment to an in-home program which helps young children get ready for school will benefit the Frankston North area, Dunkley MP Peta Murphy says.
The federal government will spend $30 million a year over the next five years on the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters. The program is currently designed for children aged four to five, but will soon be geared towards three-year-olds as well.
The program is delivered by The Brotherhood of St Laurence. It currently sub-contracts arrangements to help nearly 4000 children. One in five of them are Indigenous.
The federal government made the announcement in Frankston North last week. Dunkley MP Peta Murphy said the program is “very important to the Frankston North community”.
“Not only does it provide educational outcomes and pathways to employment for many local families every year but it also allows free access to early childhood education for people who may ordinarily be unable to afford it,” she said. “I am so pleased that the Albanese Labor government has demonstrated our commitment to affordable and quality early education for all children, and that minister [Amanda] Rishworth chose Frankston North to make this announcement.”
Rishworth said that the funding would “ensure all children get access to quality early learning to set them up for healthier, brighter futures. It is important all Australian children, regardless of their family’s income or where they live have the best start in life.”
“HIPPY is a critical early intervention and prevention program that builds the confidence and skills of parents and carers to create a positive learning environment in the home and helps families transition their child into school. We will also be working to ensure more First Nations organisations are involved in delivering HIPPY and look at exploring delivering more services in language. This is in step with our goal to enhance the service delivery experience and relationship with government for First Nations people,” she said.
For more information visit hippyaustralia.bsl.org.au.
