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    Getting Started

  • Every Voice Counts: Asking children about play in WA

  • Before you begin 

    The WA Government, through the Office of Early Childhood, is developing Australia's first Play Strategy. The Strategy will:

    • Champion children's right to play and the importance of play.
    • Articulate the fundamental importance of play for health, happiness, learning and development.
    • Promote opportunities for play, spaces to play and support for play across services, government agencies and the wider community. 

    This survey is designed to capture children's experiences, thoughts and perspectives on play to help inform the Strategy. Please record the child's words, ideas, explanations of drawings, actions or other forms of communication faithfully, without adding your own interpretations or assumptions.

    Privacy, safety and participation

    • Taking part is voluntary. Children should only be involved if they are comfortable and willing to share their ideas.
    • Please listen respectfully and record the child’s views in their own words wherever possible, without pressure or leading questions.
    • Do not include names, faces, school logos, addresses or any other information that could identify a child, family, school or service.
    • Your answers are anonymous and cannot be linked back to you or the child.
    • We may use general (non-identifiable) responses to help share findings from the survey.

  • If you need assistance, please contact officeofearlychildhood@dpc.wa.gov.au.  

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    Privacy

  • What we will do with your responses

  • The Department of the Premier and Cabinet collects this information in order to:

    • Receive and review submissions from members of the public as part of the consultation process informing development of the Play Strategy for Western Australia.  
    • Analyse trends and community feedback to inform policy development, program design, and decision-making processes.
    • Maintain records of survey responses for reporting, evaluation, and transparency purposes.

    We may share this information with:

    • Relevant state and local government agencies and policy teams, in order to incorporate community feedback into planning and decision-making.
    • External research partners or consultants engaged by the Department to support data analysis and reporting.

    We’re asking for this information to help the Department meet its responsibilities under the State Records Act 2000 (WA), which guides how government records are created, managed, and preserved, including those related to public consultation and survey responses.

    If you have any questions about how your personal information will be handled, you can contact the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on (08) 6552 5000 or at officeofearlychildhood@dpc.wa.gov.au. 

    By clicking ‘Next’, you agree that the Department of the Premier and Cabinet can collect your responses. If you do not want your responses to be collected, close the survey now and do not continue.

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  • Before continuing can you please confirm whether you have permission to proceed.
  • Are you the child’s parent or legal guardian?*
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  • Demographic information

  • To help us understand the diverse experiences of children across Western Australia, we ask you to provide a few details about the child who shared their ideas. This information helps us identify common themes and understand how play experiences may differ across ages, locations and backgrounds.

    All information will be reported in a way that protects children's privacy and does not identify individual children.

  • What is the child's age?
  • What is the child's gender?
  • Where does the child live in Western Australia?
  • Where did the consultation take place?
  • Who conducted the consultation with the child?
  • To your knowledge, does the child consulted identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin?
  • To your knowledge, does the child consulted identify as being from a culturally and linguistically diverse background?
  • To your knowledge, does the child consulted have a disability?
  • To your knowledge, is the child neurodivergent?
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  • What did the child indicate or tell you about play?

    Use their own words where possible.

  • Use this section to share what the child communicated about play. Wherever possible, record the child's exact words or describe their actions and ideas as they expressed them. This helps ensure children's experiences and perspectives are represented as accurately as possible.

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  • Questions you may have asked:

    Only answer the questions that came up naturally in the child’s response or conversation. Each question is shown in a separate box. Click the grey arrow next to a box to open it and view the question. If a topic did not come up, you can leave that question blank.

    • When the child usually plays... 
    • When did they tell you they usually play? Select all options that apply.

    • If the child attends full days at school or long day care...

    • When they are at school or long day care, when did they tell you they usually play? Select all options that apply.
    • Where the child usually plays... 
    • Did they tell you where they usually play? Select all options that apply.
    • Who the child usually plays with... 
    • Did they tell you who they usually play with? Select all options that apply.
    • What the child usually plays... 
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    • What stops them from playing... 
    • Did they tell you what gets in the way of their play? Select all options that apply.
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    • What would make play better... 
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  • Supporting materials

    Optional

  • Children often share their ideas in many ways, including through drawing, creating, building, role play or other activities. If the child created or played with something while you were talking, you are welcome to upload a photo to help us better understand their ideas and experiences.

  • Did the child draw, create or play with something while you were talking?*
  • I confirm that I have permission to upload this image, have asked the child for their consent and have checked that it does not contain any identifying information, including names, faces, uniforms, badges, school logos, addresses or any other features that could identify a child, family, school or service.
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  • Brief description of the image

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  • Thank you

  • Thank you for taking the time to listen to a child and share their ideas about play.

    Your contribution will help build a better understanding of children's experiences across Western Australia and inform the ongoing development of the WA Play Strategy.

    By listening carefully and documenting children's ideas, you are helping uphold their right to be heard and ensuring that what matters to children is reflected in future planning and decision-making.

    Every conversation matters. Every child matters. Thank you for helping make children's voices count in Western Australia.

  • You are nearly ready to submit your response.

    When you click Submit, you agree that we can use your answers to help analyse the survey results.

    You will not be able to change your answers after you submit. Please check everything is correct before continuing.

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