About us
We are building a world of play and belonging for all.
Play For All Australia is a for-purpose social enterprise.
We want every child in all communities across Australia, to have the opportunity to equally participate and enjoy the cognitive, social and emotional benefits that only play can bring.
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We create and achieve ideas that are innovative, sustainable and cost-effective, and help councils and communities turn the dial on inclusive play.
Caroline & Tim
Mission
Our mission is to help build a world of play and belonging for all.
And to do so cost effectively, sustainably and innovatively.
1
To inspire the profoundly simple act of play for all our children.
2
To use empathy, and deliberately merge multiple creative disciplines and perspectives together in problem solving.
3
Extend inclusion to foster greater community belonging, and reduced social isolation.
4
To focus on the creation of living versus lasting play spaces that empower and enact local community ownership.
It all began late one night...
Play For All started in March 2016 as a community FaceBook group in response to some local council designs for a new flagship playground on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. While it ticked the accessibility box, it fell very short of being inclusive to kids of all abilities. How could we support a neighbourhood playground that we couldn’t all use and enjoy?
Through Facebook we connected with the community to start a conversation. It was the beginning of our journey. We discovered the (then) Warringah Council Open Space policy for parks and playgrounds did not offer any guidelines for inclusivity. It wasn't just design revisions for one playground we needed to work on. We had to drive change around the policy that governed all 220 playgrounds on the Northern beaches.
Play For All started in March 2016 as a community FaceBook group in response to some local council designs for a new flagship playground on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. While it ticked the accessibility box, it fell very short of being inclusive to kids of all abilities. How could we support a neighbourhood playground that we couldn’t all use and enjoy?
Through Facebook we connected with the community to start a conversation. It was the beginning of our journey. We discovered the (then) Warringah Council Open Space policy for parks and playgrounds did not offer any guidelines for inclusivity. It wasn't just design revisions for one playground we needed to work on. We had to drive change around the policy that governed all 220 playgrounds on the Northern beaches.
Our vision is for the Northern Beaches to be the most inclusive play centre in the world; a place of belonging for all our children and families.
We navigated the murky waters of the local council amalgamation process and vigorously campaigned for an amendment to the 2015 Northern Beaches Open Space Strategy.
Success came in June 2016 with Council Administrator Dick Persson, a key supporter of our cause, delivering a Mayoral Minute (originally penned by Warringah Council Mayor Michael Reagan – also a key supporter) that recognised the fundamental importance of inclusivity in our community with a policy change. We had the green light that we needed to start designing and building a future of play for all our kids.
Connecting through play
In December 2016, the newly formed Northern Beaches Council in investment partnership with the NSW Government announced a major infrastructure investment - Connecting Northern Beaches, a combination of two major programs. The first is a $22.3 million project that will connect Manly to Palm Beach with a spectacular all-inclusive walkway and cycle way.
In December 2016, the newly formed Northern Beaches Council in investment partnership with the NSW Government announced a major infrastructure investment - Connecting Northern Beaches, a combination of two major programs. The first is a $22.3 million project that will connect Manly to Palm Beach with a spectacular all-inclusive walkway and cycle way.
The second part, a $10.3 inclusive and active play program for our playgrounds and Surf Life Saving Clubs. Of that, $6.3 million is dedicated to inclusive play with two new major all-abilities playgrounds to be built at Manly Dam and Lionel Watts Reserve. Further to that, 50 district playgrounds were listed for an upgrade to create a fun, safe and inclusive playground for all.
Let’s keep going
It was a huge step in the right direction. But, we couldn’t stop there. All community playgrounds need to be inclusive. What about the other 170 on the Northern Beaches? The little park on the corner of your street? The playground next to the local picnic area?
It was a huge step in the right direction. But, we couldn’t stop there. All community playgrounds need to be inclusive. What about the other 170 on the Northern Beaches? The little park on the corner of your street? The playground next to the local picnic area?
Taking a small portion of the budget, we asked the council if we could run an innovative pilot program focussing on a local neighbourhood and 5 playgrounds within. It is an inclusive playground program to bring the community together creating exciting and vibrant play spaces for kids of all abilities. Right here in our own neighbourhood.
To see our projects please click here
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Inclusion
elevates all.
Elaine Hall
Model
Design Thinking + Diverse Minds are our frameworks to solve problems
and uncover solutions that help you turn up the dial on inclusion.
Collaborate + Create + Activate
Our co-founders bring lived experience of disability and a professional background in strategy and business consulting. Our network of Diverse Minds include People with a Disability, Educators, Early Interventionists, Graffiti Artists, Engineers, Architects, Parents, Designers, Occupational Therapists – and more.
$6.3million
dedicated
to making inclusive play a reality on Sydney’s northern beaches.
What we’ve achieved so far.
A key driving force behind our movement is that creativity and collaboration can solve any problem. With a design thinking approach, we enlist local creative thinkers along with a community of educators, parents and residents to imagine a world of play for all. With inclusion the starting point for all design we are pushing for a new normal that promotes connection and caring by dissolving as many boundaries as possible.
Our approach centres on empathy, strategic workshops, ideation & prototyping and community empowerment.
3 significant changes in local council policy
positively impacting more than 250,000 residents.
$6.3 million commitment to an inclusive play network
across Sydney’s northern beaches.
Leadership of Belrose Inclusive Play Spaces project. An innovative network of 5 inclusive play spaces. Launched in 2017 in partnership with Northern Beaches Council.
Caroline Ghatt recipient of the 2018 Blackmores Mercie Wheelman Women + Wellbeing “Runner Up” Award for “Strong Being category” – Acts of courage and determination by everyday women who have survived and prospered through adversity. An honour to be the Runner Up for Donna Meads-Barlow and her inspired work with DANII foundation.
NSW Inclusive Play Guidelines
Alongside 50 other stakeholders, we were proud to be a contributing member to the 2018 Everyone Can Play ‘Inclusive Play Guidelines Advisory Group’. Please click here to read and download these new guidelines.