Hi there!

A bit late getting this to you - travel and learning is pretty tiring, my brain is exploding with info!!  

Reached Scotland and weather was cold, but the Scottish generosity warmed me up! Had a week staying in Edinburgh with colleague Irene Hogg, who some of you met at the Asia Pacific Conference and then down to spend time in Glasgow with Marguerite Hunter Blair, former CEO of Play Scotland. It was wonderful to have their support with establishing meeting with contacts and Scotland has a LOT!  Plus having dinner with the IPA Scotland members was great fun!

Scotland has the UNCRC embedded in statutory guidance ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/statutory-guidance-part-2-uncrc-incorporation-scotland-act-2024/pages/3/)   and Scotland has also implemented play sufficiency, like Wales, but unlike Wales, it is embedded in their planning model. This inclusion of play as part of planning is a real bonus to getting play recognised as integral, rather than an add on.  It is still early stages so not real analysis has been conducted yet, but it will be an interesting test case for Australia and I have met with a range of people involved in the development who have helped me form some great recommendations for us in Aus to consider. So, a question for you to reflect on, as I am - should Aus be including UNCRC in our legislation?  My report will address this.

I spent time at Play Scotland with new CEO Mary Ramsey, which like Play Aus undertakes a lot of advocacy for play and it was interesting to see the impact a peak body can make when it has sufficient funding. Both Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have funding for their play peak and so I am a little envious at what opportunities we miss out on in Aus. because of funding deficits. Perhaps the highlight of my week in Scotland was visiting 5 projects with Marguerite and Henry from Thriving Scotland, lots of info exchanged driving around, but also inspired by people at the coal face working to support play. There is substantial evidence that philanthropic investment is creating change, not just government investment, but ultimately it is coming down to good people with a vision. Thriving Scotland has an interesting model of philanthropy in that they partner with mentoring support and advice, not just funds. Such a thoughtful approach to ensure success of projects.  I wonder if we have a philanthropic group in Aus that might partner with us? 

On a personal note - finished my week catching up with a child who attended a service I worked in 20 years ago - super special and have detailed the story in LinkedIn... just in case you want know more. It was a reminder of why I have devoted my life to children, not because I particularly like children, but because I believe in giving back, and giving back to this world begins by ensuring our children have every opportunity to flourish. Meeting this young woman, now a high school teacher, was inspiring, I could see from her conversation, she too was an advocate for children and young people. So immensely proud of her who she has become, and importantly to see she is now “playing it forward”.

Next stop - Ireland and Northern Ireland ... 

Yours Playfully,

Robyn