One of Play Australia’s key aims is to promote better design in playgrounds. Playspaces that are safe and innovative, and encourage developmentally appropriate play experiences for children.
Our online resources are a library of manuals, government policies, publications, planning papers and Australian Standards - a variety of information for many different play environments.
All Play Australia members have free access to these resources and can be downloaded once logged into the site. We have also included a list of Play Australia members who are specific playground providers in different industries and we recommend their services to you.
Design at a glance
Planning how we use our spaces effectively and efficiently also adds to the quality of outdoor play. We need to set spaces that provide opportunities for a variety of play and to meet a variety of play styles.
Children need spaces for:
- challenging activities such as balancing, climbing high, tunnelling, jumping, swinging from arms and by legs;
- sensory play opportunities that include sand, mud, water, pebbles, stones, sawdust;
- hiding away, making cubbies and campsites, having picnics;
- meandering up a shady path, stopping off to pick flowers or watch a snail;
- sitting with a friend to talk or play with dinosaurs or butterflies;
- meeting as a group to sing songs, listen to stories or play games;
- imaginative play environments with small dolls, teddies, jungle animals, blocks etc.;
- pretend work such as laying drains, washing clothes or building tunnels as well as real work such as gardening, sweeping and raking; and,
- running, ball games, chasing bubbles, pushing and pulling, rolling and spinning and riding wheel toys.
Search our resource library now.