This first AILA workshop for 2010 is aimed at providing some clues as to how we can be more effective in the realm of creative play. It brings together a diverse range of experts to explore some of most important aspects of planning, design, and management for creative play including:
what makes a child friendly city
Dr Karen Malone Chair, Asia-Pacific Child-Friendly Cities Network
Karen is Professor of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Education at University of Wollongong. She is also Asia-Pacific Director of the global UNESCO-MOST Growing Up In Cities (GUIC) project that focuses on children and youth researching their quality of life. Dr Malone is also Chair of the Child Friendly Asia-Pacific network. In the past ten year she has published 5 books, 14 book chapters and over 40 refereed publications focusing on child friendly cities, childhood sociology, children’s participation, children and youth environments, environmental education, urbanisation and participatory research methodologies.
design for the natural play experience
Fiona Robbe (Principal Architects of Arcadia) Landscape Architect
Fiona has specialised in the design of innovative outdoor children’s environments for the past 10 years, and has worked as a Landscape Architect for 25 years. Her work encompasses public playgrounds in parks (local and state government), as well as play areas in schools, preschools, churches, museums and anywhere children play outside! Fiona’s commitment to design of quality playgrounds includes daily advocacy for the rights of children of all ages, cultures and abilities to play outdoors.
Ric McConaghy (Principal Ric McConaghy PL) Designer
Ric specialises in play space design and endeavors to raise enthusiasm and to empower communities to create exciting, diverse and secure naturalistic playspaces that do not rely solely on structures. His work incorporates art and design elements that encourage interaction, engagement and wonder to create places that better meet the social, emotional, spiritual as well as physical needs and aspirations of all children.
play without attracting fall zones
Kate Fraser (Kidsafe)
Kate Fraser is the Program Manager of the Playground Advisory Unit of Kidsafe NSW. Kate’s background as an occupational therapist supports her passion for the development of playgrounds that are safe, creative and challenging for children. Kate believes in providing playground provisions that are purposeful, engaging activities for all children whilst also planning for ‘play’s sake’. Kate is currently completing a Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Design to further develop the advice from Kidsafe NSW on playspace design and suggested plantings.
equal access play & new trends in play
Jarrod Poole (Playspace Playgrounds) Landscape Architect
Jarrod is a Landscape Architect working with industry leading playground manufacturer Playspace Playgrounds. Jarrod has specialised in the design of children's play environments for the past five years and his work encompasses major playgrounds in parks (local and state government), as well as play areas in schools, preschools, churches and other institutions. Jarrod's role at Playspace has allowed him to develop his interest in 'inclusive' play and his commitment towards developing 'one playspace for all.
water play
Kate Luckraft (Aspect Studios) Landscape Architect
Kate is a landscape architect with strong interest in provision of rich play environments. Through the process of developing concepts and detailed drawings for a new park and play space in Darling Harbour, Kate travelled to Europe to research water play precedents. Water play equipment has not been readily available in Australia until very recently and the use of this equipment in public space and play space design offers the potential to vastly expand the types of water play in these environments.
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