OUR MISSION AND VISION
Our mission is to build a healthy Australia through play.
Our vision is an Australia where every child plays every day, and where active, outdoor play helps prevent the chronic physical and mental health conditions that affect so many children and adults today.
We recognise and support Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which means we protect and promote children's rights to play, everywhere, regardless of their circumstance.
WHAT WE DO
Our work is focused on health promotion and education. We beleive all children and young people regardless of were they are born or the circumstances they live in should have access to play opportunites. Everything we do is designed to support equitable access to play, because we know play is a biological imperitive that helps prevent disease and ill health.
- Public health information: We run national campaigns, events and deliver free resources that help families and communities understand how daily play protects health, and give them practical ways to make it happen.
- Education and training: Through our online learning courses, professional workshops, webinars and Playwork training, including the Certificate in Playwork Practice, we give educators, health and community workers, parents and communities the knowledge and skills to support healthy play.
- Healthy play environments: We provide practical guidance to councils, schools, early learning services and designers on creating play spaces that get children moving and outdoors, including guidance on healthy risk taking in play.
- Research and evidence: We gather and share the latest Australian and international research on play and health, so our programs and resources are grounded in evidence. We develop position papers that allow for easy and effective dissemination of this research to policy makers and the general public.
Whether you are a parent, educator, health professional, council officer or designer, you can help make play part of everyday life for every child.
Click here to view or online learning courses.
Check out our professional learning option in the tab at the top of the page!
WHY PLAY Matters fOr Health
Play is a biological necessity for healthy human growth. Like good nutrition and sleep, it should be part of every child's day, and it matters for adults too.
Research shows that regular active and outdoor play helps to:
- prevent overweight and obesity in childhood, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease later in life
- reduce the risk of myopia (short sightedness) through more time outdoors
- prevent and reduce anxiety and depression, and build resilience and emotional wellbeing
- build strong bones, muscles and healthy motor skills
- reduce stress and loneliness for children, families and older Australians
Children today spend far less time playing outdoors than earlier generations, at the same time as rates of childhood obesity, anxiety and myopia remain serious public health concerns. Getting children playing again is one of the simplest, most affordable ways to prevent ill health across the whole community.
Become A Supporter
Join a national community of parents, professionals and organisations working to build healthier communities through play.
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OUR STRATEGIC PLAN
Play Australia's Strategic Plan 2025 to 2029 is our Blueprint for Impact. It sets out how we will promote better health and help prevent disease through play over the next five years, through public health education, professional training and practical support for communities.
THE PLAY CHARTER
Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: “Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.”
Our Play Charter sets out what children need to play every day and grow up healthy. It guides the families, educators and communities we work with.
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Our global connections
Play Australia is the Australian branch of the International Play Association (IPA World). Through IPA we share research and practice with play organisations around the world, bringing the latest international evidence on play and health to Australian families and professionals.
Our CEO, Robyn Monro Miller AM, is the current President of IPA World (2017 to 2026).
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Our governance
Play Australia (IPA Australia) is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission (ACNC), under the Australian Charities and Not for profits Commission Act 2012.
Play Australia (IPA Australia) is an incorporated not for profit association under the Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic).
We are governed by a voluntary Board of Management elected from our membership
Click here to view or online learning courses.
Check out our professional learning option in the tab at the top of the page!
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Strategic Plan 2025-20292.64 MB | 2.64 MB |
| Our Annual Report 2024-58.74 MB | 8.74 MB |