The Melbourne Zoo, the City of Greater Bendigo and the Murrindindi Shire Council have been recognised in the Kidsafe National Playspace Design Awards, which were announced this morning at the Melbourne Zoo as part of National Kidsafe Day.

National Kidsafe Day 2014 is focused around the importance of play for children, with the theme 'Challenging Play - Risk It!'

The Kidsafe National Playspace Design Awards recognise excellence and innovation in the provision of safe, creative playspaces. The awards aim to promote inspirational and innovative best practice play facilities and encourage healthy participation in recreational activities for all children.

Erica Edmands, Kidsafe Victoria President, highlighted the importance of play, saying that it helps children to develop physical strength, coordination, balance, social skills and imagination, while also providing them with opportunities to learn.

"It is important that playspaces are designed to provide children with the opportunity to develop, challenge themselves and test their skills in a safe environment. Safe play does not have to be boring, as is demonstrated in the exciting playspaces receiving awards today", said Ms Edmands.

The winners of the Kidsafe Victoria's 'No Helmet No Ride' primary school competition have also been recognised as part of National Kidsafe Day. The competition, proudly supported by the TAC Community Road Safety Grants Program, involved students creating a video, illustrated story or radio campaign to promote the importance of wearing of helmets at all times when riding wheeled devices.

The winning entrants included students from Tucker Road Primary School (Bentleigh), St Mary's Primary School (Williamstown), Bendigo Violet Street Primary (Bendigo), Seaford Park Primary School (Seaford), Port Melbourne Primary School (Port Melbourne), Harrisfield Primary School (Noble Park) and Christadelphian Heritage College Melbourne (The Basin). The winning entries can be viewed via www.kidsafevic.com.au.

Ms Edmands said that it was great to see a wide range of video, radio and illustrated story entries submitted by primary schools across the State.

"The competition is a great example of how children can learn and promote important safety messages about the use of helmets to their peers", said Ms Edmands.

Kidsafe Victoria have a number of free resources available to the community to assist in promoting safe, creative and challenging play for children, including the newly released 'Elmo Stays Safe' app. The educational app is designed to be used by families and provides parents and carers with an easy to use tool to help teach children important messages around driveway safety, crossing the road and safe places to play. The app can be downloaded for free from www.kidsafevic.com.au/resources/sesame/ipad-app-and-e-book

Victorian Kidsafe National Playspace Awards
The Victorian Awards announced include the Melbourne Zoo's Growing Wild Project, Bendigo Botanic Gardens Heritage Playspace and Bollygum Adventure Playground at Kinglake.

Melbourne Zoo's 'Growing Wild Project'
Melbourne Zoo
Playspace Designer: Jeavons Landscape architects  

Bendigo Botanic Gardens Heritage Playspace
City of Greater Bendigo 

Bollygum Adventure Playground at Kinglake
Murrindindi Shire Council
Playspace designer: Jeavons Landscape architects  

Highly Commended Awards

Circa 1886 Grotto Project
Merri Park Playground
Buluk Park Playspace

No Helmet No Ride Competition - Winning Schools
Tucker Road Primary School (Bentleigh)
St Mary's Primary School (Williamstown)
Bendigo Violet Street Primary (Bendigo)
Seaford Park Primary School (Seaford)
Port Melbourne Primary School (Port Melbourne)
Harrisfield Primary School (Noble Park)
Christadelphian Heritage College Melbourne (The Basin)

Media Enquiries:
Ron Smith, Corporate Media Communications, Kidsafe Victoria - Mobile: 0417 329 201