It took 18 years for Michelle Chapman to become involved in her local school community.

Although all of her seven children had attended Dallas Primary School and Kindergarten, she had never really interacted with other parents or formed social networks.

As Michelle recalls:

“I felt really isolated as a mother, but I didn’t know how to connect, and get out there and do things for myself.”

That all changed in late 2007 when the Dallas Primary School and Kindergarten set up its Community Hub.

Located in a building in the school grounds, the Hub provides a place where parents can drop in for advice, support and educational opportunities.

The idea behind this Victorian Government initiative is that primary schools have two functions: to teach children, and to act as a community resource and support for their families…    read more