Round 3 Australian Play Summits –   

with Dr Wendy Russell 

"Exploring Play and Wellbeing and the Concept of Spatial Justice". 

"Live Stream" in Bathurst from the Brisbane session

Date: Thursday 22nd October 

Time: 10.30am to 1.30 pm   

Venue: Bathurst Early Childhood Intervention Service (BECIS)

             Building 1439 Charles Sturt University

            Panorama Ave Bathurst NSW 2795

Cost: $25.00 (including GST)

REGISTER HERE

Sydney 

Date: Friday 23rd October 

Time: 9.30am to 12.30 pm   

Venue: Sydney CBD venue tbc

Cost: Play Australia Members - $66.00 (including GST)

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

REGISTER HERE

Some regional venues and other locations we are live streaming on Thursday 22nd October from Brisbane. Contact Info@playaustralia.org.au if you have a venue and would like to facilitate a session.

About Wendy

Dr Wendy Russell is a Senior Research Fellow and an independent researcher. Her research into children’s play focuses on the politics of space, and playwork. She is a co-founder of the biennial international Philosophy at Play conference and is on the editorial board of the International Journal of Play.

Critical cartography, as developed by Wendy, treats mapping not as a way of recording places but as a way of revealing the relationships, power dynamics and material conditions that shape opportunities for play. Through creative, deliberately ‘inefficient’ mapping, storying and diagramming, Critical Cartography helps practitioners to reflect on and reimagine play spaces, supporting more equitable, playful and responsive environments. Read more…

Wendy’s research into therapeutic playwork explores how children, playworkers, materials, animals and spaces come together to create conditions of safety, joy and self-directed play within therapeutic settings. By combining creative mapping with non-linear evaluation methods, it demonstrates the value of play as a relational, process-based form of care while providing meaningful evidence of its impact beyond conventional outcome measures. Read more…

Wendy has played a leading role in developing the Play Sufficiency Duty in Wales, creating practical, relational tools that help local authorities assess and improve the conditions that enable children to play. Wendy has guided play policy and practice in Wales and promotes play sufficiency internationally. Read more…

THIS PROJECT IS AN INITIATIVE OF PLAY AUSTRALIA.

WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF DELEGATE REGISTRATION FEES IN FUNDING THIS INITIATIVE.

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

A day for provocateurs,
disruptors and dreamers

THE FESTIVAL OF PLAYFUL IDEAS - Sydney!

What if we gave the mic to anyone with a wild idea about play,

and let them run with it?

The Festival of Playful Ideas is a first of its kind gathering where speakers take the stage on whatever play concept sets their mind alight. No fixed themes, no safe topics, just bold thinkers invited to challenge, provoke and stretch how we see play in schools, cities, childhood and beyond.

Expect ideas that do not fit neatly into a program. Expect to leave with your assumptions rattled. This is a day built for out of the box thinking, where provocateurs push us past the obvious and into the possible. 

This inaugural event marks the start of annual gatherings across Australia, bringing together leading voices from around the world with home grown provocateurs to challenge how Australia thinks about play.

Registration includes a delicious BBQ lunch 

Featuring

Professor Mariana Brussoni, Canada

Dr Wendy Russell, United Kingdom

Dr Megan Zeni, Canada

Robyn Monro Miller, some grown provocateur

Plus featuring some surprise home grown provocateurs who we lure into our playful web!!

Date: Saturday 24th October 2026

Time: 8:30am to 3:00pm

Venue: Camperdown Common

             31A Mallett Street

             Camperdown, Sydney NSW 2050

Cost: Play Australia Members: $121.00 (including GST)

          Non-Play Australia Members: $176.00 (including GST)

Register Here

All fees are non-refundable 

For more information email info@playaustralia.org.au