University of Wollongong marks 10-year commitment to fostering children’s development through play

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is celebrating the first 10 years of its Early Start Discovery Space which UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu advised began as “a bold experiment – uniting research, play and community in a way unprecedented in Australia.”

The Early Start Discovery Space is the first dedicated children’s museum in the world based on a university campus and is designed to allow children to take control and share their imagination and creativity with others. Children have access to play via hands-on workshops, interactive learning and performances.

Children, their adults and community members were welcomed to the Festival of Play at the Early Start Discovery Space on Monday, 4th August to celebrate Early Start’s 10th anniversary.

The Festival of Play offered a diverse program of interactive experiences, workshops, and performances designed for children from birth to 10. Visitors experienced engaging research-informed programs and workshops, including experiences from AT_Culture, UOW Science Space, WollCon and Milk Crate Circus. 

“The Festival of Play marks a decade of our commitment to fostering children’s learning and development through play,” Early Start Research Director Professor Lisa Kervin added. “It reflects the strong partnership between researchers and professional staff at Early Start, with all Discovery Space experiences and programs grounded in evidence and designed to support children’s curiosity, creativity and connection.”

As part of the event, attendees also engaged with researchers from the UOW node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child in the Children’s Technology Play Space through interactive digital play experiences. 

Manager of Early Start Operations Josef English shared “The Festival of Play captured how the Discovery Space continues to offer experiences that are enriching, research-informed and responsive to community needs, ensuring meaningful impact for children and their adults.”

Early Start’s Discovery Space welcomes thousands of visiting families each year. A team of researchers are tracking over 600 former members through the ‘Where are they now’ study. These past members, now mostly teenagers, have shared how play and engagement at Discovery Space has shaped their development. The research will guide the design of future programs and experiences and show what has mattered to members over the years. 

Professor Kervin added “It has been such a privilege reconnecting with these families through survey and focus groups.”

The Early Start Discovery Space is the first dedicated children’s museum in the world based on a university campus and is designed to allow children to take control and share their imagination and creativity with others.

Image. Early Start Research Director Professor Lisa Kervin AM, Professor Paul Chandler, Mr Chris Abbott, UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu, Manager of Early Start Operations Mr Josef English celebrate 10 years of Early Start during the Festival of Play.

Image. Festival of Play at Early Start Discovery Space Credit: University of Wollongong