Webinar: Play, participation & poverty

WEBINAR: Monday 23 October 2023

Webinar recording is now available to watch here.

Play, participation & poverty:

•  How our policies can create fairer, healthier futures for children & young people

With Anti-Poverty Week and Children’s Week both falling in October, NAPCAN took a look at the important overlap between the themes of the two weeks: child poverty and play. 

This fresh conversation built on what we already know…  that: 

• activities like outdoor play, organised sport, dance and drama outside of school are good for the future health of all children 
• the benefits are greatest for young people who commonly have the least access to these activities (i.e. from lower-income families)
• our policies have the power to remove many of the barriers that lock people out of opportunities to play and participate
• fantastic local examples are providing insight into simple smart investments that are creating fairer, more protective communities for children. 

We heard from passionate researchers and advocates on the topic: 

• Dr Alex O’Donnell from the University of Tasmania shared his research about how extracurricular activities benefit children and young people, including new research about impacts on mental health – Alex’s slides from presentation
• Sally Weir from the Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities, Northern Territory Government – Sally’s slides from presentation
• Rachel Fosdick, the Board Secretary and Founder of Palmerston and Regional Basketball Association, talked about the Palmerston Youth Activities Programs and the benefits that are being seen when young people are connected to activities in fair and equal ways – Slides from presentation – Rachel’s slides from presentation
• Hyahno Moser, founder of the Australian Institute of Play, shared his decades of experience promoting access to outdoor neighbourhood play including in organisations such as Nature Play and Logan Together, Qld – Video of Joomunjie Land mentioned in Hyahno’s presentation 

For more information about Anti-Poverty Week.

For more information about Children’s Week.