SD4 Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub

Project summary

 After five years of planning and development, the Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub opened its doors in October 2023, heralding a new era for the town. The project is a collaboration between the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land Council (MBLALC), the Murrin Bridge Preschool Association, UTS and Multiplex Construction. The project is an extension to the existing Murrin Bridge Preschool, creating a broader community cultural and services hub that acts as a 'one-stop-shop' for residents to access services, participate in community events and reconnect with culture and provides positive social and economic outcomes that foster and facilitate community development.  

Since completion in October 2023, all current community services are now delivered from the Hub including Employment Services, Centrelink, Family, Youth, Housing and Health Services. The Hub is also used to deliver a range of outreached services, cultural activities and a space for community events and activities (including funerals).  

The Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub provides positive social and economic outcomes that foster and facilitate community development in Murrin Bridge. The design of the Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub emerged from a series of participatory workshops with residents, community and service providers of Murrin Bridge and allowed for the knowledge, opinions and aspirations of community members to be at the forefront of the design process. The provision of the multi-purpose community hub buildings seeks to address the identified demands of the Murrin Bridge community, providing:  

1. Cultural connection - A multipurpose space for community events and gatherings.  
2. Housing - Dedicated office space for the Murrin Bridge Local Aboriginal Land council.
3. Employment & Training - Dedicated Redi & Centrelink offices + opportunities for employment and training within the construction of the Hub.
4. Health - Dedicated health facilities for Aboriginal Medical Services and Community Health.  
5. Education - Additional indoor and outdoor space for increased preschool student demand.  

The Murrin Bridge Preschool Community Hub contributes to wellbeing by focusing on cultural strengths and connection as-well as improved access to relevant services that results in increased education, employment, and community safety outcomes.

Central to the design proposal was a culturally specific landscaping strategy that provides a culturally safe and appropriate setting for the Aboriginal community of Murrin Bridge and includes three interwoven educational ‘zones’ tailored to local vegetation and learning outcomes:  

• Zone 1 is the Edible Woodland that consists of mixed small trees/shrubs including Quandong and wattles.    
• Zone 2 is the Medicinal, Ceremonial and Spiritual zone consisting of mixed small to medium trees including native apricot and Wilga and mixed shrubs such as the Emu Bush.    
• Zone 3 is the Craft Zone consisting of locally sourced mixed grasses and small shrubs suitable for weaving.  

Read more here, or listen to the Think: Sustainability Podcast episode here. 

Project timeline

2016-2023

SDG targets addressed by this project

Quality education:

4.2 - By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood development, care and pre‑primary education so that they are ready for primary education

4.a - Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

Reduced inequalities:

10.2 - By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

Back to SDG 4 Quality education