Social return on investment evaluation of the National Community Hubs Program 2023
Scope and reach: 100 hubs supported 14,061 families across NSW, QLD, SA and VIC in 2023.
Overall impact: $65.7 million in social benefits from $19.0 million in total costs and in‑kind support, a SROI of 3.5.
Engagement: Quality‑of‑life gains valued at $40.9 million, with 91.8% of participants feeling more accepted and 62.5% making new friends.
Early childhood: Improved school readiness and development outcomes valued at $7.3 million, including an estimated $753,600 in reduced in‑school supports; ~4,000 children accessed playgroup for the first time.
English: 43.7% attended hubs to learn English and 89.0% reported improved speaking and listening; English gains underpin social and employment outcomes.
Employment pathways: Hubs directly supported 422 job outcomes worth $17.0 million; 1,154 referrals to training and education made in 2023.
Volunteering: 43,236 volunteer hours contributed; $0.5 million in personal wellbeing benefits for volunteers and $1.9 million in valued services delivered to communities.
The Hub Census 2025 highlights the significant role community hubs play in building belonging, strengthening early learning, and supporting pathways to participation and employment.
This report highlights key outcomes, participation and impact from across the national community hubs network in 2025, reflecting progress at a national level and the ongoing support hubs provide to families through schools and local communities.
At the six-month mark of 2025, we look back on some of the stories of impact from our hubs network. The first half of 2025 has brought encouraging momentum – from sustaining a strong national footprint of 98 hubs to continuing the vital support hubs provide to families throughout the school year.
The National Community Hubs Program (NCHP) was established in 2013 to engage newly arrived communities at risk of limited access to education, health and social services, and opportunities for economic independence.
Scanlon Foundation Research Institute Narrative 10 – Community in the Classroom
The purpose of this, our 10th Narrative, is to highlight the success of the work of Community Hubs Australia in primary schools and to consider whether the premise behind them could be applied in a secondary school context.
Knowledge Translation to Support Early Learning of Refugee Children and their Families
The research presented in this report is based on a three-year study that focussed on developing understandings and resources to support current and future community hubs and centres with the settlement and early learning of refugee children and their families.
