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About Us

Play Matters  >   About Us

Founded in 1973, Play Matters Australia supports children and families to build relationships, skills, and confidence through play. We are a national organisation with staff in every state and territory in Australia.

Sing&Grow

Our Organisation


Operating for over 50 years, Play Matters Australia aims to provide children with the best start to life by empowering parents and carers with the skills and confidence to guide and support their children's development through the fundamental act of play. All children have the right to play as stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 31.

Play Matters Australia’s ethos of recognising parents and carers as a child’s first teacher is embedded in our organisation's theory of change and underpins our programs, service design and delivery. We know that the first 1000 days are critical to a child’s development. A child’s successful attachment to parents and carers lays down the neurological foundations for lifelong learning.

Our Vision: Connected Children, Families, and Communities

Our Mission: Supporting children and families to build relationships, skills, and confidence through play.

Our Values

Creative and fun

Collaborative

Welcoming and inclusive

Contemporary practice

Accountable

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Our Impact


Play Matters Australia believes that play is a fundamental right of children and a prerequisite for healthy child development. Our ethos of recognising parents and carers as a child’s first teacher is embedded in our organisation's theory of change and underpins all our program and service design and delivery.

Learn more

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Why Play Matters

Play truly matters in developing resilient children and families to ensure health and wellbeing for their whole life. Play is how children learn and grow and is a key element of early childhood development. It provides a foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.  

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Annual Report


Click below to view the Play Matters Australia Annual Report.

History of Playgroup

Our History


Over the past five decades, our organisation has grown from a volunteer-led, Queensland association to operate as one of the largest community-based charities specialising in play and parent-child attachment in Australia.

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Our Brand


Playgroup Queensland and Sing&Grow Australia are now part of the Play Matters family. Our brand was developed in consultation with play experts, staff, families, members, volunteers, and facilitators. We are the heart and science of play. Click below to learn more about our brand.

“Play is the beginning of knowledge”

George Dorsey