Policy settings largely determine the need, scale and range of education and community infrastructure provision. Education and community policy appear natural partners, both contributing activities that identify and bring communities together for the potential benefit of all. How does this operate when Australian education and community policy sits across three levels of government jurisdictions? This analysis compares federal, state and local government policy for their singular and, where they exist, cross-sector aspirations, objectives and implications for delivery of Schools as Community Hubs. Engaging with this level of policy correlation allows development of a structured framework for undertaking investigation of gaps between focused policy to what is enacted and delivered. Research of education and community policy for services and infrastructure provides a multi-factorial comparison of language, definitions, criteria, economics, management, governance structures, contrasts and synergies which are potential that may otherwise be overlooked, or not be considered. This understanding is significant to capture as our policy context is dramatically changing due to a combination of climate, environment, demographic, technological, educative, social and economic factors with school and community service needs driven by rapid population growth.

Keywords:  Policy research; education and community policy; community capacity; social infrastructure