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all abilities play
space breaks
part of an international group
developing standards for inclusive
new ground playgrounds, designed the play
A $4 million all abilities play with local user groups.
Nedlands Swan River foreshore Features will include a sensory
space after intensive consultation
space is being constructed on the
in Perth.
walkway, flying fox, active climbing,
decks and slide, active swinging,
Six years in the making, the accessible picnic areas, a community
community-driven project at garden and kitchen, an informal
Beaton Park in Dalkeith will provide sports and games area, exercise
an innovative state-of-the-art play equipment, ramps and relaxation
facility for everyone – regardless of areas, parking (including ACROD
age or ability. bays), accessible toilets and nature,
Nedlands Mayor Max Hipkins, left, Bella
Hopewell, Justin Lekias and Nedlands MLA
Bill Marmion officially break the ground for
the All Abilities Play Space.
music, sand and water play areas.
The large-scale, purpose-designed
everyone, helping to build physical,
project was initiated by the Rotary City of Nedlands Mayor Max psychological and social health,”
Clubs of Nedlands, Subiaco Hipkins said the All Abilities Play Mr Hipkins said.
and West Perth with the City of Space would bring inclusive play to Nedlands providing the site and the whole of Perth with everyone Stage one of the development
managing construction. using the same equipment. began in March, focusing on most of
the play equipment and part of the
Award-winning landscape “Research has shown the sheer car park. The final stage is expected
architect Fiona Robbé, who is fun of playing is important for to be completed by 2019.
“This is the equivalent to the aged under 25, with some as young
work of 173,00 0 full-time mental as eight,” Professor Whiteford said.
value of mental
health carers
exceeds $13 billion
Carers supporting Australians
with mental illness are providing
services that would cost
governments $13.2 billion to
replace, according to a new report
by the University of Queensland.
Professor Harvey Whiteford, from
health support workers,” Professor
Whiteford said. “The dollar Lead author Sandra Diminic
value of this support far exceeds said mental health carers faced
current spending on mental health challenges in accessing services to
services, which in 2014-2015 was support their caring role.
around $8.5 billion.”
“Only a quarter of primary carers
The majority of Australia’s 240,000 receive Carer Payment, and two
mental health carers were women, thirds don’t receive any assistance
and the biggest age group were at all,” she said. “Carers are to a
those in their working years. large extent the ‘hidden workforce’
the Queensland Centre for Mental
08
in the Australian health system and
Health Research, said mental “The number of young people this report sends a clear message –
health carers provided 208 million providing support to family members we need to recognise, appropriately
hours of care nationally in 2015. was also concerning, with 15 per cent train and support them.”
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