Child and Family Hubs

Child and Family Hubs provide families with access to a wide range of supports and services, all in one place. By bringing together supports across health, education and social care, as well as providing parents with the opportunity to build social connections, Hubs can help to identify emerging issues before they become entrenched and difficult to address and help children to thrive.

The challenges experienced by some children and families are complex and require an integrated response to meet their needs. Having to travel to multiple locations to access multiple services or navigate complex systems prevents families from getting the right care, at the right time. Child and Family Hubs make it easier for families to have their needs met.

 

 

What types of Child and Family Hubs are available in Australia?

There are approximately 460 Hubs operating across Australia. These Hubs provide a local and welcoming 'front door' for families within their community. These ‘front doors’ are situated across early years services, primary schools, community/non-government organisation, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, primary health care, and virtual/digital settings.

Some Hubs are referred to as Integrated Child and Family Hubs. Integration refers to the process of building connections between different types of services to create a system that is more comprehensive, accessible, and responsive to families’ needs.

 

 

About the Network

Members of the National Child and Family Hubs Network speak about the value of hubs, explore the importance of the Network and future directions to improve outcomes for children and families.

 

Child and Family Hubs settings in Australia

The following videos profile Child and Family Hubs in Australia and the unique kinds of services, care and connection they each offer children and families.

 

 

 

Hubs support children, families, society and the economy

When children and families receive the right care, at the right time, it helps:

• improve children’s health, learning and development.
• families’ build social connections
• reduce healthcare costs. 

Hubs are cost effective – it only takes a single child attending a Hub for investments to break even or to recover the running costs of hubs.  For every $1 invested in a Hubs program, there are $2.2 in social benefits realised in Australia.