Play Matters Australia

24/08/2026

It's Children's Book Week from 22 to 28 August!

It is the Children Book Council of Australia's annual celebration of Australian children's literature, running nationally 22–28 August. This year's theme is "Symphony of Stories".

To celebrate, our two fabulous book authors, Dannika Patterson - Author and Karen Tyrrell Author will be sharing a special storytime themed around play using the two Play Matters books.

I Can't Wait to Play! celebrates the everyday magic of play — from peekaboo and dress-ups to drum kits made from pots and pans and laundry-basket adventures. Through this story we discover how every moment of the day can become an opportunity to learn, grow, connect and play!

The book uses repetition, and simple play-based connection prompts to explore ways to play, everyday!

Let's Play, which has been also translated into Vietnamese, Urdu, Arabic will be read by Karen Tyrrell at the same sessions. Let's Play was Speech Pathology Australia's book of the year in 2024 and uses simple words and interesting sounds to share together.

The reading and play sessions are part of First Five Forever at Boonah Library on Wednesday 26 August and Tamborine Mountain on Thursday 27th August.

Links to register in first comment.

If you want to find out more about our Play Matters books, you can access here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jJ0g0

23/08/2026

Today is the 60th anniversary of the Wave Hill Walk Off

In 1966, Gurindji stockmen, domestic workers and their families walked off Wave Hill Station, led by Vincent Lingiari, in a stand for fair wages, better conditions and, ultimately, land rights. The Gurindiji people set up a camp at Daguragu for nearly 9 years (also known as Wattie Creek), requesting the government return some of their land.

The Gurindji strike helped to make the Australian public aware of First Nations land ownership claims. It also influenced the first legislation in Australia that allowed First Nations peoples to apply for ownership of their traditional lands, the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

Stories like the Wave Hill Walk-Off are an important part of our history, and music can be a powerful way to share them with children.

Paul Kelly's 'From Little Things, Big Things Grow' tells the Gurindji story and helps bring history to life, creating opportunities to talk about courage, fairness, respect and the importance of standing up for what is right.

You can read more about The Wave Hill Walk Off via The National Museum's Digital Classroom resource here: Wave Hill Walk-Off | Australia’s Defining Moments Digital Classroom | National Museum of Australia https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jgj80

You can listen to how From Little Things Big Things Grow came to be and listen to it here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jgj90

21/08/2026

Building Early Years Literacy Through Play

When we think about literacy in the early years, it starts in the everyday moments of connection between children and the people who care for them - during conversations, songs, play, stories, drawing, and even grocery shopping.

From birth, children are building the foundations for language, communication and literacy through their relationships and interactions with others. These early experiences help children make sense of the world, express themselves, and develop the confidence to communicate their ideas.

Some of the richest learning opportunities in early literacy happen through play.

Read more: Building Early Years Literacy Through Play (https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jg8q0)

19/08/2026

Science Play Matters!

This National Science Week is a great opportunity to explore early science concepts through play!

Science play can look like:
Investigation in everyday life - making predictions, asking questions, researching and exploring
Encouraging exploration through children's senses
Asking questions to encourage and support curiosity
Providing hands-on opportunities

This Fizzy Rainbow Cloud Dough activity is fun, easy to set up and do at home, using materials you often have in the pantry already.

You can explore more amazing activities in our portal, membership is free and also gives you access to our network of playgroups across Queensland.

Sign up here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01jdsg0

19/08/2026

Hidden Colours | National Science Week

Using just an ice tray, bi-carb soda, food colouring and vinegar explore scientific concepts such as colour properties (recognising colours and colour mixing), observation and investigation (noticing changes, comparing before and after, making predictions), cause and effect and material properties in this fun activity!

Watch the colours come alive and mix together like magic!

How to:
1. Add a layer of bicarb soda to each section of your tray
2. Drop a few drops of food colouring into each section
3. Cover the food colouring with another layer of bicarb soda
4. Pour vinegar into a cup and get your droppers ready
5. Drop vinegar into each section and watch as the fizzy reaction reveals the hidden colours

👉If you live in the Rockhampton or Sunshine Coast areas, we have some FREE Science Play Matters Events coming up check out the link in bio for all the details and to RSVP.

17/08/2026

Looking for simple ways you can develop a lifelong love of literacy?

Join us for our Literacy play Lunch & Learn, featuring Bec Hughes from Raising Literacy Australia and the Words Grow Minds program.

Raising Literacy Australia works nationally to help families read, talk, play, and sing with children from birth. The Words Grow Minds early years program have practical activities and guidance for families alongside Little Book Press picture books.

This is just 30 mins of your day (or even another day if you are busy at this time), it's completely free and will be packed with practical tips to take away.

Join us:
Thursday 27 August
12 noon to 12:30pm (AEST)
Free, but registrations essential (recording will be sent post-webinar).
Register here: 3539cde2-903d-4ded-a47e-0d371fc3cd4b@7d748f70-2296-4155-9b25-3ce6819a2432" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3539cde2-903d-4ded-a47e-0d371fc3cd4b@7d748f70-2296-4155-9b25-3ce6819a2432

We hope you can join us!

Founded in 1973, Play Matters Australia supports children and families to build relationships, skills and confidence through play.

16/08/2026

Rainbow Bubbles

Rainbow Bubble Foam is a colourful and exciting way to celebrate Science Week while encouraging children to learn through play. Watching vibrant bubble foam grow and swirl as they blow through the bottle sparks curiosity, invites experimentation and introduces simple STEM concepts in a fun, hands-on way.

This activity supports:
• STEM exploration and scientific inquiry
• Understanding cause and effect
• Breath control and sensory engagement
• Colour recognition and experimentation

This activity can be adapted to suit different ages and abilities. Younger children will love watching the colourful foam appear as they practise gentle blowing, while older children can help prepare the activity and experiment with different colour combinations. Encourage children to make predictions before they begin, then chat together about what they notice as the foam grows and changes. Ask questions like, "What do you think will happen if you blow harder?" or "What new colours can you see?" to inspire curiosity and build confidence in exploring new ideas.

What you need:
• An empty plastic drink bottle
• A clean dish cloth or washcloth
• A rubber band
• Food colouring (one or more colours)
• Dishwashing liquid
• Water
• A shallow container for the bubble mixture

What you need to do:
1. Cut the bottom off the plastic bottle (adult task).
2. Secure the dish cloth over the cut end of the bottle using a rubber band.
3. Add a few drops of food colouring onto the cloth.
4. Mix water and a small amount of dishwashing liquid in a shallow container.
5. Dip the cloth end into the bubble mixture until it is saturated.
6. Blow gently through the bottle opening to create colourful streams of bubble foam.
7. Keep experimenting with different colours and blowing techniques to see what happens!

15/08/2026

Man with a Pram | Celebrating 10 Years

We are proud to support Man With A Pram this Father's Day as it celebrates its 10-year anniversary. You can get behind the campaign by joining a walk near you or hosting your own to help shine a light on perinatal mental health.

Pushing a pram and starting conversations, Fathers and their families can join this nation-wide event to help highlight the challenges many dads face as they adjust to parenthood, including mental health pressures, changing identities, and the need for support.

Join us in celebrating fathers and father-figures and raising awareness for the wellbeing of all parents.

Visit https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01hrwS0 to find a walk in your area or register your own.

14/08/2026

Celebrating our Youth Volunteers | National Youth Volunteer Week 10 to 16 August

This National Youth Volunteer Week, we're celebrating the next generation of volunteers and early childhood advocates.

At Play Matters, youth volunteers bring fresh ideas, passion and a commitment to supporting children, families and communities. In return, they gain valuable hands-on experience, professional skills and opportunities to grow.

Students like Ella, who is studying social work and play therapy and will be at our Play Matters Ipswich Hub for her 500 hours of student placement, can gain valuable hands-on experience across the diversity of our programs and playgroups.

Thank you to youth volunteers who generously give their time and energies to building playful, connected communities.

Read more about Ella here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01fkzd0

Volunteering Australia
Volunteering Queensland

12/08/2026

🦖 RAWR-some dinosaur play inspired by stories! 📚✨

One book, endless ways to play! From dinosaur small worlds and fossil discoveries to messy sensory play, painting, construction, and dramatic play, our little explorers can bring prehistoric friends to life through literacy-based play.

Using a familiar story to inspire play helps children build language, creativity, problem-solving skills and a lifelong love of books. ❤️

Looking for dinosaur books to inspire your own play adventures? Try:
Dinosaur Roar! by Paul and Henrietta Stickland (ages 1-3)
Never Touch a Dinosaur! by Rosie Greening (ages 0-3)
That's Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt (touch-and-feel favourite for toddlers)
How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night? by Jane Yolen
Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman
Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow

Thank you to Laura from .playgroup for these amazing dino-inspired sensory set ups.