$2.7 million boost for Melbourne’s Adventure Playgrounds

The Rudd Government will invest a further $2.7 million over four years for Melbourne’s Adventure Playgrounds, providing exciting play spaces for more than 1,700 inner city children.

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and the Member for Melbourne, Lindsay Tanner, made the announcement while visiting the Venny in Kensington, Melbourne.

The five playgrounds – Fitzroy, Prahran, Kensington, St Kilda and South Melbourne – are designed as big “backyards” for kids in high rise public housing. They are also popular with the general public.

Run by qualified staff, Adventure Playgrounds provide a fun, safe, unstructured play area for kids who don’t have a backyard or a safe place to play.

The staff organise activities and provide a valuable link to family support services, referrals and homework assistance.

The playgrounds are suitable for 5-12 year olds and are junk-food free zones.

They are equipped with flying foxes, climbing structures, trampolines, cubbies, and natural play spaces, which develops creative, social and cognitive skills.

For many families, the playgrounds provide a support network, a place for their children to learn new skills, build friendships, develop communication and language skills, and link to the wider community.

This announcement coincides with National Families Week, a time to recognise and celebrate the strength, resilience and capacity of families.

The five playgrounds are:

* $114,182 remains unallocated for service development over the four years.