Connect, share, learn
Community Hubs is a national program that supports migrant and refugee parents and children as they navigate the education system. It builds parenting and family skills and resources, and promotes links between families and local services and networks.
Hubs strengthen our society by providing all groups with a sense of belonging, participation and legitimacy, and delivering outcomes for children, families, schools and the wider community.
Settlement Services International is the designated Support Agency for Community Hubs in Sydney, where Hubs are located across five local government areas.
- In Bankstown the Hubs are at Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre, Bankstown Public School, Bass Hill Public School, Chester Hill Public School, Sacred Heart in Villawood, Villawood East Public School and Yagoona Public School.
- In Cumberland the Hub is at Granville Public School.
- In Blacktown there are Hubs at Bert Oldfield Public School in Seven Hills, Toongabbie East Public School in Constitution Hill, Kings Langley Public School and Colyton Public School at Mt Druitt.
- In Fairfield there are Hubs at Bossley Park Public School, Fairfield West Public School, Prairievale Public School and Smithfield Public School.
- In Parramatta the Hubs are at Rydalmere Public School, Parramatta West Public School and Westmead Public School.
Located within easy reach of their communities, the Hubs use a place-based community engagement approach to address the needs of families and children at a local level. They provide a safe, welcoming, family friendly place, where people can meet, learn, and build trusting, supportive relationships.
What Hubs do
Community Hubs help primarily migrant families, including newly arrived and refugee families, with preschool and primary school aged children.
Hubs provide a holistic approach that supports the whole family, offering early learning programs, building social networks, providing access to services, and creating pathways to education, training and employment. They welcome people by offering easily accessible programs, such as gardening groups, playgroups, exercise classes and morning teas.
Each Community Hub:
- is based in a local community or neighbourhood with a high migrant/refugee population
- has dedicated, accessible, family friendly spaces for holding group activities and programs, informal gatherings and private conversations, and
- provides a central access point for government and community service providers to engage with people who may face challenges linking into services and learning opportunities in the wider community.
Community Hubs aim to:
- connect families to existing support services including local education, health, community and settlement services
- improve language, literacy and learning outcomes for parents and children
- strengthen social cohesion and inclusion within local communities
- prepare children to succeed at school by increasing participation in early years services and building the capacity of parents to support their children’s learning and development at home and at school
- enhance the capacity of schools, community centres and service providers to respond to the needs and aspirations of families
- break down barriers between support services and enhance coordination and collaboration
- link parents to education, training and volunteering pathways that can lead to employment.
Hub Leaders
Each Hub has a Hub Leader who specialises in understanding the needs of their local community and what support services are available. They develop and maintain strong relationships with families and service providers, share information, facilitate access to services and maximise the use of existing resources.
Find out more
Contact Grainne Taia on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Visit the Community Hubs website www.communityhubs.org.au for more information, including the locations and contact details of Hubs and Hub Leaders.