Turning Moments into Momentum: Insights from the International Play Association Asia Pacific Conference

The International Play Association Asia Pacific Conference 2025 marked a powerful shift — moving from recognising the importance of play to exploring how play can actively shape urban design, public health, and education systems.

More than 250 delegates from eight countries across the Asia Pacific came together to share evidence, ideas, and practical approaches to embedding play into everyday environments. The energy in the room made one thing clear: play is no longer a “nice to have”, it is central to building healthier, more connected communities.

Healthy Cities Australia was proud to present on the importance of play in the pre-teen years, drawing on evidence and learnings from Active In-Betweens and Play Illawarra

Our contribution focused on supporting play across the lifespan, and on helping adults continue to value play as children grow older.

Play Across Sectors: Urban Design, Education and Health

The conference was structured around three key streams, urban design, education, and health and wellbeing, reinforcing that play is not confined to playgrounds alone.

Across all streams, play was positioned as a tool for:

Supporting mental and physical health
Strengthening social connection
Reducing anxiety and stress
Creating inclusive, welcoming public spaces

These conversations continue to inspire our work supporting play across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

Have You Had Your Vitamin P Today?

One of the most compelling themes throughout the conference was the idea that play is everywhere, not just in designated play spaces.

During the “Activating Play” sessions, delegates visited a range of inspiring environments:

Royal Children’s Hospital, where play is used to reduce anxiety for children undergoing MRI scans, often decreasing the need for medical intervention
Maribyrnong City Council, which delivers weekly pop-up play sessions as a proactive approach to supporting children’s wellbeing
Museum Victoria, showcasing child-led and Aboriginal play spaces that centre culture, creativity, and exploration

These examples reinforced how play can be intentionally embedded into everyday settings to support health and wellbeing.

Risky Play: Building Capability, Not Removing Risk

A highlight of the conference was the launch of the National Risky Play Position Statement at The Venny, a drop-in space and adventure playground that supports children to explore risk safely and confidently.
https://www.playaustralia.org.au/national-risk-position-statement

Risky play, which may involve tools, heights, fire, or building, is not unsafe play. Instead, it allows children to test boundaries, develop judgement, build resilience, and gain confidence in their abilities.

This approach strongly aligns with advocacy efforts in the Illawarra, where risky play is recognised as a vital part of healthy child development.

Learning from New Zealand: A National Play System

The New Zealand delegation, led by Mar Marr Curr, presented on the development of a national play system funded by Sport New Zealand.

Under this model:

Each local council employs a play advocate
Play is considered across all council functions, design, maintenance, services, and community engagement
Existing resources are used creatively, such as repurposing tree-lopping materials into playable structures

This systems-based approach demonstrates how play can be embedded into governance, not added on, supporting healthier, more playable cities through policy and practice.

Play as a Driver of Social Change

Across three workshops, Christina Lee (Taiwan), Preeti Panigrahi (India), and Dr Sudeshna Chatterjee (India) shared compelling insights into play as a medium for social change.

Their work demonstrated how play can:

Activate public spaces typically designed for adults
Strengthen neighbourhood connection
Support both children’s and adults’ wellbeing

A consistent message emerged: when communities support play, everyone benefits. In the context of rising social isolation across Australia, play was positioned as a powerful connector for whole-of-community wellbeing.

Digital Play, Screen Time and the Need for Support

Several sessions addressed the growing shift towards digital play and its implications for children’s health.

Eve Clarke from Northern Sydney Local Health District shared findings showing that:

85% of primary-aged children spend more than three hours per day on screens
Children received a D- rating for meeting recommended physical activity levels

In response, local schools were consulted and a series of webinars were developed, supported by Screen Savvy resources for parents. The initiative highlighted the growing need for practical education and support for families navigating screen time and active play.

Play 32 and the Olympic Legacy

The conference also marked the launch of the Play 32 Position Statement, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Play 32 is a cross-sector collaboration advocating for children’s play and voice as a lasting, inclusive Olympic legacy, addressing the common challenge of short-term benefits from major sporting events.

Play Is the Key

The diversity of people in the room, landscape architects, city planners, educators, health professionals, council staff, sport and recreation leaders, and play advocates, reflected the growing recognition that play belongs everywhere children live, learn, and grow.

Play supports health.
Play builds connection.
Play strengthens communities.

The International Play Association Asia Pacific Conference reminded us that creating playful, healthy communities requires advocacy across all sectors, and the courage to think beyond traditional playgrounds.

If you are a play advocate and would like to connect, please reach out to Michelle Barry, Team Leader for Child Health Promotion: michelle@healthycities.org.au

Or subscribe to Play Illawarra for ongoing inspiration and updates: https://playillawarra.com.au