Big Play Survey 2024

Play Australia wants to to know what you think!

Play Australia would like to know your opinion on how much time and space you have for playing or hanging out in your neighbourhood and the type of things you like to do when you play.

We are collecting this information from children and young people across Australia.

By filling in the survey you will be helping us to understand what play is like for children in Australia. We will use the information we collect to find ways of protecting and improving the time and space children have for play.

Thank you for your help!

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* 1. How old are you?

10 - 12 years old

8-9 years old

6-7 years old

Other (please specify)

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* 2. What state do you live in?

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

New South Wales (NSW)

Victoria (Vic)

Tasmania (Tas)

South Australia ( SA)

Western Australia (WA)

Northern Territory (NT)

Queensland (Qld)

Other

Other (please specify)

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* 3. We would like you to think about how much time you have for play. How often do you go out to play or hang out with friends?

Most days

A few days each week

Hardly ever

I don't play or hand outside with friends

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* 4. What is your favourite way to play?

Playing ball games or sport

Playing on play equipment

Playing make believe games

Just hanging out with my friends

Playing with toys

Doing experiments or making potions

Building cubbies

Climbing on things

Something else...(Please tell us!)

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* 5. Do you think you have enough time for playing or to hang out with your friends?

Yes, I have lots

Yes, it's just about enough

No, I would like to have a bit more

No, I need a lot more

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* 6. Think about the different places where you play or hang out. When you are not at school, where are the places you play or hang out?

In my house or a friend's house

In my garden or a friend's garden

In the streets near my house

On a local grassy area

In a place with bushes, trees and flowers

In play area with swings, slides and other equipment to play on

In the bush near my home

At a football field near my home

In my school's playground

Somewhere where there is water or sand- like the beach.

At a bike or skate park

At a community centre or leisure centre

At a youth club

At an afterschool club ( OSHC)

At a playground

At an indoor play centre

Somewhere else? (tell us where)

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* 7. Can you play in all of the places you would like to?

I can play in all the places I would like to

I can play in some of the places I would like to

I can only play in a few of the places I would like to

I can hardly play in any of the places I would like to

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* 8. Think about the all the things you like to do when you are playing or hanging out. How good are those places you play in to do those things?

They are great, I can do all the things I like to do.

They are OK, I can do most of the things I like to do.

They are not good, I cannot do many of the things I would like to do.

They are bad, I cannot do any of the things I like to do.

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* 9. How safe do you feel when playing or hanging out?

I always feel safe

I usually feel safe

I never feel safe

I don't play out

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* 10. How do adults act when you are playing or hanging out?

Most adults are great and are happy with children playing or hanging out

Most adults are ok and are alright about children playing or hanging out

Some adults are grumpy and don't like children playing or hanging out

Most adults are grumpy and hate children playing or hanging out

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* 11. Think about how you get around your neighburhood. Are you allowed to play outside on your own or with friends?

Yes

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* 12. How do you usually travel to the places where you play?

I walk or ride on my own

I walk or ride with other children

I walk or ride with an adult

An adult takes me in the car

I get the bus or train with an adult

I get the bus or train on my own

I get the bus or train with other children

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* 13. How do you usually get to school?

I walk or ride on my own

I walk or ride with other children

I walk or ride with an adult

An adult takes me in the car

I get the bus or train with an adult

I get the bus or train on my own or with other children

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* 14. Overall, how good are your opportunities to playing outside or hang out with friends?

It is great and couldn't be made much better

It is good, but could be made even better

It is ok, but needs to be made a bit better

It is not good and needs to be made better

It is really bad and needs to be made much better

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* 15. What is good about your neighbourhood for playing and hanging out?

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* 16. What is not good about your neighbourhood for playing and hanging out and how can it be made better?

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* 17. When there were COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, did it affect how you you would usually play?

Not at all

A little

Sometimes

Most of the time

All of the time

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* 18. If you can, please tell us how play makes you feel and why it is important for children?

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* 19. Is there anything else you would like to say about play? Please tell us.

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* 20. Just to finish, a few questions about you. Do you identify as

A boy

A girl

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Do you think of yourself as being a person with a disability?

Yes

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* 22. What language do you speak at home?

English

Other (please tell us which)

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.