It is my great pleasure to have joined the team of Play Australia this month!

As I write this, Barbara Champion, our former Executive Director, has been enjoying her retirement. For a little over a month now she has been travelling and savouring life. Barb is by now, far more relaxed than the rest of us!!

The past month has been a busy one for me. I have been meeting with team members and stakeholders, as well as re-acquainting myself with the complexities of running a national organisation. The easy bit of course is the mission !!! Play is my passion, and I understand it is of critical importance, not just for the health and wellbeing of our children, but for all stages of our lives. Play is also a catalyst for social cohesion. Play Australia’s vision of building a healthier Australia through play is more important than ever!

In 2023, the Play Australia eNews will continue to be delivered fortnightly to all our members. It is designed to provide you with news on current issues, events and new initiatives happening for play. 

Our eNews is designed to be a quick update on the world of play, for a 10 minute read in your busy day (hey, that rhymes!!)

Plus, we will be including a little playful inspiration to inject into your life with a new section called “Are You Game?”.

I am looking forward to having the opportunity to meet with you at a Play Australia event, and just in case no one has told you lately - thank you for your commitment to play!

Yours playfully,  

Robyn

Robyn Monro Miller AM
CEO, Play Australia

Maribyrnong Council in Victoria launched its Passport to Play this week. Designed for the children of Maribyrnong to support their development and encourage play and creativity in their local neighbourhoods.

The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) National Child Health Poll full report Australian families: How we play was released on Wednesday February 22.

The RCH Poll is a biannual national survey of Australian parents that sheds new light on the big issues in contemporary child and adolescent health.

This research will contribute to invaluable conversations about the importance of play for Australian children and their families.

To learn more about the poll, visit https://www.rch.org.au/rchpoll/

Watch out for Play Australia webinars on both these initiatives coming soon!

If you want to help promote the importance of play to families, download free resources and information from our Play Today Campaign

You have probably heard the saying “Knowledge is power” ??… at Play Australia we consider Play knowledge to be a Superpower!!

Our Play Australia professional development program will be released in mid March and provide you with an annual feast of PD opportunities. Online learning modules, live webinars, face to face training across Australia plus some amazing seminars with international speakers will feature. Plus, we will be adding more opportunities through the year as we seize great opportunities to showcase new initiatives and fascinating speakers.

Do you want to be part of our PD Program as a presenter, facilitator or have a recommendation of an initiative you want to learn more about? Contact us!

Help us plan for your PD and interests by completing this brief online survey.

Loving this fun game “Kick the Can” that can be played with 2 players to a whole gang and is practically resource free! A fun variation on the traditional game of hide and seek!

Designate someone as "It." This Person “It” kicks an empty can while the other players hide and counts to 50 or sings a song.

“It” once finished counting/singing, puts the can upright, and shouts, "Ready or not, here I come." They then search for other players in the area.

Once they find someone, they yell the player's name out loud. Both people race /walk to the can and attempt to be the first to kick it.

The game ends if the hider succeeds in kicking the can first. But if “It” kicks the can first, the hider has to remain ‘captive’ near the can and the game continues.

The game ends when everyone has been captured or once a hider has kicked the can.

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.