Playground and Playspace Safety
Parks and Leisure Australia x Kids Safe NSW
Overview
Playgrounds and public playspaces are vital community assets that promote physical activity, creativity, and social connection for children and families. However, they also present inherent risks that require careful planning, design, maintenance, and governance to ensure safe and inclusive play environments.
This webinar, delivered in partnership between Parks and Leisure Australia and Kids Safe NSW, will provide members with practical, evidence-informed guidance on playground and playspace safety. The session will focus on balancing play value with safety outcomes and strengthening risk management approaches across the lifecycle of playspace provision.
Presenters
The webinar will be presented by two experienced representatives from Kids Safe NSW:
- Christine Erskine – Executive Officer
- Kim Cooke – Manager, Playground Advisory Unit
Together, they bring extensive expertise in child injury prevention, playground safety assessment, and strategic leadership in community safety initiatives.
Objectives
Participants will gain insight into:
- Current playground and playspace safety standards and expectations
- Key hazards and risk factors in public play environments
- Risk-benefit assessment approaches in play provision
- Inspection, maintenance, and asset management best practice
- Designing inclusive, engaging, and age-appropriate playspaces
- Practical strategies to improve safety outcomes without limiting play value
Who Should Attend
This webinar is relevant to:
- Local government parks and recreation professionals
- Playspace planners, designers, and landscape architects
- Asset and infrastructure managers
- Risk, compliance, and safety officers
- Community development and open space teams
- Contractors and consultants involved in play space delivery and maintenance
Key Topics Covered
- Understanding modern playground safety frameworks and expectations
- Common causes of playground incidents and prevention strategies
- Balancing challenge, risk, and developmental benefits in play
- Maintenance systems, inspection routines, and documentation
- Safe design principles and inclusive play considerations
- Real-world examples and lessons from practice
- Emerging trends in playground safety and community expectations
Expected Outcomes
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Apply practical risk management strategies in playground environments
- Identify and mitigate common safety hazards in playspaces
- Strengthen inspection and maintenance processes
- Support better-informed design and asset decisions
- Contribute to safer, more resilient community play environments
Format and Logistics
- Format: Online webinar
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Includes: Expert presentation and live Q&A
- Recording: Available to registered participants (if applicable)