Play Australia is reaching out to our Local Government members across Australia who are interested in exploring some international concepts in relation to “ Play Sufficiency”, currently being adopted in the UK. It will be a journey of exploration as we look at what a model like this might consist of in Australia.
We are hosting Dr Wendy Russell to deliver a masterclass for interested Local Government representatives in October, followed by an ongoing process of support from Play Australia to explore potential of pilot initiatives across Australia. We will only hold these in locations where we have interest of at least one or two local governments.
If this of interest to you and your team - and we encourage cross departmental interest please reach out to Robyn at ceo@playaustralia.org.au
Here is some extra info on the masterclasses that may be of interest:
Play sufficiency has become a key driver of partnership working and system change in Welsh local Government, and a delivery mechanism for a wider child-friendly agenda.
The case for play sufficiency is a unifying principle capable of bringing departments and partners together, shaping policy across multiple areas, and standing as a public health priority in its own right.
At the heart of play sufficiency is the principle that, if the conditions are right, children will play. Our responsibility as adults is to co-create those conditions with children.
This masterclass with visiting UK Expert Dr Wendy Russell, sets out practical ways local government can build play sufficiency, starting with establishing the current "state of play" through children's own reported experiences and play patterns.
"It's not just about playgrounds- it's about embedding children's right to play across environments, services, and planning decisions."
These methods can feed into strategic priorities, action plans, and Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, embedding play sufficiency as a local priority.
The process itself can strengthen partnership working and shared recognition of collective responsibility for play - bringing together policy, planning, housing, transport, public health, education, community safety, and play provision to understand how decisions across these areas shape children's time and space for play.
As an outcome of this masterclass, participants will be able to recognise their own role in supporting play, leading to more coordinated and responsive services.
The process has also fostered new working relationships, with knowledge, skills, and ownership gradually being shared across departments, which in time will serve to reduce reliance on a single central function and support a more sustainable, embedded approach.
All local governments participating will be eligible to apply to take part in a 2027 supported Play Sufficiency trial .
Kind Regards
Robyn Monro Miller AM
Chief Executive Officer
Mobile 0403 028781
Office 0415 292 030
e ceo@playaustralia.org.au
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we gather and we celebrate their long history of play in Australia. We also pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging. | 
