You are in for a terrific Winter round of PD sessions as part of our Online Learning Series!

Starting on Thursday 11 August, you will be hearing from Dr Brendan Hyndman, presenting 'The Empowerment of Loose Parts Play in the Primary School Years: The Hidden Link for Children’s Development?'.

There's lots more ahead, and you will receive further information on the series shortly. But, register today for Dr Brendan Hyndman below.

This one's for you!

Our Early Years Series for Term 3 launches on Monday 01 August with Karen Anderson from the ECO Learning Network. 

Story telling in nature – connecting children with the land and First Peoples culture

Karen will share her story telling experiences and techniques when teaching the nature program with children at Balnarring Preschool.

“People meeting their neighbours for the first time and children continuing play after the event finished, with some finding newfound friendships.” Play Street Resident

Read about our top 3 community impacts from Play Streets in South Australia over the last two years.

• more connected communities
• more children’s outdoor play
• better systems for Play Streets

We thank Office for Recreation Sport & Racing, Wellbeing SA and Sport Australia for supporting this important work, as well as Centre for Sport & Social Impact at LaTrobe University for their evaluation expertise, and we can’t forget about Playing Out UK for all the inspiration.

The Heart Foundation has up to ten $10,000 grants available for new, innovative projects that get more people moving and active in their local communities. 

If your organisation, service or company would like to make a pitch, let us know and Play Australia can provide a letter of support. Go for it!

Apply now for projects that improve outside play provision and enhance the health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Kidsafe NSW have a large number of Playground Safety Information Sheets available online. 

Ranging from Impact Areas, Entrapment, Stepping Stones and Tree Climbing. 

A great resource to have on hand.

Let's get outside, take off those shoes, and let our barefeet run free.  

There are 200,000 nerve endings in our feet and when these are let loose, being barefoot can provide stimulation and particularly for little growing feet, 'allows the bones, ligaments, and nerve endings of the feet to grow and activate'. 

Loneliness is a major problem facing many in our communities. 

Relationships Australia, through their Neighbour Day project, aims to reduce isolation and reconnect communities. 

Read below for '5 steps to being
neighbourly'.

'Help address loneliness across Australia and build the communities you want to live in, one relationship at a time.'

There is one thing to discuss the benefits of outdoor play, but isn't it better to experience the real thing?

We think so! Play Australia hosted a visit to several local Melbourne playgrounds as part of the National Sport and Physical Activity Conference 2022. 

It was a great day had by all that attended, and our thanks to Robyn Monro Miller for being our playful host. (Picture at Lincoln Square, Carlton.)

A partnership formed between Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) and the Touched by Olivia Foundation, to deliver a playspace in Cootamundra’s Albert Park, has won the PLAYGROUND DESIGN Award at NSC22. 

Livvi's Place Cootamundra took out the award for 'Designs and developments that allow and encourage more children to play, have fun and be active.'

Kim Becherand, Head of Inclusive Play, says "We are so proud of Livvi's Place Cootamundra - a new flagship for us, full of inclusive adventure and nature play using natural and sustainable materials and most importantly community led and co-created by the children and teens."

Congratulations to you all. 

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.

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.