The Early Childhood Learning Network (ECOLN) Pedagogy and Practice in Nature Education Conference is coming up on Friday March 25.  
 
Tim Gill, from Rethinking Childhood, well known writer and play advocate, is one of the keynote speakers. This unique Early Childhood conference, explores new ideas and knowledge about educating with nature.

Our Online Learning Series, Summer Series, brings our Full Benefits Members a specialised session on Playground Standards with Rob Hamilton and members of the Playgrounds Standards Committee on Thursday 03 March. 

This PD is for Full Benefits members only and of particular interest to industry members and those who work in the maintenance, design and manufacture of playspaces and equipment.

Ground Surfacing - Undersurfacing is a high priority issue in maintaining all outdoor play areas. 

Bring your current Standards questions and concerns to this session for discussion and resolution. 

The purpose of every early childhood outdoor setting is to ensure that the necessary stimuli are present in order for children to participate in physically active play. This is turn supports children's learning.

This free online session on Thursday 10 March will provide practical strategies as well as the pedagogical theory to support arranging outdoor playspaces to benefit children’s learning experiences.

Are you in Victoria? Interested in discovering more about your local environment? Meeting others in your community? Finding out where to volunteer for nature?

Why not become a Nature Steward this autumn!

Nature Stewards, from our friends at Outdoors Victoria, is an introductory environmental program that has 10 class sessions and 4 field sessions, offering an opportunity to explore your local area.

Programs are starting from the February through to May, across Melbourne, Moreland, Yarra Ranges, Melton, Macedon, Hume, Whittlesea, and Knox Local Council Areas.

Noel Corkery is a registered landscape architect, AILA Fellow and Past National President, and a founding director of the newly established Landscape Foundation of Australia. In a recent Landscape Australia article he says we need a "fundamental shift in perspective".

Corkery reminds us that nature is not a free commodity and continuing to treat it as such is now being seen in "the rapid global loss of biodiversity". 

A challenge for all of us who are advocating for more time and play in nature. Our children's wellbeing will pay the consequences. 

Often with the changing seasons comes an increase in asthma inducing allergens in the great outdoors. 

When planning and planting in any area where children will be playing, it is always worth checking the allergy friendly plants and trees. 

'It’s important you can identify and keep plants out of your garden that are bothersome to your asthma and allergies.' Asthma Australia

As Australia is now emerging from the major restrictions of the pandemic, this report from Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and UNICEF Australia is calling for a National Children's Plan.  

'The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has insufficiently considered Australian children with seismic impacts on a generation creating urgent needs...' ARACY

Play Australia is offering its very popular two-day face-to-face training program again in 2022.

Delivered in Templestowe, Victoria, this extensive training enables participants to access and understand both best practice and current Playground Standards applicable to the management, development, design and maintenance of playspaces throughout Australia today.

All participants will receive level 1 & 2 certification.

If you are a Play Australia Member, placing our member logo on your key communications materials is a great way of profiling your commitment to play!

Value of Play - Digital Assets are available for Members to download for free!

Use these icons on your signature block or your organisation’s website.

Play Australia membership provides support for all different sectors and industry who are part of the PLAY network.  From Landscape Architects, Early Childhood Educators, play equipment Manufacturers, Local Government playspace teams, students, or just someone who cares about children's health and wellbeing,  Play Australia membership has something for everyone.

Membership starts from as little as $22 p/yr for a student OR $66 p/yr for an individual.

View our full list of benefits here to find the Membership package that is right for you.