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News from the Play Australia team...

Spring is here…and we have a burst of great energy with several Play Australia projects concluding. This includes a wonderful new online resource on Inclusive Play Space Design that we are currently trialing. It will be launched before the end of year. Plus, we have a new series of online modules about to launch for Local Government.

With Children’s Week is just around the corner, we are delighted to welcome Tim Gill from Rethinking Childhood to speak at our event in Sydney (yes, you are invited!), plus we'll be LIVE STREAMING his presentation to our membership across Australia in partnership with the Children's Week Council of Australia.

More details to follow later this week including a full itinerary for where you can see Tim in person, and how you can be part of the Play Australia Tim Gill Masterclass. The Masterclass we are hosting in Sydney on the afternoon of the 26th of October. Watch out later this week for our special Children’s Week E-News edition to support you to prepare to celebrate the week playfully.

Just to warm us all up, we have some wonderful book prizes to give away via social media, so, if you are a Facebook fan of ours watch that space over the coming weeks because we are going to have fun!

Yours playfully,

Robyn, Kieran, Joanne, and Pete.

Children's Week Special Guest:
Tim Gill, Rethinking Childhood

Save the date:

Thursday 26 October 2023

10.30am Syd/Melb time.

Join us in Sydney or watch the livestream!

Awards Season and Play is Making an Impact!

Maribyrnong City Council's Passport to Play

Maribyrnong Councils The Passport to Play has been selected as a finalist in the 2023 Victorian Early Years Awards, in the Improving Child Health and Wellbeing category. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday 9 November 2023.

The Passport to Play Project utilised co-design to work with local children between birth and 12 years to find out what they like to play, where they like to play and who they like to play with. The project has strengthened community connections and acknowledged children’s agency. It has given them an avenue to participate in decision making. The children’s input and thoughts have culminated in the Passport to Play resource, a passport sized booklet.

The interactive resource is filled with children’s artwork and the ideas gathered through the project. It celebrates simple, free or low cost ideas for play in the City of Maribyrnong.

6300 copies of the resource have been given out to children in playgroups, schools and early education and care settings. The remaining copies will be distributed as part of Maribyrnong Council’s Children’s Week celebrations
(21–29 October 2023).

For more information the Passport to Play, why not join us at 12pm on

Wednesday November 8 for the first in our new webinar series LG@Play?

DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

LG@PLAY Ready to Launch!

For more information the Passport to Play, why not join us at 12pm on Wednesday November 8 for the first in our new webinar series LG@Play?

Linda Harmon and Cat Sewell will share with us the development of the passport and the impact to date in the community.
In this first session, you will also hear from Robyn Monro Miller about the formation of a Play Australia Local Government interest group and an International interest group with IPA World.

LG@Play will be a bimonthly webinar series where we will showcase the innovation and projects of our local government members across Australia to protect, promote and provide play.

Watch this space for upcoming dates, details and how to join.

If you are in Local Government and have a project, a play space to showcase or a strategy to gloat over, please contact us at ceo@playaustralia.org.au

What's in the News?

Not so much in the news this fortnight but a range of fabulous resources coming you way!

Fundraising for Cubbies History

Funds are being raised to help get the Adventure Playground History published. We are close, can you spare some cash to make a tax deductible donation? Give Now - Cubbies Adventure Playground History

Priorities for Play: Towards 2030 and beyond

Following the International Play Association (World) Conference in Glasgow 2023, Play Australia takes great pleasure in sharing an important publication Priorities for Play: Towards 2023 and Beyond written by Conference Delegates.

1000 Play Streets: Community Connect & Play Guide

A reminder that this year Play Australia released a new 1000 Play streets resource filled with ideas for Play Street Hosts to encourage connection and play on neighbourhood streets Explore the 1000 Play Streets Connect and Play Guide.

Very Neighbourly Organisation

Play Australia continues to be a Very Neighbourly Organisation as recognised by Relationships Australia, as we all work to support growing neighbourly connections every day. Check out the Neighbours Every Day movement on Relationships Australia's website.

Preschoolers can code: Exploring Digital Play

Date:
Wednesday 13 September

Time:
4:00pm-5:00pm (AEST)

Dr Jo Bird looks at children’s digital play as a positive for their learning and explores ways educators can engage and support this type of play, while also teaching digital literacy and social skills.

FREE! for members!

$49- for non-mmebers

Watch school kids playing tic, tac, toe on youtube

Are you game?

Loving this Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

Also known as noughts and crosses, this game is for two players and the player who succeeds in placing three of their Frisbees or bean bags in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row is the winner.

You'll need some Frisbees or bean bags
9 hoops or just make your own out of cardboard by cutting ring shapes
Mark the Frisbees/bean bags so you know which one belong to which player (if they're not different colours)

Need to see the game in action? Check out this YouTube video from Teach, Learn, Grow - Physical Education

And this not just for kids….we think the office floor also lends itself to a game of tic-tac-toe!

Send us a fun picture of your office team playing and go in the draw to win a movie voucher!

Join now for 2023

Join Play Australia today and help us protect the rights of children in Australia to ‘play today’.

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.

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

Join today