News from the Play Australia team...

October has arrived and here at Play Australia we are gearing up for a pivotal month of PLAY in Australia!

Children’s Week activities are warming up ready for the week starting 21 October! We are hearing from members already about the things they will be doing to ensure that the importance of play is on a loudspeaker across the country.

By now, all Play Australia members will have received our Children’s Week campaign pack and some of you may already have started contacting your state and federal members sharing our key messages!

We are looking forward to welcoming Tim Gill who arrives in Victoria, heads to SA and WA and then arrives in Sydney, just in time for his Play Australia and Children’s Week Council of Australia oration. If you have not already booked your place, do so quickly as the bookings will close soon.

This month also heralds the launch of our new Play Australia Clubhouse. Daniel Burton is starting the new series on October 10, sharing with us his experiences at the 2023 Inside-Out International Conference, hosted by The Children and Nature Network Colorado.

As we write this Robyn, our CEO is in South Korea, representing Play Australia and IPA World. She is speaking at Bookizcon about the importance of advocacy for play and delivering our 4 key Children’s Week messages. Our 110 year history as an organisation is something that fascinates those new to the world of play advocacy! Our secret? The dedicated membership base that you are part of! So, thank you.

Now get back to work, all of you! You have a Children’s Week campaign to be part of!!

 Yours playfully,

 Robyn, Kieran, Joanne, and Pete.

Read more about the Masterclass Child-Friendly Planning here. This event will be attended by a cross sectoral group of people with an interest in urban design, research, local government, and community development…and maybe you?

When:
Thurs 26th October 2023

1.45pm-4.45pm AEDT

Where:
Level 11, 60 Market Street Sydney, NSW

Tickets at $175 for members and $250 for non-members.

If you have not read Tim’s work, here is a copy for online reading of his first book No Fear, Growing up in a risk averse society.

When:
Thurs 26th October 2023

10.00am-12.15pm AEDT

Where:
Level 11, 60 Market Street Sydney, NSW

This face-to-face event is presented by Play Australia and the Children’s Week Council of Australia

In-person Event Tickets $75 per person (Play Australia members $50)

We will be live streaming the event across Australia for members who cannot attend in-person, however it will not include the panel discussion. Links for the live stream will follow later.

Merri-bek City Council Releases New Play Streets Toolkit

Merri-bek City Council in Victoria has released their amazing new Play Streets Toolkit for community, adapted from Play Australia’s 1000 Play Streets resources. The toolkit shares key information for local residents on how to coordinate a Play Street gathering and serves as a fantastic example for Local Governments Australia-wide. Congratulations to the dedicated team at Merri-bek City Council!

A Review of Play in Wales

Globally, Wales are doing tremendous work to embed support for play across Government action, by supporting a national review of Play in Wales – what it means for children and young people.

What makes a park feel safe or unsafe?

Explore this article from The Gendered City that explores how women and girls perceive safety in public parks, based on research from the Safer Parks Project in West Yorkshire. Worth reflecting on in an Australian context.

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has announced dates for the 2024 AJEC Research Symposium

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has announced dates for the 2024 AJEC Research Symposium, Listening, Empowering, and Innovating, to be held virtually on 8–9 February 2024. Submissions currently open.

The 11th Child in the City World Conference

Brussels is hosting this year’s 11th Child in the City World Conference with the theme Building the Future. 20-22 November 2023 Brussels, Belgium

Malarkey National Play and Playwork Conference, Melbourne, Victoria

Early bird tickets are on sale now for this jam packed 3 day conference on 8-10 March 2024

Inside Out International Conference, Wisconsin USA

The Children and Nature Network are hosting the Inside Out International Conference in Madison, Wisconsin 28-31 May 2024
The annual international conference brings together cross-sector leaders to advance programs, practices and policies for advancing equitable access to nature everywhere children live, learn and play.

National Sports and Physical Activity Conference, Melbourne

Australia’s leading knowledge sharing and networking event for the play, recreation and sport industry, 27-28 June 2024 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
**Play Australia hosts a Play Stream at this event! We commence 26-28th June.