All the entries showed a strong commitment to creating great places for children (and adults!) to play.

The winners were announced as part of National Kidsafe Day. A celebration was held at Livvi’s Place, Timbrell Park, Five Dock where Ms Megan Mitchell, National Children’s Commissioner, presented the NSW awards. Thanks to the Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia, Leycester Meares Bequest, Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald (Nova Broadcaster), City of Canada Bay and The Wiggles for supporting National Kidsafe Day.

Education and Care Services

Winner: Casino West Little Jarjums Preschool, Casino NSW

Highly Commended: Aboriginal Children’s and Family’s Services, Whyalla, Ceduna and Christie’ Beach SA

Highly Commended: SDN Beranga Education and Care Centre, Rooty Hill NSW

Leycester Meares Bequest Award

Special Recognition Balgowlah North Public School, Kulkana Before and After School Care, North Balgowlah NSW

Schools

Winner: Anglican Church Grammar School, East Brisbane QLD

Highly Commended: Auburn Public School Inclusive Sensory Garden, Auburn NSW

Innovative Design Elements

Winner: Bondi Public School, Bondi NSW

Highly Commended: Circa 1886 Grotto, Clyde North VIC

Public Playspaces Category A

Winner: Bendigo Botanic Gardens Heritage Playspace, Bendigo VIC

Highly Commended: Merri Park Playground, Northcoate VIC

Highly Commended: Yallingup Play Space, Yallingup WA

Public Playspaces Category B

Winner: Bollygum Adventure Playground, Kinglake VIC

Highly Commended: Buluk Park Playspace, Docklands VIC

Highly Commended: Plough and Harrow Play Area Renewal, Abbotsbury NSW

Public Playspaces Category C

Winner: Melbourne Zoo Growing Wild, Parkville VIC

Highly Commended: Port Adelaide Renewal Hart’s Mill Surrounds, Port Adelaide SA

Click here to view the winning entries.

The following  recommendations aim to help prevent playground burns and scalds on hot, sunny days:

Test the surfaces: Metal slides, poles, guardrails, barriers and other playground equipment may pose burn/scald risks if the equipment is exposed to direct sunlight.

• Carefully place your hand on equipment surfaces to check if they are hot.
• Use caution, don't expose yourself to burns.
• Alternatively, use a thermometer to measure the temperature. If the surface temperature is 50°C or more children should not play in the playground.
• Keep re-checking temperatures as the day progresses. Parents, carers and educators need to assess the environment regularly to determine whether the playground is suitable for use.

Rubber and synthetic grass have been known to cause burns on the soles of children's feet on hot days, particularly dark coloured surfaces. On dry, bright sunny days, dark coloured surfaces can exceed 60ºC.

In addition:

• Children should wear shoes at all times, and
• Adequate clothing to prevent sunburn as well as any contact scalds from sitting or kneeling.
• Wetting the area with water may assist in cooling the surface temperature however this may only serve as a temporary solution.
• Be Sunsafe. Visit the Cancer Council website for information on sun protection for babies and children:

A shade audit will  assist in determining the sun patterns likely to occur in the playground and whether there is adequate shade. The audit can be used to ascertain the most suitable location for installing equipment to take advantage of the shade created.

Kidsafe NSW recommends the following:

• Conduct a shade audit—make sure your shade is really needed and is in the correct position.
• Consider whether trees or a built structure will give you the best result.
• Make sure the shade will fall where and when you need it by mapping the shadow projections of the proposed shade structure.
• Ensure that the shading material used offers the highest rated fabric possible.
• Think of ways to reduce indirect UV radiation—reducing reflectivity or increasing the shaded area are both good strategies.
• Consider how comfortable your area will be in the cooler months and whether you need to consider ‘warm’ shade.

Natural Shade

The use of natural shade can be one of the most effective and aesthetically appealing ways of providing shade. Vegetation offers seasonal variations in perfume, colour and sounds. Many species produce colourful flowers or have attractive foliage or bark. Some make good habitats for wildlife and many species can be used to screen for privacy or unwanted views, and provide wind protection. Trees provide the best shade quality, filtering sunlight and lowering summer temperature by an average of 8-10ºC​.

Other materials cannot accomplish these things as well as vegetation can. The use of vegetation for shade also has a number of environmental benefits including:

• Less need to use non-renewable resources (used in many building materials)
• Energy saved in comparison with built shade systems, which often have high embodied energy. (This is the sum of all energy used to produce a material, product or structure including extraction and processing of raw materials, manufacturing, assembly and transportation)
• Fewer disposal problems as plants generally act as nutrients during decomposition

Environmental benefits can be gained by using indigenous (or local native) plants for natural shade. Their use is important for flora, habitat and genetic conservation. Local native plants are also suited to local conditions and therefore require less maintenance. If non-local or overseas plants are used then care must be taken to ensure they will not become environmental weeds.

For more information:

• Burn Injury Prevention and First Aid
• Cancer Council Guidelines to Shade 
• SunSmart Victoria online shade audit tool
• Kidsafe NSW information sheet Shade in Playspaces

Topics include:

• Effective shade
• Risk analysis tools
• Natural and man-made shade structures
• Seasonal factors
• Skin cancer research
• Burns prevention

Click here for details and to register.