Kidsafe
2012 National Playspace Design Awards

Once
again Kidsafe (Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia) has found the
most innovative best practice playspaces that inspire children and encourage
them to join in healthy play. Their 2012 National Playspace Design Awards,
announced on Kidsafe Day (23^rd October 2012), show what designers
and builders can achieve in public places, schools and child care centres.
These Awards recognise excellence and innovation in providing safe, creative
playspaces for kids across Australia.

Parents
wondering what makes an award winning playspace would appreciate its attention
to detail as well as safety standards that still let kids 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 are judged by a
multi-disciplinary panel of experts from Kidsafe, children’s services,
education, engineering, injury prevention, design and local government. The judges were looking for quality, safety,
fun factor and evidence that playspace providers had consulted with children.
They commented 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. Five awards were made to entrants from Victoria with excellent
representation from country and outer suburban areas.

Because of this success, Victorians can see for themselves
three outstanding playspaces, one in Castlemaine, one in Yarra Glen and one in
Clarinda. The Winner of the category, Public Playspaces – $500,000 to $1m was
Castlemaine Botanical Gardens Playspace. This major project for the Mount
Alexander Shire Council was entered by Katherine Masiulanis of Urban
Initiatives Pty Ltd. The Highly Commended Award for this same category went to
the Yarra Glen Adventure Playground. This was entered by Rob Hamilton for the
Yarra Ranges City Council. In the category of Public Playspaces – up to
$500,000, a Highly Commended Award went to Jason Isaks of Urban Initiatives Pty
Ltd for the excellent work on the Bald Hill Playspace in Clarinda.

The Winner of the Children’s Services category was Bubup
Wilam Centre for Early Learning in Thomastown, an inspiring project entered by
Andrew Brophy of Urban Initiatives Pty Ltd. A Highly Commended Award in this
category went to St Linus’ Anglican Kindergarten for its Playspace and
Community Gathering Space in Merlynston. This inspiring work was entered by
Clare Johnston of St Linus’ Kindergarten.

Parents and carers
might like to visit the three winning public playspaces so they can see for
themselves the latest examples of creative ways to encourage safe, happy and
healthy play in children. Perhaps they might take home some ideas for keeping
the kids amused in their own backyards or in local parks and at school. The kids
will definitely want to get in and experience these winning play areas for
themselves and Kidsafe will continue to help kids stay happy, healthy,
injury-free and ready for the next creative challenge.

KIDSAFE 2012 NATIONAL
PLAYSPACE DESIGN AWARDS WINNERS AND COMMENDATIONS

Download the Power Point Presentation here – 30mb