VUPlay pop-up play spaces
Victoria University provides free pop-up play spaces in communities all around Australia.
Our early-childhood students are on hand to facilitate play by providing a variety of items for children to explore, create and engage with.
Each of our sites has a mentor who is trained in the ideas and practice of Playwork, has up-to-date first aid and CPR training, and is there to support the students.
Look out for our creative spaces at free council and community-run events. We hope to see you there!
About VUPlay
Victoria University started the Playwork Pop-Up projects in 2021 when we did a collaborative 12 week project with Public Real Lab Architects and Maribyrnong City Council in the heart of Footscray. This was called 'Mini Maddern'. Since then we have run pop-ups all over Australia, with more than 5,000 students completing the Playwork placement per year.
Benefits of our play approach
All of our Pop-Up play spaces have elements of risky play.
Risk can look different to different children depending on their past experiences and the attitudes of the people around them on risky play.
The benefits of risky play:
- Children have opportunities to self-assess risk, problem solve and build resilience.
- Children are exposed to the ideas of consequences of actions.
- Children can develop skills through trial and error
- Children develop physical and emotional capabilities, sense of self and self esteem.
Playworkers and people working in a Playwork Approach are aware that in an ideal world they should not need to exist.
They manage the spaces for children’s play, but this work needs to be as invisible and unobtrusive to children as possible.
The ideal playworker leaves the children free to play for themselves but intervenes in carefully measured ways to support the play process.
She is aware of her own playfulness, but does not impose it upon the children.
She must necessarily be devoted to the playing of the children.
– Penny Wilson – The Playwork Primer (2010), p8
What our parents & caregivers say
Gives me great ideas for open ended play and reminds me that risk is good. For example - I probably wouldn't think to give my two year old scissors to pay with - but she loved it and was far more capable and safe than I would have thought.
Loved our kids being able to play happily and explore a range of objects and materials using their creativity. Loved the community building aspect and also helping Uni students learn to be great teachers!
