The 'Glue'

For Child and Family Hubs (Hubs) to deliver the best outcomes for children and families, they require strong connections with local services and supports, and opportunities for families to connect with one another.

Strong connections, integration and collaboration don’t automatically happen in a Hub. It needs to be intentional and requires time, effort, sufficient resources, and the ‘glue’.

What is ‘glue'?

The ‘glue’ refers to the people, practices and systems that enable Child and Family Hubs to operate in a truly integrative way: across services and supports, within and outside a Hub, with the community, and with families.

There are three elements to the glue that combine to powerful effect:

• Internal integration
• External integration and service relationships
• Family outreach and community engagement

Read our plain language resource on the glue and its three elements.

Watch our webinar recording on ‘The glue: The key to unlocking the potential of Child and Family Hubs.’

Why we need a commonwealth funded glue grant

While the glue is essential to making integration happen, current funding streams are generally service-specific and don’t necessarily consider the cost of glue.

The Network is calling for the establishment of a Commonwealth Government funded ‘Glue Grant’. The grant would allow all Hubs access to staffing for an Integration Lead, administrative support and flexible funding to enable Hubs to respond to local needs in ways that are best suited to their communities.

Check-out our pre-budget submission for more information on how the glue could be funded in Hubs.