How to use this resource

The resource is structured as a  framework or a matrix of aspects for consideration in the pre-establishment phase.  Users can select from more than 20 links for key information about a particular aspect relevant to their work at different stages of planning.  To help navigate the material, the pre-establishment phase has been grouped into 3 stages: Early Ideation and Scoping; Building foundations, Preparing to Act.  Each stage is described further here to help find a starting point.  The aspects for consideration have been grouped into four key themes that are common across all stages of pre-establishment: Planning and Capability, Relationships, Partnerships and Structuring Governance, Collaboration with Community, Implementing and Resourcing.

Finally, while the content of this resource is prepared for a full implementation of a School as community platform, we recognise that some may want to use this resource to inform work that are on various points of the spectrum of school/ community hubs, so we refer in the material to three broad archetypes and provide an indication of the applicability to those archetypes. Schools as Community Platforms, Hybrid, Within Existing Footprint.  For information about these archetypes click here.

Sources of information

The resource has been developed by practitioners and draws on learnings from the work undertaken by the Colman Education Foundation and The Bryan Foundation in their establishment of Our Place and FamilyLinQ respectively as well as the underpinning research and evidence that informs the work.  It includes practical examples of how some of the key considerations have been addressed and is informed by what we learned from what we did and didn’t do in the pre-establishment phase for Our Place and FamilyLinQ. Written with hindsight, not all of the key considerations listed in this resource were addressed in the ways we now suggest but reflect what we have learned from the experience and what is important to consider for future iterations of this type of work.  Each section provides links to further reading.

Other guides

For readers looking for advice on how to establish a single Hub on a school site without the integrated service delivery, shared accountability or primarily grow engagement of families on a school site, considerable good advice exists in Community_Hubs_Guide_Live.pdf (communityhubs.org.au) and Parents Victoria Family-School Partnerships Framework - Parents Victoria

For people seeking guidance on implementing a place-based community development project with families the following links provide useful information.
CCCH-Platforms-Guide-Final-web.pdf (rch.org.au)