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Kidsafe (the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia) has once again found the most innovative best practice playspaces that inspire children and encourage them to join in healthy play. 

Anouncing the Kidsafe 2012 National Playspace Design Awards, on National Kidsafe Day (23rd October), the winning submissions demonstrate what can be achieved in public places, schools and children's services. 

These Awards recognise excellence and innovation in providing safe, creative playspaces for children across Australia. 

The award winning playspaces include attention to detail as well as safety standards that still let children take a few risks and enjoy exciting challenges. They offer a wide range of play activities such as climbing, balancing and pretend play so that kids of all ages and abilities feel included and comfortable to stay for a while. Many include natural features like native plantings to attract local wildlife, or boulders and timber structures to climb. People may be surprised to find that children themselves often direct the design of their play spaces by being consulted and engaged in the design and construction process, leading to genuine child friendly spaces.

The entries (judged by a multi-disciplinary panel of experts from Kidsafe, children's services, education, engineering, injury prevention, design and local government) were judged on quality, safety, fun factor and evidence that playspace providers had consulted with children. 

Judges ommented on the outstanding quality of this year's entries and reported that the high standard of playspaces developed right around the nation was very impressive.

The results are as follows:

Children's Services
WINNER: Bubup Wilam Centre for Early Learning, Thomastown, Victoria
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Inaburra Preschool, Bangor, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: St Linus' Anglican Kindergarten Playspace and Community Gathering Space, Merlynston, Victoria

Schools
WINNER: Parklands Grass Hill Playground, Albany, Western Australia
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Burton Primary School and Preschool, South Australia
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Jacaranda Hideaway, Hunters Hill Primary School, NSW

Innovative Design Elements
WINNER: Toxteth Kindergarten: Natural Enchanted Forest, Annandale, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Interactive Mural, Livvi's Place, Five Dock, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Playground Mulch Trial, NSW

Public Playspaces – Up to $500,000
WINNER: Kookaburra Playground, Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside, NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Wombat Waterhole, Hazelwood Park, SA
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Bald Hill Playspace, Clarinda, Victoria

Public Playspaces – $500,000 to $1 million
WINNER: Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Playspace, Victoria
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Yarra Glen Adventure Playground, Victoria

Public Playspaces – Over $1 million
WINNER: Darling Quarter, Darling Harbour NSW
HIGHLY COMMENDED: Yokine Playground, Yokine WA 

Click here to view further details on the winning entries.

29th May 2012 - KIDSAFE LAUNCHES 2012 NATIONAL PLAYSPACE DESIGN AWARDS

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