Looking back
2026 Roadmap
Looking back,
moving forward
2025 Highlights
February
At the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement Conference, a presentation by Our Place examined how school-based community platforms can help overcome barriers to education.
The Age featured Our Place Doveton as a success story in improving relationships between schools and their communities.
March
Our Place’s inaugural Emerging Findings Report was released.
The PLACE Community Roadshow and Listening Tour visited Our Place Robinvale, led by Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment.
June McLoughlin AM, Our Place Executive Director, retired after a decade of transformative leadership.
The Building Early Education Fund commitment was announced, with the Federal Government and Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children committing to deliver more early childhood education and care services on school sites.
April
The Mitchell Institute’s Unequal from the Start: The Achievement Gap and the Early Years report highlighted how disadvantage emerges early and compounds over time, reinforcing the importance of early, integrated and place-based approaches like Our Place.
May
Nina Taylor MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Education, visited Our Place Westall.
The Productivity Commission’s 2025 Early Childhood inquiry received a formal contribution from the Colman Education Foundation, providing evidence in support of early intervention and integrated, place-based approaches.
New Institute for Fiscal Studies findings confirmed that the United Kingdom’s Sure Start model, on which Our Place is based, delivers lasting improvements in children’s outcomes, strengthening the case for place-based early intervention.
June
A National Child and Family Hubs Network webinar explored how shared purpose, people, place and practice can strengthen integrated community hubs, including perspectives from Our Place on applying The Glue in practice.
Jacinta Allan MP, Premier of Victoria, met with Sean Cory, Our Place CEO, and Julius Colman, Colman Education Foundation Chair, to discuss progress and priorities for the Our Place partnership.
At the National Early Years Policy Summit, a panel explored how child and family hubs can better connect early years services and strengthen early intervention and community connection, including perspectives from Our Place.
The Walk for Truth highlighted the work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the need to address systemic issues to improve outcomes for First Peoples.
August
The Age featured Our Place Frankston North in an article examining the impact of socioeconomic status on learning outcomes.
Lizzie Blandthorn MP, Minister for Children and Disability, visited Our Place Northern Bay.
Ben Carroll MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, met with Sean Cory, Our Place CEO, and Julius Colman, Colman Education Foundation Chair, to discuss the ongoing impact of the Our Place partnership.
September
Jess Wilson MP, now Leader of the Opposition, visited Our Place Westall.
ABC News highlighted Morwell Park Primary School as a success story in a feature on language delays in children.
The Carlton Family Learning Partnership was recognised as a finalist in the 2025 Learn Local Awards.
The SNAICC Culturally Responsive School Transitions Workshop was attended by members of the Our Place Principals and Early Years Network.
The Front Project’s Cost of Late Intervention report reinforced that early, place-based support is more effective and cost-efficient than late intervention.
October
At the ECA National Conference, a session led by Our Place examined how continuity across early learning and school can be strengthened through child-centred, place-based approaches.
Ben Carroll MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, published an opinion piece in the Herald Sun titled Connection through our schools is the answer, naming Our Place as a successful example of this model.
Social Ventures Australia’s From Vision to Viability report featured Our Place and affirmed that effective early childhood hubs depend on sustained funding for the ‘Glue’ that connects services.
The House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability Inquiry into Thriving Kids received a formal submission from Our Place, contributing on-the-ground evidence to strengthen the case for early, place-based and integrated support for children and families.
November
Professor Ted Melhuish OBE visited Australia and, in partnership with Our Place, met with partners and policymakers through a series of roadshow events to share evidence on the importance of early learning, family support and place-based approaches.
The Mooroopna Oral Literacy Initiative was recognised with a Victorian Early Years Award for Continuity of Early Learning.
The National Child and Family Hubs Network Conference featured a panel on how policy and partnerships can shape the future of child and family hubs, including contributions from Our Place on place-based systems change.
UNICEF’s The State of Australia’s Children report reinforced that early, joined-up support works, strengthening the case for the Our Place Approach.
The VCOSS–Department of Education Community Sector Education Forum featured Peter Jeans, Principal of Westall Primary School, discussing the impact of the Our Place Approach on engagement with children and families.
Jess Walsh MP, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, visited Our Place Morwell.
The Mitchell Institute’s Achieving Better & Fairer Schools report reinforced the case for full-service school models, strengthening the evidence base for the Our Place Approach.
December
The updated Partnership Agreement between the Colman Education Foundation and the Department of Education was signed following the 2025 Partnership Review.
The Treaty Ceremony and Concert marked a significant legislative milestone to enshrine Treaty with First Nations people in Victoria.