The Uniting Families Report ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ was launched publicly on 8 September 2025.
This is the second report in a 10-year collaboration between Uniting NSW.ACT and the UNSW Social Policy Research Centre, supported by Uniting Vic.Tas, Uniting WA, and UnitingSA.
The report captures the realities of the support networks around families across Australia and highlights how circumstances like housing, health, and caring responsibilities shape their ability to stay connected.
“This research shines a light on the importance of community and connection,” says Jenny Hall, CEO, UnitingSA. “We know families are stronger when they are surrounded by a village of support.”
The report examines how families across Australia are supported by their networks of extended family, friends, services and community spaces, and the barriers that can leave some families isolated. It draws on national data and in-depth interviews with parents and carers to show the realities of raising children in Australia.
We learned from families across Australia that:
- Extended family and friends are at the heart of most families’ villages, with grandparents a key source of care and support.
- Families under financial stress or living in unstable housing are less connected to their communities and have fewer local support options.
- Families caring for someone with a disability or long-term health condition report less frequent social contact and are more likely to report low satisfaction with their local community.
- Services matter most when they foster relationships and create places of belonging, not just provide programs.
Read the report and learn more here: uniting.org/families-report