This 2020 report 'Where Will All The Trees Be' is the third instalment since 2013.  It updates the green cover benchmarking in our cities and suburbs. 

There is a definite message for all urban planning in this report, that as our cities are growing, we must ensure that green cover grows too. 

The research was conducted by the Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne and Greener Spaces Better Places for Hort Innovation Australia.

The Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance rated Australian children's overall physical activity levels as a D-, which gives us a lot of room for improvement. Robyn Monro Miller is the President, International Play Association, and discusses our need to increase children's access to play opportunities as part of the NSC FORUM 2020 Interview Series.  

In this insightful interview, Robyn explains how play is not confined to just a particular environment and our role as adults is to create the opportunity for children to play wherever they are. Play is innate to every child and the scope for children to play is endless. 

Here is a great resource for parents and caregivers to encourage adults to be less risk adverse when it comes to children playing outdoors.  From South Shore Connects  in Canada this infographic contains three key messages: 

1/ Four things Adults need to offer to foster outdoor play: Permission, Time, Materials, Space.

2/ Taking a Lifeguard Approach: Observe, Check-in, Intervene when necessary.

3/ What to do in the moment.

For children to develop confidence and build resilience, risky play is vital.  So as adults, let's address our own fears about risk and learn how to step back and let the children play. 

The Western Australian Branch of Early Childhood Australia has released a STATEMENT ON PLAY; Everyone benefits when children play.  This report is the culmination of a Play Strategy campaign that identified 'quality play experiences are diminishing in WA early years' settings'. 

"Play matters and needs to become everyone's business"

One of the actions outlined is the need for local councils to continue providing access for children and families to community green spaces, local nature and adventure playgrounds . The report lists some recommended play spaces to explore in Perth, click below and check them out:

Dinosaur Park in Kingsway
Kings Park
Piney Lakes Park in Winthrop
Bibra lake Regional Playground

Why is it important for you to work in the play sector?

Omnitech knows the importance of why our playgrounds need to have the ability to impact the learning and creative phase of a child’s development. Omnitech has been around for over 30 years, we have seen the play sector evolve from just standard playgrounds to large scale custom projects and now the launch of a playground app – Biba.

It is important for us to keep evolving within the industry as an Australian made company to continue to manufacture more innovative play equipment for the Australian play sector.

Fred, pictured, tests out the playground!

Why Omnitech is a Play Australia member

Play Australia connects us with like-minded individuals within the play industry. Now more than ever it is important to support Australian Made. Play Australia highlights the latest news within the Australian playground industry and has always had great support and resources for Omnitech as a proudly Australian Made company.

Join the network that supports everything 'PLAY'.