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Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Play Matters Australia

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Brisbane, QLD
Play Matters Australia

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

22/10/2026

Slime Time Halloween STEAM Play

Slime is an amazing exploration of solid to liquid and a sensory feast, but introducing different colours can stimulate even more STEAM elements, with prediction, cause and effect and change added to the mix.

The sensory experience also supports fine motor development, strengthens hand muscles, and helps build focus and concentration.

What you need:
Large mixing bowl
Measuring jugs and spoon
500g cornflour
1 1.2 cups water
food colouring (or natural alternative)

What to do:
Add colour to the water, allow children if they like to practice their numbers to count the number of drops as they colour the water.
Pop the water into the bowl and then add the cornflour.
If the mix is too liquid, add more cornflour, if too stiff more water.
Stick your hands in the slime and experience how it feels and how it changes consistency.

You can cover this mix and refrigerate for use again, don't dispose down the drain, find a patch in the yard!

Messy play like this encourages curiosity, creativity and confidence.

Want more play ideas like this? Become a Play Matters member and unlock our Activity Portal filled with developmentally rich, easy‑to‑use activities for every age and stage.

Sign up today https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01slM_0

19/10/2026

Join Aunty Sharron in a free online song and dance as part of Children's Week Celebrations!

Together, we will respectfully acknowledge the Sovereign Custodians, Elders and Country before we begin a fun-filled, interactive song and dance presentation and concert for all ages, celebrating chidlren's right to culture, language and religion!

Wednesday 28 October
10:00am to 10:30am (AEST)

Free to join, but you need to register here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01rKNV0

14/10/2026

National Carers Week is a reminder that while carers spend so much time caring for others, they need support too.

Through the MyTime program, we are proud to support families who have children with disability, developmental delay or chronic health challenges and provide opportunities for them to connect with others who understand their journey. MyTime provides a welcoming space for connection, shared experiences and peer support.

This week, we're also celebrating our incredible network of MyTime facilitators, who recently came together to learn from one another, share knowledge and strengthen their practice.

Many bring valuable lived experience as carers themselves, creating spaces where families feel understood, supported and less alone.

Pictured: MyTime Facilitators for Play Matters Australia with Simone from Sunshine & Sing as part of professional development learning key word sign as a communication tool for families and children.

14/10/2026

47 skilled music therapists. Shared goals and purpose. Thousands of lives impacted.

Today on Allied Health Professionals Day, we recognise the remarkable contribution of Play Matters Australia's Sing&Grow music therapy network.

Our team of skilled music therapists deliver specialist support across a broad range of settings throughout Australia, bringing both depth of expertise and a commitment to helping children and families connect, play and grow.

Their specialised work supports development, inclusion, wellbeing and social connection, transition to school and creating positive outcomes that extend beyond individual participants to strengthen families and communities.

Today, we celebrate the knowledge, dedication and impact of our music therapists and all allied health professionals working to create brighter futures for children and families.

You can read more about Sing&Grow here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01rjtH0

10/10/2026

Our October Imaginative Play Members Newsletter has arrived!

It’s landed in inboxes and it’s bursting with imaginative play activities to spark creativity and connection all month long! 🌈✨

From the creation of your own DIY Mud Kitchen to explorative, creative play using music- we’ve packed it with ideas to inspire imaginations and stimulate cognitive, social, emotional and physical development.

Not a member yet or missed the newsletter?
👉 Sign up today to receive monthly inspiration straight to your inbox and access to hundreds of free activity ideas and videos suitable for children aged 0 to 5 years!

🧡 Become a member and join a community that celebrates play, learning, and connection: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01qKNX0

Let the imaginative play begin!

09/10/2026

Playgroup for children with developmental concerns or disability - no diagnosis necessary 💛

Explore PlayConnect+, a supported playgroup program for children aged 0-5 years with disability and/or developmental concerns and their families.

PlayConnect+ provides safe, inclusive and engaging play experiences where children can learn through play while families build connections and access support.

📍 Queensland locations include:
• Cairns
• Bellbird Park
• Rockhampton
• Sunnybank
• Townsville
• Redlands
• Yarrabilba
• Leichhardt (Sing & Grow)
• Stafford Heights (Sing & Grow)
• Gordonvale (Sing & Grow)
• Kandanga (Sing & Grow)

Whether you're looking for a supportive community, inclusive play opportunities, or a chance to connect with other families who understand your journey, PlayConnect+ offers a welcoming and safe space to play.

👉 Find your nearest PlayConnect+ playgroup and learn more here:
https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01qKQT0

09/10/2026

It’s Imaginative Play Month at Play Matters 🌈✨

This month we celebrate one of the most endearing qualities associated with childhood – imagination!

Often referred to as fantasy or dramatic play, imaginative play involves role play, object substitution, and nonliteral behaviour. It boosts language, social skills, confidence, and emotional wellbeing, all while sparking creativity.

Sign up for your FREE Play Matters Membership today, for more Imaginative Play activities!
https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01qKQC0

08/10/2026

Baby Imaginative Play | Exploring Animals

Exploring Animals is a simple, engaging way to introduce babies and young toddlers to animals from around the world through shared exploration, sensory discovery and play.

This activity supports:
• Early awareness of the world and different environments through introduction to animals and habitats
• Early cognitive development as babies notice similarities and differences between objects
• Fine motor development through reaching, grasping and exploring soft toys and books
• Language development through storytelling, animal sounds and shared conversation
• Imaginative play and early social connection through interactive play with a caregiver

This activity is best enjoyed side by side with your baby, following their curiosity as they explore. The space is divided into two simple environments, green for land and blue for water, to introduce early ideas about where animals live. For younger babies this may be visual exploration and sensory discovery, while older babies may begin to reach for, move or return to favourite animals. Talk gently about what your baby can see, hear and feel, using simple animal sounds and language to build connection.

What you need:
• Soft animal toys
• Animal-themed board books
• Blue fabric or scarf (to represent water)
• Green fabric, mat or grass (to represent land)
• Optional: animal sound recordings

What you need to do:
1. Create a simple play space using a blue fabric or scarf for water and a green surface for land.
2. Place soft animal toys onto each area, separating land and water animals.
3. Sit with your baby and invite them to explore at their own pace.
4. Talk about the animals as they are discovered: the sounds they make, how they feel and what they look like in the books.
5. Connect toys to images in the board books to support recognition and shared attention.
6. Follow your baby’s lead as they look, reach, touch and explore the animals that capture their interest.
7. Extend the play by making sounds together and talking about the world of animals in simple, playful ways.

06/10/2026

Last Chance to RSVP for Imaginative Play Matters at Pine Rivers Showgrounds - TOMORROW

Thursday 8 October
9:30am to 12 noon
Pine Rivers Showgrounds, Lawnton
FREE
RSVP here: https://ap1.hubs.ly/H01nlJc0

Come dressed in your favourite costume and celebrate Imaginative Play. This FREE event will be an action-packed morning of hands-on play experiences, creativity, discovery, and connection for children aged 0-5 years and their families.

This is a FREE event, but RSVP's are essential to secure your spot. Places are limited. RSVP for more info and to secure your spot of fun, imaginative play!

Address

86 Orchid Street
Brisbane, QLD
4051

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	8:30am - 4:30pm

Website

http://playmatters.org.au/

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