A NSW Government website
NSW Government
Everyone Can Play

Can I stay?

Rest Assured - Meet Colin and Alfie

"I’ve just turned 71 so I want to relax, but two-year-old Alfie wants to run around, enjoy himself and make new friends. What we enjoy most is when I can join in and play alongside...

Video Transcript

- [Colin] I'm Colin. This is my grandson, Alfie. There's quite a few advantages coming to this playground here because it's easy to get to, it's easy parking. It's open, it's big enough for the kids to run around in. Once you get into the park, we've got grass areas over here, soft fall areas where they're playing, amenities, toilets, somewhere you can wash their hands maybe if they get too grubby. There's seating for us.

- [Roma] I like the wooden seats because the metal ones get really hot, and they've got no backs on them. As you're getting older, you needsomething to lean on And arms on them so you can get up.

- [Colin] There's shade here for us. There's covered benches. There's barbecues up the back there. There's drink, there's water. Just everything you need if you want to come to a playground and just spend a few minutes or a couple of hours with your grandkids. They're able to do things here because the environment that's in a park like this, you feel is safer. If this was just a concrete jungle, you probably wouldn't have that same feeling. I think it just makes an environment where you just relax a little bit more. And I think the children relax, they feel free here to do their own thing, and they've also got the opportunity to mix with other kids that have special needs themselves.

- [Woman] I like them to be out in the fresh air, running and jumping and being kids like I was when I was a child. I get enjoyment seeing them enjoying each other's company's, and other people's company's.

- [Colin] It's good for us, too, because we can go around and brag to our friends about our grandkids and seeing them growing up.

Can I Stay? Tips for inclusive play

No two playspaces are the same and little changes can make a big difference.  Consider these tips to make it easier for everyone to stay at the playspace for as long as they like.  For more information on Can I Stay and other inclusive playspace principles download the Everyone Can Play guideline.

  1. The playspace is a welcoming community place that people find comfortable and secure.
  2. There is a central gathering point with seating and shade to promote social interaction and carer respite.
  3. There are multiple seating options with sufficient circulation space.
  4. There are picnic and barbeque facilities in a central location.
  5. There’s a passive lawn area for rest and quiet play.
  6. There are clear sight lines to all play equipment pieces from pathways and seating to ensure comfortable supervision. 
  7. There are sufficient boundary enclosures to provide a secure environment.
  8. Supporting amenities, like the toilet and carpark, are adequately lit.
  9. Rubbish bins can be utilised by all playspace users.
  10. There are visual links to the local context outside the playspace that contribute to the sense of play.

Westpoint Park, Port Macquarie

No two inclusive playspaces will look the same, but small inclusions can make a big difference.
Livvi’s Place caters to Can I Stay? principles through its passive lawn area, formal fence enclosure, clear sightlines for passive surveillance, and central picnic and barbeque facilities, with solid shade for protection. 

Download the Can I Stay playspace example.