In communities like Fairfield and across Greater Western Sydney, disadvantage is often experienced across multiple parts of people’s lives at once. People may be navigating housing stress, financial pressure, language barriers, family responsibilities and complex service systems, often at the same time.

In this context, connection matters. It helps people find support, build confidence, feel included and create stability over time.

This Neighbourhood Centre Week 2026, with the theme “Your Place to Connect”, we reflect on the role of neighbourhood centres and place-based organisations in creating connection, belonging and stronger communities.

Connection starts locally

Connection is strongest when it is grounded in the realities of local people’s lives.

For many people experiencing disadvantage, challenges do not occur one at a time. They can be overlapping, complex and difficult to navigate. When people are unsure where to turn, trusted local spaces can make an important difference.

Neighbourhood centres provide more than a point of access. They create familiarity, consistency and a place where relationships can grow. People return because they feel safe, understood and welcomed.

As accessible, community-based spaces, neighbourhood centres bring people together through programs, events and informal everyday interactions. These connections often become the foundation for longer-term support, participation and a stronger sense of belonging.

What place-based work looks like in practice

Place-based work starts with being embedded in the community. In areas like Fairfield, where almost 60% of residents were born overseas and around 70% speak a language other than English at home, this local presence matters.

It means having staff who understand local contexts, who speak the languages, and who recognise the complexity of people’s lives.

It also means working alongside communities, so that programs and supports are shaped by lived experience and respond to real needs.

Place-based work takes a holistic approach because people do not experience challenges in isolation. Wraparound and integrated supports help people navigate multiple needs at once and reduce the pressure of fragmented systems. This makes it easier for people to access the right support without having to retell their story or move between disconnected services.

It also requires a consistent, long-term presence in the community. Trust grows when people can return to the same place, see familiar faces, and build relationships over time.

From connection to belonging and social cohesion

Connection at a local level builds more than individual relationships. Over time, it shapes how communities function.

Place-based organisations help create the conditions for people to participate, connect, and support one another. This can strengthen local networks, reduce isolation and help people navigate challenges together.

Their role also extends beyond direct service delivery. Because they are close to community, place-based organisations see where systems are working, where people are falling through the gaps, and what kinds of support make a real difference. This insight can strengthen practice, inform advocacy and help shape better responses to disadvantage.

Social cohesion is an important outcome of this work. When people feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to engage, contribute, and build connections across cultures, languages, and experiences. This strengthens trust within communities and supports more inclusive, resilient local environments.

Why place-based organisations matter

Place-based organisations are a critical part of the infrastructure that supports strong communities. Their role extends beyond delivering programs. They help communities connect, function, and respond to challenges over time.

They address complex and long-term issues in ways that reflect local realities and community strengths. Being close to communities gives them insight into what works and what needs to change.

They also play an important advocacy role, bringing forward perspectives and experiences that are often overlooked in decision-making. This helps ensure that responses are grounded in what communities actually need.

There is growing evidence of the value this work creates. For example, a Social Return on Investment analysis of Fair Foundations’ community services found that for every $1 invested, $2.88 in social and economic value was generated. In one year alone, this equated to over $5 million in benefits.

Yet funding and evaluation frameworks have not always kept pace with the full role place-based organisations play.

Recognising neighbourhood centres and place-based organisations as essential social infrastructure, supported through sustained funding and meaningful partnership, is key to strengthening outcomes for communities over time.

To learn more about Fair Foundations and our work, visit our About Us page.