What makes this groundbreaking:
This is not a Government agenda, this is a community agenda.
This is not dependent on the whims of policy priorities by Government,
Through comprehensive national mapping, we will identify and celebrate existing play initiatives across Australia while revealing the gaps that demand urgent attention. This strategy recognizes that play is more than just playgrounds—it encompasses urban planning, design, educations, children’s services, health agencies, playgroups, pop up programs, and the countless ways children engage in self-directed play across diverse settings.
Across Australia, play is thriving in pockets of excellence and innovation. Yet not all children have equal access. For the first time, we will document play deserts—communities where children's access to play is severely limited—and expose patterns of spatial injustice that disproportionately affect our most vulnerable children.
We will use this to plan to drive the development of an action plan for advocacy and engagement from government and philanthropy.
This is more than research. It's a call to action.
Dual-purpose by design:
For the sector: A powerful advocacy tool that gives voice to the critical importance of play, backed by evidence and grounded in children's rights.
For government: A practical planning framework that identifies where investment is needed and provides clear pathways for implementation across local, state, and federal levels.
A collaborative vision:
Sector-driven and evidence-informed, this strategy will position Australia as a global leader in recognizing that play is essential to children's basic developmental and health needs as well as having intrinsic value as a critical element of childhood, centred on a rights based approach to access and acceptance.
Together, we can ensure that every Australian child—regardless of postcode, ability, or circumstance—has access to the play opportunities they need and deserve.
How will be do this?
Round 1 was completed in February, round 2 is happening in August- September and round 3 will be in October, Dr Wendy Russell, will join us from the UK, for a series of events exploring Play Sufficiency and Spatial Justice. Wendy has been a key member of the research team for Play Sufficiency in Wales and England. This will cover what a plan needs to have to be actionable and how we identify and address play deserts.
Each series of summits will drive discussion and develop and formulate more of the strategy – it will be a slow burn to build interest, awareness, knowledge and develop partnerships. It will be accompanied by focus groups, nationwide surveys and collation of examples of practice that will support and drive change.
We will not have a final plan to consult on until 2026 and it is hoped that whilst this will commence as self-funded, via delegate registrations and in kind provision of services and venues, we will attract sponsors as we proceed.
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