Researchers from the Play Active team received a $74,999 exploratory grant for their Children’s Voices project – exploring how to better design community spaces like playgrounds, parks and services to better service the mental health needs of all children. B
Children’s Voices will be the first project of its kind in WA that aims to explore what and how neighbourhood environment features can optimise children’s mental health by considering the perspectives and lived experiences of the children they’re for.
The project is especially interested in allowing children living in urban growth areas who experience hardship to have a say and be heard by the project’s partners and stakeholders.
Researchers are based at Telethon Kids Institute but are also located across Australia and internationally.
Children and their caregivers will be invited to participate in an online mapping activity and focus groups, and findings will be shared with children, caregivers, partners, and stakeholders through co-design workshops to identify resources and activities that can be used for dissemination and advocacy.
The goal is to create and distribute resources that advocate for the needs of children in relevant state-based health and urban planning policy, and for children to be local advocates in their neighbourhood.
Project partners include Anglicare WA, WA Local Government Association, National Growth Areas Alliance, Western Australian Planning Commission, WA Department of Transport, WA Children’s Commissioner, and NaturePlay WA.
