News from the Play Australia team...

The Countdown is on!

With just days to go till the FIRST International Day of Play (IDOP) on Tuesday June 11, the pressure is on!

We hope you have accessed the resources available for members and are sharing them widely with your colleagues, we really want to ensure this first International Day of Play is a success!

There is a lot happening for the day and we are endeavouring to use social media to keep you up to date! Play Australia has been working with ECA on a free webinar they are hosting as well as with Play Matters on joint media coverage.

We have tried to get leverage across Australia and on 28 May we were privileged to be able to undertake a parliamentary afternoon tea in Canberra and brief representatives on, not only the Day of Play, but also the importance of play. We have been invited to return to Canberra in the coming months to talk more!

Our (first) BIG Play survey was running with a plan to finish on June 6, but we have extended it – we really need more numbers so we will keep it going until middle of June.

So much is happening at present, our Playwork practitioner training has launched and enrolments are currently being taken. We're aiming to start with a cohort of around 70 people who will undertake the Playwork: Foundation Practitioner course.

Risk is also very topical, and we have some more information to support you in your work in this edition.

Thank you everyone for your patience as we juggle so many wonderful things, we hope you are looking forward to next week and this edition of e-News will give you an update on what is happening!

Yours playfully,

Robyn, Joanne and Pete

If you have not yet looked at the members file of resources for IDOP then take some time and check it out. We have also had a great take up rate from the community and organisations for the resources so have now put some up for public release, so feel free to share this link: https://www.playaustralia.org.au/subscribe (and we hope you do not mind!)

We are also asking all Play Australia members to change their Facebook photo – just for one day on Tuesday 11 June to the International day of Play logo.

To assist us in measuring impact, we are still keen to hear from you on whatever activity you are planning, so please let us know using this quick survey link before or after the event. Please send photos as well so we can create a montage of activities that went on across Australia.

We are planning a members-only online “Recovery Party” later in June, so we can hear what people did and prep for next year. We will send out dates soon!

Just in time for IDOP, Play Australia has been working with the ABC on a segment on Risky Play for the 7pm evening news on June 9 (AEST). We have Play Australia members speaking in that segment and filming was undertaken at The Venny, so it is set to be a good one we hope!

Robyn will be interviewed on ABC Morning television at 8.40am (AEST) as a preview of the story and will also be quoted in some online coverage.

Play Australia member David Eager who is a Professor Risk Management and Injury Prevention at UTS in Sydney has written a paper on ISO 4890:2023 Benefit-risk analysis (BRA).

It was published in the journal ‘Standards’ and you can assess it via this free downloadable link:

Play Australia support and encourage all or members to use the BRA method (AS ISO 4890:2023) when assessing sport and recreational spaces.

We are hosting a free members webinar on Benefit-Risk Assessment to which you are all invited! 

Debriefing Benefit Risk and the ISO – What does it mean for Australia and New Zealand?
Thursday 1 August 2024, 7pm AEST

June 13 Member Briefing: Insurance Update

Join Ryan Fisher from Play's Australia's Insurance partner, Coverforce Complete, for an update on insurance including an overview of the current Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurance markets. This session will include time for questions and discussion.

Ryan Fisher is a Director of Coverforce Complete Pty Ltd and has worked in the insurance industry for over 10 years on both the insurer and broking sides. Before joining Coverforce Complete in 2019, Ryan worked for a large global insurer Allianz, across multiple roles including Underwriting, Sales, and Team management. Ryan has strong relationships across the insurance industry and looks after a diverse portfolio.

In case you missed it, Play Australia has been working with Play Wales to bring the internationally renowned Playwork Practitioners course to Australia!

We are pleased to open registrations for the first round of the

Playwork: Foundation Practitioner Course

This course is the starting point for all learners. The course provides a sound introduction to the Playwork Principles, loose parts theory, play
cycle, intervention styles, dynamic risk-benefit assessment and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).

This training is industry certified by Play Australia and will be offered as a micro credential. The course is designed for those people currently working with children.

The course is broken up into different components including 3 x webinars, approx 3 hours online reading/preparation, a 2-day face-to-face practice workshop and assessments.

All sections of the course and assessment must be completed to receive the certificate. Course assessment activities to be submitted by November 1, 2024.

Webinar Dates

Tuesday 18 June 2024, 7-9pm AEST
Tuesday 23 July 2024, 7-9pm AEST
Wednesday 14 August 2024 , 7-9 pm AEST.

2-Day Workshop Dates

Register here for Perth 6 &7 September 2024

Register here for Melbourne 9 &10 September 2024

Register here for Sydney (1) 13 & 14 September 2024

Register here for Sydney (2) 17 & 18 September 2024

Register here for Brisbane 20 & 21 September 2024

Prerequisites

• Currency – must have at least 2 years’ experience working face to face with children or young people in last 12 months.
• Will be able to actively apply the learnings to a school, children’s service, or Youth program and have the support of your management.
• Current working with children clearance.
• Current child protection training (desirable).

Cost per participant

$895- members (Payment option of $395 deposit by June 25, balance of $500 payable by August 1). Or pay in full and claim off your 2023/4 tax!

$1295- non-members 

Places are limited but if you miss out there will be more offered in 2025!