Dear Valued Play Australia Member...
Masterclass: Navigating Risky Play in School Settings. 

Play Australia is delighted to welcome from Canada,

International Experts

Professor Mariana Brussoni and Dr Megan Zeni!

Join us as we review the research supporting outdoor risky play, alongside practical implementation strategies and tools for successful implementation in  school settings.  It is designed to support educators, schools  and OSHC navigate existing systems to collectively re-think where and how learning happens.

The three hour masterclass will explore

  • the basics of risky play (categories, examples of practice in schools, risks versus hazards/ roles and responsibilities etc)
  • the principles of injury prevention, with an emphasis on understanding risks/hazards and designing learning environments that support staff who feel professionally vulnerable
  • design features that support outdoor play and learning (loose parts, affordances for play & practical management tips and tricks)

Participants will

1) Gain understanding on the research behind risky play, and why it is important for children.

2) a framework for understanding how risky play supports all measures of wellness in childhood and

3) tools and resources for overcoming risky play challenges in the school context.

International Experts Professor Mariana Brussoni and Dr Megan Zeni, Co-authors of  the book Embracing Risky Play at School,  will be visiting Australia from October 13-27, this is a unique opportunity to hear from international experts. 

About the Presenters
Dr. Mariana Brussoni MA, BA, PhD

is a Professor at the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine and scientist at the British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, where she leads the Outside Play Lab.

Her award-winning research on outdoor risky play intersects injury prevention, risk, child development, public health and education to shift adults’ perceptions of risk, design play-friendly environments, and change systems to ensure all children have the time, space and freedom to play outside every day.  
Dr. Megan Zeni

is an outdoor play and learning teacher consultant and researcher in the province of British Columbia, Canada. She brings 3 decades of professional K-7 teaching experience in classrooms, outdoor classrooms, and school gardens to her collaborations with teachers and school system leaders interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable implementation of risky play at school. She is currently on contract as an outreach teacher consultant for the Ministry of Education and Child Care in the province of British Columbia, Canada. This work includes supporting education professionals, district leaders, and elementary school teachers in the early years. 

Dr. Megan Zeni earned a PhD from the University of British Columbia in curriculum studies. Megan is also a Qualified Master Gardener (QMG) and loves to share exemplars that highlight how all academic content can be taught in a school garden.

Bookings are now open for 4 Masterclass locations - follow the links below

PERTH

Date: Thursday 15th October 2026

Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Location:  Catholic Education WA

                 50 Ruislip St
                 James Nester Hall
                 West Leederville, WA 6007

Cost:        $99.00 (including GST)

Supported by Catholic Education WA

REGISTER HERE
 

Date: Friday 16th October 2026

Time: 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Location:  Guildford Grammar School

                 Foundation Pavaillion
                 11 Terrance Road
                 Guildford, WA 6005

Cost:       Play Australia Members - $82.50 (including GST)

                Non-Play Australia Members - $99.00 (including GST)

REGISTER HERE

SYDNEY

Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026

Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location:  Centennial Parklands

                 Education Centre
                 Dickens Drive
                 Centennial Parklands, Sydney NSW 2021

Cost:        Play Australia Members - $99.00 (including GST)

                 Non-Play Australia Members - $132.00 (including GST)

REGISTER HERE

This session in Sydney will be followed at 4pm by a tour of the Centennial Parklands Wild Play Garden and member drinks at The Centennial, Oxford St Paddington.

 

MELBOURNE

Special Children's Week Event - Free Public Event supported by Deakin University and Victorian Department of Sport and Recreation

Date: Tuesday 27th October 2026

Time: 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Location: Deakin Burwood Corporate Centre
                  2/212 Burwood Hwy
                  Burwood.  Melbourne, VIC 3125

REGISTER HERE

 

All fees are non-refundable 

For more information email info@playaustralia.org.au 

 
PO BOX 481
Paddington, NSW 2021
Australia
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