New ACT Government grants to foster outdoor nature play

Six local organisations have been selected to share in $39,000 to fund upgrades and initiatives encouraging young Canberrans to experience the outdoors.

The grants – awarded as part of the ACT Government’s Nature Play CBR program – will fund outdoor play area upgrades and the purchase of new equipment.

Nature Play CBR was launched in 2016 with the vision of getting more children playing in nature. It provides financial assistance for eligible organisations to deliver outdoor recreation, play an adventure programs, events or spaces.

It is about giving young Canberrans the skills and confidence to get outdoors and live active, happy, and healthy lives.

The six local organisations to recive funding include:

Beryl Women Inc - Equipment to create nature play space: $5,000
YWCA Campbell Cottage Early Learning Children Service - Equipment to create nature play space:$6,000
Northside Community Service - Equipment to create nature play space: $8,000
Wattle Community Association Inc -Equipment to support nature play:$6,600
Noah's Ark Resource Centre Inc - Equipment to support bush kinder program and staff training: $4,000
Koala Playschool Inc - Installation of timber balance course: $9,900

The longest running women’s refuge in Australia, Beryl Women Inc., was awarded the grant to create a safe and secure outdoor play area.

Beryl Women Inc.’s Angie Puibello says the initiative will support women and children staying at the refuge and advised “the women and children at our refuge have all experienced some level of trauma in their past.

“This new outdoor play area will provide them with a quiet and safe space to create connections and assist with healing.

“It will also be used for a variety of cultural, recreational and creative activities, such as craft workshops, therapy sessions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking ceremonies.

“We’re grateful for the funding and looking forward to putting our plans into motion.”

For more on the program, visit the website. 

For more information about Beryl Women’s Inc

Image courtesy ACT Government