Inclusive Play Spaces.

To understand the guidelines and legislation in Australia regarding all-ability and inclusive playgrounds, it is helpful to know the structure.

Legislation and policy in Australia that governs design and provision of playgrounds is a three-tier system of government at Federal, State and local levels.

Federal- the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) makes discrimination on the basis of impairment unlawful. The DDA applies to people with impairments as well as carers of people with impairments.

State-The responsibility for policies that govern the accessibility of public facilities, including playgrounds, belongs to the States under legislative responsibilities derived from the DDA.

Local- Councils are responsible for interpreting and applying policies. The provision of facilities and services that can be used by a wide range of community members is considered critical in the planning, development and implementation of local community playgrounds. At the same time, such an approach is relatively open to interpretation (and translation to practice) as to what specifically constitutes accessibility in playgrounds.

Australian Policies & Resources.

• Inclusive Play Guidelines

• Everyone Can Play.

• DDA (Disability Discrimination Act)
  
  

State and Territory Agencies

• ACT Human Rights Commission
  

• Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland

• NSW Anti-Discrimination Board

• Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission

• South Australia Equal Opportunity Commission

• Tasmania Equal Opportunity Commission

• Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

• Western Australia Equal Opportunity Commission