Connected Community School trial

The Connected Community School trial is one of the initiatives in Western Australia’s Bilateral Agreement under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement. It commits the Department of Education to trial place-based approaches in at least 4 WA public schools from 2026.

The trial aims to improve outcomes by connecting education with community, health and social services, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.

As part of the Connected Community School trial, there is a particular focus on partnerships and shared design approaches to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families.

Participating schools

The selection of the 4 trial schools was strongly aligned to supporting the needs of students experiencing disadvantage, together with demonstrated readiness of schools to support the connection to wraparound services to help students thrive.

The 4 schools participating in the trial are:

• Ashburton Drive Primary School
• Clarkson Primary School
• Girrawheen Senior High School
• Roebourne Senior High School.

Trial timeline

The trial will start in 2026, with a phased implementation. The trial will run for 4 years, finishing at the end of the 2029 school year.

Services available

The trial will take a place-based approach to address the unique needs of that specific school community. Place-based approaches are characterised by collaborative partnerships, meaningful engagement, shared design and common goals.

This place-based approach means there is no one-size-fits-all model applied across the trial. The services at each of the 4 trial schools will be tailored to address the needs of the specific school community and the local context and be guided by evidence.

Some examples of the types of services may include:

• allied health services
• social services
• partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO)
• early childhood programs
• career pathway planning
• parenting classes
• engagement programs, after-school activities
• community programs.

While there may be some similarities, it is expected that each site will look and feel different, given the needs of each school community is different.

The trial will also bring the community into the school, with the community using school facilities after the school day. This may include sporting groups, community language groups and community organisations.

Access to services

Students enrolled in the 4 trial schools, their parents and carers, siblings and other family members who have direct care responsibilities for the enrolled student can access the services.

There are no limitations for schools that develop partnerships with local community organisations or clubs to use school facilities after the school day. Priority may be given to those based in the local area.