Early Childhood Hubs (ECHs) are increasingly seen as a powerful way to integrate early learning, health, allied health and family support in trusted, community-based settings. Yet much of the work that makes hubs effective – the 'glue' of integration – remains overlooked, underfunded and invisible in policy and funding frameworks. This policy paper examines this hidden infrastructure: what enables integration, what stands in the way, and what government and integrated service models can do to unlock its full impact. 

The paper calls for a shift from short-term, program-specific funding to long-term, system-wide approaches that embed integration in policy, funding and practice. Done well, ECHs become more than co-located services; they function as cohesive systems that improve outcomes for families and drive broader system reform. 

The paper provides practical recommendations to strengthen integration in policy, funding and practice. It provides key recommendations for the Commonwealth Government; for governments, philanthropic funders, and private sector partners; and for hub leaders and community partners.

The paper draws on real-world examples to identify five core domains that underpin successful integration: 

1. relational infrastructure
2. cross-sector governance and distributed leadership
3. coordination systems and backbone infrastructure
4. physical and place-focused design
5. collective care and accountability.