News Connecting Communities Through Play: A Powerful Call to Action in the Illawarra On the eve of the United Nations International Day of Play (10 June), more than 150 health professionals, educators, community members and government representatives came together in the Illawarra for the second annual Connecting Communities Through Play event, an inspiring celebration of the vital role play holds in shaping healthy, connected communities. Hosted by Healthy Cities Australia – Play Illawarra, the event brought together a diverse cross-section of voices united by a shared belief: play is not just important. It is essential. A Shared Commitment to Children’s Wellbeing With growing concerns around children’s physical inactivity, social isolation and rising mental health challenges, the event highlighted play as a powerful, evidence-based solution that supports health and wellbeing across the lifespan. As MC Michelle Barry, Team Leader Children’s Health Promotion, emphasised: “Play is not just fun, it’s a child’s right, enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.” This message set the tone for the day, reinforcing that access to play is fundamental to children’s development, health and our community. Diverse Voices, Shared Purpose The event featured a dynamic lineup of speakers, each bringing unique perspectives on how play can transform lives and communities. From global advocacy to local innovation, highlights included: Emma Rattenbury (Teacher, Therapist and content producer), who championed inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming approaches and honouring both child and adult play preferences. Sam Crosby (Wollongong Botanic Garden), who inspired attendees with the role of nature-based play in fostering lifelong environmental connection or, “making friends with nature”. Dr Dylan Cliff and Dr Maria Clara Rivera (ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and University of Wollongong), who explored the intersection of digital technology and active play in supporting children’s development. Adam Towney (AT_CULTURE), who demonstrated how culture, storytelling and creativity can foster identity and connection through playand how movement and dance are natural and essential for children. Natalia Krysiak (Cities for Play), who highlighted the importance of embedding play into urban design and public policy with inspiring examples from cities like Tokyo and Philadelphia. Importantly, young voices were central to the conversation: Cooper Kostovski (Healthy Cities Australia Youth Volunteer), a long-standing member of the HCA community, he provided valuable insights into the real-world impact of play-based programs and the importance of listening to young people. Molly Venables (Folkplay Illawarra), a 15-year-old Wiradjuri leader, shared her journey in outdoor education and cultural play, demonstrating the power of youth leadership, punctuated with some touching home videos. And an extra special treat, an exclusive release of a Churchill Fellowship Report, “Weaving Play into the National Fabric: exploring international approaches to national play strategies for children’s health and wellbeing Robyn Monro Miller (Play Australia), shared insights from decades of leadership including national and international perspectives, reinforcing play as a biological and social necessity for the health of our community. Between all of our speakers, the overarching message was clear: protecting play means protecting children’s health, learning, developmentand our future. Play in Practice – a #31minute Play Break! A stacked speaker lineup called for an intermission and what better way than to encourage play! In a nod to Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, attendees got to choose between designing a playground with Moduplay’s state of the art digital design tool, styling outfits out of cardboard, toilet rolls and more with Junkyard Rascals, or costume and photo play, an HCA favourite. Looking Ahead Connecting Communities Through Play was more than an event, it’s a movement-building moment for the Illawarra. Our advocacy campaign around the event and in particular around United Nations International Day had the following impact: Impressions/reach on social media: 12,597 Views (FB & IN): 16,080 Shares/reposts across all platforms: 57 Media reach through radio and print: 68,000 The event showcased the incredible work already happening locally, while strengthening partnerships and sparking new ideas for the future. Above all, it reinforced a shared vision: that every child deserves the opportunity to play, and every community has a role to make that possible. Thank you to our speakers, our play break facilitators, our attendees and volunteers. The Illawarra stands as a powerful example of what’s possible when communities come together to prioritise play. Until next year… a reminder to allow and promote play in our cities, it’s integral for the health of our children and our communities!