Hackham Community Centre is going from strength to strength, having increased its playgroup attendance tenfold over six years and secured funding for a program to support at-risk young mothers.
Run by leading social enterprise, Junction, the community centre’s playgroups welcomed close to 5,028 individual parents, carers and children in 2024 compared to just 470 in 2018.
Playgroups are gatherings where children – from birth to five years of age – engage in play with other children as well as their parents and carers.
Junction’s Head of Impact Dr Alisa Willis says around 125 people attend one of three playgroups at the centre each week.
“Playgroup plays a really unique role in a child’s development,” Alisa says.
“Because sessions also involve parents and carers, these groups support parents to learn how to play with their children, strengthening connections within families as well as other people, which is so important.”
A recent report undertaken by the University of South Australia, commissioned by Playgroup Australia, noted children who attend playgroup are more likely to have stronger developmental outcomes compared to those who don’t, with 47 per cent more likely to be “developmentally on track”.
Alisa says playgroups also provide a real opportunity to support children and families, particularly those in lower socio-economic areas.
“For many parents, these playgroups are the first time they have accessed services, so it gives us, at Junction, a great opportunity to link them with other support,” she says.
“This form of early intervention can positively affect the wellbeing and outcomes for a child and their family, impacting not only their childhood but their entire life trajectory.”
Alisa says the “welcoming, happy and comfortable” environment at Hackham Community Centre” contributed to the increase in attendance along with the centre’s volunteer and staff including educators.
The playgroup at Hackham Community Centre is just one on offer around the City of Onkaparinga, with playgroups also available at Hackham West Community Centre, Coromandel Community Centre, Seaford Community Centre, Aldinga Community Centre, Reynella Neighbourhood Centre and Woodcroft Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre.
Hackham Community Centre’s support of young families has also been boosted recently with the federal and state governments announcing funding for a new Young Parent Project at the centre.
The Young Parent Project supports at-risk young mothers aged under 25 – with a focus on those who have been in, or are at risk of, contact with the care and protection system.
The program aims to increase parenting capacity, improve children’s development, improve family functioning and wellbeing, while also creating employment pathways for participants through a 16-week in-person coaching program.
It will demonstrate how effective early interventions targeting young parents can disrupt intergenerational cycles of disadvantage.
City of Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were, says these recent successes demonstrate how integral community centres such as Hackham and the council’s nine community centres are to maintaining and enhancing communities’ social connections and quality of life.
“Community centres provide universally accessible programs and services, from cost-effective meals to social connection activities, skill-building programs to volunteering,” she explains.
“They play a vital role in developing skills, leadership and community capacity through volunteering and opportunities for community and individual development.
“They also provide the first point of connection for community to specialist services through referrals.
“In an era marked by economic strain and increased mental health challenges, community centres offer crucial primary health support, contributing to community belonging, resilience and wellbeing.
“That’s why we’re urging the state government to commit to providing baseline funding to all community centres across the state, improving equality of funding in our city, and bringing us into line with other states and territories.”
Despite a welcomed increase in funding of $2.4 million in 2022 – and recent one-off grants through the Grants SA 2024–25 Community Centres Funding Round to Coromandel ($23,500), Aberfoyle, Seaford and Aldinga community centres ($30,000 each) in early 2025 – South Australian community centres remain well underfunded compared to other states.
In South Australia, approximately 52 per cent of centres receive ongoing state government funding, while in every other state 100 per cent of community centres receive baseline funding from their state government.
In Onkaparinga, Christie Downs Community House, Hackham Community Centre (run by Junction), Hackham West Community Centre, Neporendi Aboriginal Community Centre (until June 2025) and Woodcroft Morphett Vale Neighbourhood Centre all receive state government funding; while Aberfoyle Community Centre, Aldinga Community Centre, Coromandel Community Centre, Reynella Neighbourhood Centre and Seaford Community Centre receive no ongoing state government funding.
“By providing baseline funding to all community centres, the state government would ensure that every community has the resources it needs to foster community capacity, regardless of their location,” Paul says.
“Funding would enable centres to operate at their full potential to deliver on key state outcomes and support the needs of our communities effectively.
“Investing in community centres is an investment in the wellbeing and development of our communities, aligning with state priorities and contributing to a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.”
In 2023–24, the City of Onkaparinga’s nine community centres saw 220,018 attendances, 16,194 sessions delivered across 895 programs, and 22,086 meals provided to the community, with 66,372 volunteer hours from 413 volunteers.
Pictured
Junction CEO Maria Palumbo (second from left) and Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were (third from left) alongside some playgroup participants.