HIPPY Moreland facing closure if $60k in funding isn’t found

Parents are learning to be their child’s first teacher at an important program based out of Fawkner. But its provider says it faces the axe next year unless it can secure Federal Government support.

Ayche Halwani and her daughter Layelle, 4, want the HIPPY Moreland program to stay. Picture: Ellen Smith

A vital program that has prepared hundreds of children for school is facing the axe unless the Federal Government steps in to help.

The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) Moreland is run by Merri Health in Fawkner and aims to help parents and children learn together.

Tutors are matched with a family in the program two years before their child starts primary school, with a focus on reading and writing.

Group sessions are also held to foster community connection.

Many of the participants are from migrant or disadvantaged backgrounds, but the program is open to anyone who feels they need help to get their child ready for school.

The program sees parents and children read and do activities together. Picture: Ellen Smith

Parents who have completed the program are then encouraged to become tutors for the next round.

But Merri Health, who had run the program at a loss since 2008, said it would wind up at year’s end unless it received help to cover a $60,000 shortfall.

The program is overseen nationally by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, who select organisations to run them locally and provide funding.

The shortfall comes as Merri Health claims it is only provided with enough funding to deliver the program to 32 families and less than the five current tutors employed.

It has called on the Federal Government to step in and kick in the cash to make up the gap.

Minister for Families Anne Ruston has been called on to save the program. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Fawkner’s Ayche Halwani and her 4-year-old daughter Layelle are one of 60 families that use the program.

The pair take part in daily activities like worksheets or reading.

“I would be upset to see it go, it does help families and bring them together,” she said.

“ (Layelle) has really learned a lot and is a lot better at focusing.

“She wants to learn anything and everything now, she’s very curious.”

Peter Khalil in parliament. Picture: Mick Tsikas

Merri Health community wellbeing manager Jillian Dent said Fawkner was chosen because 25.5 per cent of children in the suburb were developmentally vulnerable.

Families in Glenroy and Hadfield also take part.

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Wills federal Labor MP Peter Khalil urged social services minister Anne Ruston in parliament to provide the money to keep the program going.

“The HIPPY program actually helps kids in those families with migrant

backgrounds start school on an equal footing to their peers,” Mr Khalil said.

“I want to be able to tell the HIPPY kids that their Federal Government has found, just a

small amount, that $60,000 to help keep the program going.”

Ms Ruston didn’t commit to any extra funding and said St Laurence could select a different organisation to run it instead of Merri Health.

“There are no plans to discontinue the local HIPPY program,” she said.

“The Brotherhood of St Laurence is responsible for selecting local organisations to deliver the HIPPY programs including in Moreland.”