Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) projects are hosted by NSW public schools and led by a local facilitator who coordinates and manages a range of community engagement initiatives and programs supporting families with young children. Each year around 5000 families participate in SaCC activities, including:

• supported playgroups
• early literacy activities
• transition to school strategies,
• parenting programs
• adult learning and
• health and nutrition initiatives.

There are currently 47 SaCC projects located in 48 NSW public schools in communities experiencing marked challenges of disadvantage.

Evaluation framework

SaCCs use results-based accountability to identify positive outcomes for families and children participating in activities. Families surveyed indicated that they:

• learnt more about child development and felt more confident in their parenting
• have more people that they can turn to in the community
• felt their children are happy and ready for kindergarten
• are accessing new services.

Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Evaluation Toolkit 2019 (PDF 1.19 MB)

Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Results Based Report 2017
(PDF 1.16 MB)

Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Results Based Report 2016 (PDF 1.62 MB)

Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Report 2022 (PDF 6.85 MB)

Schools as Community Centres (SaCC) Annual Report 2023 (PDF 12.4 MB)

Resources

• The SaCC guidelines (PDF 1.68 MB) outline the SaCC Program Framework and describe evidence-based program initiatives
• The Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) is a population-based measure of how children in Australia have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school
• Be You is the national mental health in education initiative for schools and early childhood services
• NSW Health children and families provides a range of health information and resources for families
• Raising Children Network provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together
• Resourcing Parents – Families NSW provides parenting information to parents and carers of children aged 0 to 18
• The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia guides educators in their curriculum decision-making and assists in planning, implementing and evaluating quality in early childhood settings
• Access the Early Learning professional learning catalogue for professional learning to support teaching and learning in the early years

Further information

• SaCC staffing allocation (Staff only) – information about allocation and use of funds for schools
• Contact the family and community engagement officer
  earlylearning@det.nsw.edu.au
  1300 083 698