“The major growth during my time has been taking the play agenda beyond playgrounds and standards development.”

After 25 years of dedication and service to Play Australia, Barb Champion is retiring from her role as Executive Director. 

Barb has led Play Australia through a major expansion, taking it from a small Victorian-based entity to national, echoing the original aim of the organisation from its inception over 100 years ago.  

The Sector has published a fitting tribute which we share with you here. 

For a full interview with Barb, please click below. 

Become a 1000 Play Streets Partner to support your communities to reclaim streets as places for neighbours to connect and play. Start planning your Play Streets strategy for 2023 with Play Australia's extensive resources. 

If you believe children, families, neighbours, pedestrians, bike riders and motorists should be given equal priority on our quiet residential streets – to share these important community spaces in a safe and respectful manner, so more children can play outside every day – then we welcome your involvement in 1000 Play Streets.

Watch our video to hear what Local Governments are saying about the Play Streets movement.

Over the festive season break, you might like to check out our FREE Online Learning Series sessions from 2022.  Lots of fabulous play discussion and sharing of knowledge, delivered by experts in their field.  

Click on the following links to watch each session:

• Is sustainability just about being outdoors? Possibilities for early years and school outdoor play spaces - Dr Sue Elliott
• The Empowerment of Loose Parts Play in the Primary School Years - Dr Brendon Hyndman 
• Children, Play & Crisis - Robyn Monro Miller
• The Power of 30 minutes - Play and the Developing Brain - Robyn Monro Miller

Brisbane City Council is calling for Expressions of Interest to design and construct an imaginative nature-based adventure playground at Victoria Park. This is a unique opportunity to deliver a one of kind playscape at Brisbane’s biggest new park.  The bespoke playground will blend contemporary and sophisticated playscapes that share stories of Country – of the seasons, animals, plants and more.

Click on the link to register your interest and find out more information.

The floods have had an enormous impact on so many communities and our thoughts have been with you all. 

In Shepparton the kangaroos were in search of higher dry ground and decided to play around!Thanks Brian Linehan from the City of Greater Shepparton for sharing with us. 

We hope you are all drying out and we wish you well in your efforts to reconstruct and support your communities.  

'The statistics surrounding suicide and mental illness throughout sporting clubs are alarming.'

Sport SA has launched an impressive new charter that aims to change these alarming statistics by increasing mental health literacy and support within sporting communities.

There is more and more evidence being released that talks about the benefits of a simple walk through nature.  This study again demonstrates how it can lower activity in stress-related brain regions.  

'...psychologists have long contended a connection between urban living and poor mental health.'

So what to do?  Find that green spot wherever you live and - WALK. 

Plants: Past, Present and Future  is a wonderfully reflective and important book recently profiled in Landscape Australia.  

'As the title suggests, the book positions plants in relation to deep time, then further explores them in the context of contemporary Australian spatial, social and cultural relationships.'

But, it is not just for the benefit of Landscape Architects, it would pay us all well to read and learn from Australia’s First Peoples.   

As all of us are committed to advocating for play, knowing our own ABCs about physical literacy is important. 

The four basic capacities that support human movement: agility, balance, coordination, and speed.

The more we know the more we can each encourage children’s play, no matter what our role or sector, that promotes these capacities and supports children's healthy development. 

This article from Psychology Today certainly provides some uncomfortable food for thought. 

It is a review of the book written by Hilary Friedman - Playing to Win: Raising Children in a Competitive Culture, which highlights the overarching parental need for their children to be prepared for living in a highly competitive society. That to be successful their children need to be focussed on winning. 

Conversely, here is what the children said, 'Many of the children said what they liked most about the competitions was the chance to make friends with children they would not have otherwise met.'

The Early Childhood Australia Conference for 2023 has launched and taking submissions for presentations.  One of the sub-themes is Diversity, inclusion and the rights of all children. 

A terrific opportunity for our play community to participate and advocate for all abilities and the right of all children to play. 

'Having a strong and reliable relationship improves subjective wellbeing, reduces loneliness and enhances mental health' - Relationship Indicators 2022

In response to the enormous effects of the pandemic and other challenges in recent years, Relationships Australia recognised a shift in relationships and were interested in gaining a better understanding of these changes at a national level.

The Relationship Indicators project is a nationally representative survey into the state of relationships in Australia.

You are invited to take part in the Transformation of Play Prioritisation in the Next Generation study that will investigate the prioritisation and value placed on play in schools across the globe.

This survey wants to hear teacher perspectives and comments on how play can be better prioritised and valued in your local school. Have your say!

Here is a very playful way to get children (and adults!) involved in the days heading into Christmas.  

Day 12 looks lovely - Listen to the wind.  Great advice. 

The 22nd International Play Association Triennial World Conference is in Glasgow for 2023!

The conference will examine how UN General Comment No 17 on article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has impacted policy and practice in Scotland, and worldwide, to improve children’s right to play and to create possibilities for the future. 

Be part of the global community of play and join the conference next year in Glasgow. 

Get a good start on 2023 and join Play Australia today and help us protect the rights of children in Australia to ‘play today’.

Membership provides support for all different sectors and industry who are part of the PLAY network. 

From Landscape Architects, Early Childhood Educators, play equipment Manufacturers, Local Government playspace teams, students, or just someone who cares about children's health and wellbeing,  Play Australia membership has something for everyone.

Membership starts from as little as $22 p/yr for a student OR $66 p/yr for an individual.

View our full list of benefits here to find the Membership package that is right for you.