Western Australia launches Australian-first Play Strategy

Western Australia has become the first state in Australia to introduce a dedicated Play Strategy, establishing a new advisory committee to help guide the expansion of children's play opportunities across communities, schools and early childhood settings.

Announced on the International Day of Play, the strategy recognises play as a critical contributor to children's learning, development, wellbeing and connection to community, while positioning it as a shared responsibility across government, education, health, planning and recreation sectors.

The Cook Government said the Australian-first initiative would provide a coordinated framework for increasing access to safe, inclusive and developmentally rich play opportunities for children across metropolitan, regional and remote Western Australia.

Central to the strategy is the establishment of a Play Advisory Committee, bringing together expertise from early childhood education, child development, local government, urban planning, health and community services, as well as Aboriginal organisations and community representatives.

The committee will provide advice on the implementation of the strategy, help identify barriers to participation and support collaboration across sectors to ensure children have greater access to quality play experiences.

The strategy reflects a growing body of evidence highlighting the role of play in supporting children's cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.

It also acknowledges the importance of unstructured, outdoor and nature-based play in helping children build confidence, resilience, creativity and problem-solving skills.

For the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, the announcement reinforces principles that have long underpinned quality practice.

Play-based learning remains a cornerstone of Australia's approved learning frameworks, including the Early Years Learning Framework, which recognises play as a context through which children explore ideas, develop relationships, build knowledge and make sense of the world around them.

By elevating play to a whole-of-government priority, the Western Australian strategy extends these principles beyond early learning environments and into broader community planning and policy development.

The strategy is likely to be welcomed by ECEC providers and educators, many of whom have advocated for greater recognition of the importance of play in children's development and wellbeing.

The initiative may also support stronger collaboration between early learning services, local governments and community organisations, while encouraging investment in play-rich environments and outdoor learning opportunities.

Importantly, the strategy positions play not simply as recreation, but as a public good that contributes to child development, community wellbeing and social inclusion.

The government's approach aligns with growing national and international recognition that children's opportunities for play are being influenced by factors such as urban density, changing family lifestyles, technology use and access to safe outdoor environments.

The Western Australian Government has described the strategy as a long-term investment in children's wellbeing and future outcomes.

By embedding play considerations across multiple portfolios, including education, health, recreation, planning and community development, the strategy aims to ensure children have greater opportunities to play, explore and connect regardless of where they live.

For the ECEC sector, the announcement represents an important acknowledgment of the value of play-based approaches and highlights the role educators continue to play in supporting children's learning, development and wellbeing through meaningful play experiences.

Read the full announcement here.