Since March 2021, AIP has solidified its place in the Logan community. The AIP Board's aim is to build the capacity of Logan residents, to lead a local movement to revitalise play for Logan children, and in doing so - address the inequities across child development in Logan.
This has only been possible due to a clever partnership between the Queensland Government, Logan and the AIP. However none of this would of been possible without the enormous buy-in from the Logan community.
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Significant playful efforts towards this goal during this reporting period include:
Consulting with, listening to and elevating 323 Logan children’s voices on their play
4 Child-Friendly Neighbourhood Workshops with children to understand children’s perspective on the places they play
2021 Childhood Summit
Establishment of Child In Action Logan child reference group
Co-design and co-creation of the
2022 to 2025 Logan Play Action Plans
73 play events for over 9,300 Logan children, with over 6,000 supporting parents and carers in attendance.
Play People Playful capacity building of 868 grown-ups from 203 Logan organisations, to regularly support high quality play for over 28,500 Logan children (nearly 50% of Logan’s population of children)
22 Logan Schools to increase high quality play provision for the thousands of Logan children they serve
Early Childhood - 83 Logan Early Childhood Services to increase the quality of play provision for the thousands of Logan children
Constructing 5 high quality, Loose Parts Play areas in Eagleby, Marsden, Berrinba and Woodridge
Child-designed/constructed and launched - 32 Eagleby children to design, construct, market and launch Queensland’s first Community Backyard - Joomunije Land
Establishing 4 Neighbourhood Play Networks. two in Eagleby, one in Kingston and one in Woodridge
Establishing the Logan Play Collective and Logan Play People network
Creating AIP website and social media pages
Creating 2021 Childhood Summit website and Youtube channel to freely share recordings of Keynote speakers from the Summit
Of note, these efforts were independently evaluated by the University of Queensland School of Human movement, testing if AIP's play efforts increased physical literacy of Logan children and increased social connection and cohesion. The results concluded our efforts are effective. This is significant as it augments the AIP approach, proving this is an evidence-based means to support the healthy development of children and increase community agency and connections.
The AIP, now 18 months old, is still in its infancy. However, it's already having a powerful effect across Logan.
Play is helping to create new and positive local stories that act as a conduit for growing pride in families and pride in place. Play is reversing the impacts of stigma, social isolation and loneliness and healing the social-brokenness of our neighbourhoods. Thousands of hours of increased play in Logan is increasing the amount of smiles in Logan by children, parents, carers, teachers, principals, health care providers, community development workers, early childhood educators and professionals, services providers, police and even politicians.’ ‘As the Logan community are experiencing, play is a powerful and joyful channel to support child wellbeing and healthy development as well as bring communities together, support cohesion, inclusion, self-governance and local agency.
Play is helping to create new and positive local stories that act as a conduit for growing pride in families and pride in place. Play is reversing the impacts of stigma, social isolation and loneliness and healing the social-brokenness of our neighbourhoods. Thousands of hours of increased play in Logan is increasing the amount of smiles in Logan by children, parents, carers, teachers, principals, health care providers, community development workers, early childhood educators and professionals, services providers, police and even politicians.’
The line in the sand-pit has been drawn when we co-created the 2022 to 2025 Logan Play Action Plans. We have a mission to make Logan the Most Playful City in the World. If the first 18 months are an indication of the years to come, I will draw great hope and inspiration that we can shift the equity dial for children through ensuring childhood in Logan is brimming with high quality child-led free play.
Now with secured funding until 2024 from Logan Communities for Children, the AIP can continue Logan's playful momentum, growing the movement, joy, fun, freedom and friendship inherent in play.
Hyahno Moser
CEO
Australian Institute of Play