In February …
Australian Researchers
Our Australian Researchers are doing some amazing work when it comes to play research. In 2026 we will be showcasing this research and each month we will feature a research presentation from one or two of our Playful academics!!
Marion and Jorges are kicking us off sharing their research at a webinar on February 4, and through the year more will join the party. If you are one of them, please reach out!
"Out of Bounds" with Marion Sturges and Jorje Knijnik
Wednesday 4th
4:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone)
2025 IPA Asia Pacific Conference Encore Series
Encore! Encore! We heard you cheering and hot off the success of last year’s Asia Pacific Conference hosted by Play Australia, we will also feature encore performances all year from some of our favourite speakers and members, who are happy to reprise their presentations for those who missed out! Lucky us, Lucinda Jones and Dr Kate Renshaw will be kicking this off on February 9 and 23 respectively!
Lucinda Jones
Monday 9th
4:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone)
Dr Kate Renshaw
Monday 23rd
7:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone)
Play "Essentials"
Our new Play “Essentials” members webinar series is designed for early childhood, parents and those working in children’s services. Each month we will be hosting a webinar featuring an Australian expert who will provide us with new perspectives on aspects of play in early childhood and we will release to coincide with each presentation a fact sheet on the topic that can be used for families, carers and educators to support your advocacy on the topic.
We are kicking off this free member series with a super interesting presentation from expert Aussie microbiologist Dr Jake Robinson on “Dirty Play”. We will be delving deep into why play in dirt is helpful for our microbiome.
"Time to get dirty" with Dr Jake Robinson
Thursday 19th
4:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone)
Adventures in Playspace Design Series
On the topic of play spaces - the newly launched Adventures in Playspace Design Series will again be delivered in 2026. The webinar series showcases our Australian play space designers. Join us in conversation on Play space design, in the last week of each month at 1pm, with one of our talented members who have made a career out of award-winning play space designs. Each designer will share with us perspectives and inspirations on one, or two, of their award winning play space designs, with opportunities for questions following the presentation. These webinars are free for Play Australia members and bookings now open for our February event featuring Jeff Nelson from Melbourne City Council, and our April event featuring Ric McConaghy. (we skipped March as it is was too close to Easter!)
Our 2025 sessions featuring Fiona Robbe, Mary Jeavons and Leong Khoo were incredibly well received, and people are still viewing the recordings. These are still free to view until 30 January. If you know of someone that should present let us know – we are keen to have our members showcase their ideas and work.
Jeff Nelson - Nature Play at Royal Park
Thursday 26th
1:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone)
In March …
"Mud, Movement, and Magic: Sensory integration in outdoor play” with Cath Fitzhardinge. Part of our Essential Wisdom Seminr Series!
When we think about outdoor play in early childhood, we often focus on the physical and social benefits for children. But take a moment to also consider how outdoor play might feel for a child: the warmth of the sun on their back, their knees buried deep in the scratchy sand, the cool water trickling through their fingers, and the smell of the nearby blooming bottlebrush, alive with the sound of buzzing bees and birds. We are all sensory beings. Engaging our senses in varied and meaningful ways is how we connect with, understand, and learn from our environment and our community.
Join Occupational Therapist, Cath Fitzhardinge as she explores the multi-sensory benefits of outdoor play, and how these everyday experiences can support children’s sensory processing, emotional regulation, and development. Cath will also share the results of her Master of Philosophy research project, where she uncovers the hidden benefits of an intentionally designed nature play space for children aged 4-8 years. Using an innovative play behaviour mapping protocol, along with interviews with educators and designers, this research combined the professional perspectives of occupational therapy, education, and design. The result is a unique, multidisciplinary exploration of how outdoor play spaces can be thoughtfully designed and utilised effectively to support child development within early childhood and primary school settings.
Tuesday 10th
4:00pm (Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra)
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