The Disability Trust is delighted by the All Ages All Abilities Playground in North Wollongong being recognised with the People’s Choice honour at the Shaping Australia Awards at Parliament House in Canberra.
Situated at Stuart Park, the Playground came to life through a partnership between the University of Wollongong, The Disability Trust, the NSW and Australian Governments, and Wollongong City Council.
The playground, which opened in late 2023, was brought to life after years of hard work by University of Wollongong Associate Professor Shoshana Dreyfus, a specialist in systemic functional linguistics and language disorders.
Associate Professor Dreyfus attended the ceremony on Tuesday night to receive the People’s Choice award from Federal Education Minister Jason Clare MP.
The Playground received nearly 5000 online votes to win the Community Champion category at the Shaping Australia Awards, an initiative of Universities Australia, the peak body for the higher education sector.
“We have been a proud partner in the All Ages, All Abilities Playground,” The Disability Trust Acting Chief Executive Officer Tarryn Bracken said.
“The people we support want to participate and engage in our community, and this playground provides an accessible space where everyone can play and have fun.
“The design of the playground was driven by the voices and opinions of the people it was designed for – adults with intellectual disability. It considers many features that would be important for this group – appropriate-size equipment, sensory experiences and communication supports.
“The fact the All Ages, All Abilities Playground received so many votes in the People’s Choice vote is testament to the value this play space brings to the Wollongong community – for all people. Congratulations to Shooshi and all involved in bringing this project to our community.”
Associate Professor Dreyfus was inspired by her adult son, Bodhi, to begin the playground project.
Bodhi, who has an intellectual disability, is a non-verbal communicator and Associate Professor Dreyfus said the inspiration for the project was wanting adults with disability to have a place of their own to have fun in the community.
“This award is a real win for people with intellectual disabilities. It is a win for people with all disabilities,” she said.
“That’s what the whole project is about, creating a space that celebrates people with an intellectual disability. I hope we can inspire others to build more spaces like this around the world.”
Around 500,000 Australians have an intellectual disability and many young adults with intellectual disability love playing at playgrounds.
It is a win for people with all disabilities.
However, they are usually designed for young, able-bodied children. As they grow up, people with intellectual disability face barriers to accessing playgrounds because of the small size and inaccessibility of the equipment and the social discomfort from families who are unfamiliar with their needs.
Associate Professor Dreyfus’s tireless advocacy secured more than $1 million in funding, bringing this vision to life.
Since its official opening in December 2023, the Playground has provided a joyful, inclusive environment where young adults with intellectual disability can engage in outdoor play within the community.
The Playground is also a pioneering model for inclusive spaces worldwide, and has many unique features, including adult-sized, accessible equipment and sensory elements tailored to diverse needs.
“I can’t express enough what this project has meant to me. People with an intellectual disability are one of the most marginalised groups within our society and being able to create a space that is for them, where they are welcomed and encouraged to be there, has been life changing.
“To be voted the winner of the People’s Choice award reflects the project’s value to the entire community.
“This Playground is the first of its kind, one that is truly inclusive to all, where anyone can play regardless of their size, age or intellectual or physical ability.”
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