Families and communities are the building blocks of society and national life. The quality and strength of people's relationships and bonds with others - their family, friends and the wider community - are important ingredients of a cohesive and inclusive society. Families generate care and guidance which support the development of healthy functioning individuals and the values underlying civil society. The vast range of services provided within communities by groups, clubs and charitable organisations are a crucial adjunct to support the role of the family.

Currently, there is no one summary measure that adequately captures the way that family and community contribute to progress, nor an agreed summary measure of social cohesion and as such, there is no headline indicator for this dimension.

For a more in-depth discussion about how the dimension of family, community and social cohesion relates to progress and whether it is improving in Australia, please see the Family, community and social cohesion chapter in Measures of Australia’s Progress, 2010 (cat. no. 1370.0).