Hi , 

I want to remind you of the opportunity for you to obtain access to an online First Nations education and awareness development program developed by the AIATSIS – the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. Specifically, the Core cultural learning course.

Register with Play Australia by 16 October 2024

The course generally requires 10 or more participants to proceed. To accommodate smaller groups and individuals interested in this training, we'd like to offer our members the opportunity to register directly with us to meet the minimum participant requirement. Once registered through Play Australia, we'll enroll you in the course on your behalf. Play Australia team members and some Board will also participate.

This is a self-paced, online course for individuals that is made up of 10 modules. It is designed to encourage people to understand their own cultural perspectives as the basis for effective interactions with people of (other) diverse backgrounds.

Further information about the course outline can be found at Core Cultural Learning.

Yarning circles

The Core training program encourages self-organised discussion groups amongst enrolled participants. Play Australia will set up some free online yarning circles to support our enrollees in coming together to reflect on their experiences and support their learning.
Our first yarning circle will be held in December 2024, then resuming in February 2025 and planned according to the needs of the group. Participation in yarning circles is not compulsory, but will be helpful for those of us working through the modules and relieve isolation.

Cost

The direct cost per individual is $99 inc gst. Play Australia is not making any profit from the fee and it will be paid directly to cover the course cost.

Registrations close 16 October 2024.

Next week is Children’s Week. If you have not already started planning it is not too late!

This year the theme is celebrating Article 24 from the UNCRC and Play Australia has 4 key messages we will be delivering and ask you do to, feel free to share!

OUR 4 KEY MESSAGES FOR CHILDREN’S WEEK 2024:
(based on theme of Article 24)

1. Play is not optional, but  essential for healthy human development.

2. Play is a preventative health strategy

3. Children’s access to play space is an essential  consideration in urban planning.

4. Erosion of many natural and public spaces traditionally available to children to play in, creates a need for greater government intervention to protect the rights under article 31.

Attached is the Play Australia members advocacy kit to help you with planning and messaging.

The Play Sanctuary of Joomunjie Land was planned, designed, built, marketed, launched, and sustained by the children of Eagleby, supported by Australian Institute of Play. Nestled in an out-of-bounds area of a primary school, within one of Logan's lower socio-economic areas, with high levels of crime, violence, and drugs, and houses full of children. Under these challenging conditions and living with the lottery of life, Joomunjie Land is supporting these neighbourhood children to not only thrive, but buck the national childhood trends of negative developmental vulnerability and physical and mental health outcomes.

This presentation will unpack the data of a recent independent evaluation of Joomunjie Land, exploring the potent outcomes of agency, joy, happiness, sense of community, cultural competence, and community intelligence being fostered, not just for the children, for the entire community, since Joomunjie Land opened 2 years ago.

Wednesday 27 November 2024
12.00pm-1.00pm AEDT

Cost:
Free! for members
$33 inc gst for non-members

This is the meeting of the financial year 2023/4

AGENDA

1. Welcome
2. Apologies
3. Confirmation of Minutes of Annual General Meeting 19/12/23
4. Presentation of the Annual Reports
    4.1 Board Report
    4.2 CEO Report
    4.3 Financial report including the Statement of Accounts
5. Election of the Auditor
6. Declaration of Members of the Board for 2024/2025
Three positions are up for re-election. See information regarding nomination process in this newsletter.
7. Vote of Thanks
8. Conclusion

AGM papers will be sent in a special member e-News.

Use this Form of Proxy if you are unable to attend and would like to nominate a proxy to vote on your behalf.

Call for Nomination to the Board
Nominations are now open for election to the Play Australia Board of Trustees. Nominations close on 25 October at 5pm (AEDT)

There are 3 positions on the Board that are elected by a vote of the membership. Each position holds office for a 3 year term. The election is only for 3 members of the 9 member Board. Under the constitution, the elected Board members determine who among them will fill the leadership roles of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

An additional 2 positions on the Board can be co-opted by the elected Board to fill skill gaps as identified. All eligible nominations will be part of an online poll of members conducted 4-15 November 2024.

Only members who have paid their membership fees are eligible stand for election and to vote. Nomination forms must be completed in full.

The Play Australia Board is a working Board. Board members should allocate 8 to 12 hours per month to undertake the role. Board members represent Play Australia. They do not represent employers or organisations they are related to. Board members have an obligation to act in the best interests of Play Australia, this can sometimes be different to the interests of other groups they are associated with. Play Australia Board members must not use the office for self-promotion or promotion of their business interests.

Before you decide to nominate for the Board, you are required to know the role has important legal and ethical obligations, not just to members of Play Australia, but to Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC), with whom we are registered.
To learn more about those obligations, read through the ACNC Governance Standards.

Nomination forms are to be accompanied with:
1. A Directors Identification number
2. A Working with Children Check or equivalent confirmation
3. Signed Play Australia Code of Conduct and Child Safe Code of Conduct
4. Submit certificate of completion of the Governance Standards quiz on the ACNC website.

To request a Board Information Pack email info@playaustralia.org.au.

Looking forward to celebrating our 110th with you!

Robyn Monro Miller – CEO Play Australia