Evaluation finds school-based community hubs improve access to support for children and families

MEDIA RELEASE

Melbourne, 16 February 2026 — A major new evaluation has found that bringing early learning, health and family support services together in schools improves access for families and outcomes for children, adding weight to calls for integrated school and early learning hubs to expand across Victoria.

Despite significant investment in standalone programs, many children in disadvantaged communities continue to start school behind their peers. The 2025 Our Place Evaluation Report suggests how and where services are delivered, not just what services exist, is critical, showing measurable gains when supports are coordinated around schools as trusted one-stop hubs.

The evaluation examined integrated school and early learning hubs across nine Victorian communities and found:

• 98% increase in wrap-around health and wellbeing supports
• 80% of families reported positive transitions into school
• 90% of caregivers felt confident supporting their child’s learning at home
• 83% of service partners reported improved service delivery
• Emerging improvements in education outcomes and school attendance rates

The findings suggest that embedding services within schools – places families already know and trust – reduces access barriers when supported by dedicated facilitation that aligns education, health and community partners around shared goals, bringing together sectors that traditionally operate separately.

“This evaluation shows that effective integration changes how families experience support and how systems work together,” said Sean Cory, CEO of Our Place. “If we want to close equity gaps and improve outcomes, we need approaches that connect education, health and family services around children and communities.”

The findings come as policymakers consider recommendations for “full-service schools” outlined in the Australian Government Independent Expert Panel (IEP) review, alongside implementation of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement and broader school funding reforms. Researchers say integrated school and early learning hubs offer a practical, scalable model that aligns existing services around children and families, supporting more efficient use of current investment while addressing entrenched disadvantage.

Access the report: https://ourplace.org.au/publications

For media enquiries contact Makayla Daglish, Advocacy and Communications Lead.