Neighbourhood Houses as Social Infrastructure: Local Practice, Global Relevance

This Fellowship explored how flexible, place-based learning ecosystems can be strengthened through neighbourhood houses to better support lifelong learning, particularly for communities experiencing disadvantage. Drawing on international research and site visits across Germany, including engagement with UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning and the European adult education sector, the project examined how integrated, community-led models can connect education, social services and local networks.

The research highlights the critical role of neighbourhood houses as ‘social infrastructure’ - spaces that build trust, enable participation, and support pathways into education, employment and community life. It also identifies key challenges within current policy and funding settings, particularly the misalignment between measurable outputs and the relational work required to engage and support learners.

The Fellowship applies these insights to the Australian context through the Debney Meadows Community Hub in Melbourne, positioning it as part of a broader ‘Learning Neighbourhood’ model. It offers practical recommendations for strengthening cross-sector collaboration, improving policy alignment, and investing in the coordination functions required to sustain inclusive lifelong learning systems.