Your are invited to join Sue Elliott on Thursday 20 October for a Special Event open to all members and non members. 

Click here to register. 

This session starts our Spring Online Learning Series, with loads of PD for PLAY. 

Coming up: 

• Kim Becherand, Head of Inclusive Play, Touched by Olivia for Members.
• Play Australia Risk Management and Playground Standards for Full Benefit Members
• Martin Halden, Coordinator – Strategic Transport, City of Greater Dandenong for Members
• Kim Moroney, Specialist: Early Years (Pre K-4) Curriculum, Curriculum and Innovation Education Research Sydney Catholic Schools for Members.
• Bron Joslyn, Service Director and Early Childhood Teacher open to all Members and non Members

Because....

• only 1 in 3 children engage in free play outdoors daily
• a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese
• spending more than 2 hours a day outdoors reduces the likelihood of children developing myopia
• anxiety related problems are increasing amongst children with an incidence 10 times that of diabetes
• contact with nature is extremely valuable for stimulating full-body engagement and recovery from fatigue and stress

Watch our new Play Today video - Play to MOVE and join in the campaign. 

A big shout out to our Play Australia Members who have just received 2022 National Landscape Architecture Awards. 

A special mention to Playce and Thomson Hay who have received several awards and congratulations to the City of Canning in WA and Aspect. 

“The range of projects recognized in this year’s awards illustrate how children and adults of diverse cultures and backgrounds connect to landscapes every day across a range of scales from neighbourhoods to campuses, buildings to infrastructure, suburbs to cities.” AILA President Claire Martin

PLA VIC/TAS have invited Dr Erica Randle from La Trobe University's Centre for Sport and Social Impact to outline their recent evaluation findings from Play Australia's 1000 Play Streets, South Australian Community Impact Summary at their next webinar. 

DATE: Tuesday 8 November 2022
TIME: 1:00PM - 2:00PM
LOCATION: Online via Zoom

An encouraging article about the benefits of increasing physical activity at school. When teachers have such an influence on children, it is good to see resources and support to offer encouragement for their students to move more during the school day. 

'Research shows regular physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour not only boosts physical and mental health but also improves academic performance.'

'Prior to 2020, a mental health crisis was already underway among young people. That crisis has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and the aftershocks will reverberate through this generation unless we create a multipronged approach based on whole-child restoration.'

These are sobering words indeed from a U.S. op-ed highlighted by the Children and Nature Network who advocate for increased outdoor play.

Although it might be difficult to take a person in a lycra superhero suit seriously, Teacher Toms' blog does discuss some interesting content. Ignore the photo and read his article; We Must Demand Play-Based Education Because, Damn It, That's What The Evidence Tells Us.

10 Weeks of Play - Curious Communities, was a collaborative project delivered in Logan, QLD. 

'The concept was; to staff Berrinba East State School's amazing nature play/loose parts play space with Playworkers for weekly two hour play sessions after school, for 10 weeks, and open it up to the community, as well as hand out thousands of books to children and parents to take home.' 

Adults are the role models for our children when it comes to representing healthy and physically active lifestyles.

This is a terrific ABC article which brings to light the 'gender sensitive' issues that can make finding the time to exercise not always easy. 

Wednesday 9 November 2022
10:00am-1:30pm

It is a requirement as detailed in the National Quality Standards that regular outdoor playspace maintenance is essential for every early years’ service.

This one-day program is face to face, and will be held in Melbourne.

You will focus on the risk management requirements and Australian Standards for the management and maintenance of outdoor play spaces in supervised early learning services in Australia.

Playspace Development Training
2-Day Program 
Wednesday 30 Nov & Thursday 1 Dec 2022

This training program is designed for people working in the government and non-government and industry  sectors, involved in the design, development, management and maintenance of play equipment and playspaces.

Participants will receive level 1 & 2 certification from Play Australia.

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.