Engaging Environments in OSHC (2-part series)

When OSHC environments are intentionally designed to uphold children and young people’s rights, support the physical and psychological conditions required for all to play and cultivate curiosity, agency, and connection, children and young people thrive. Truly engaging environments go beyond aesthetics; they actively invite participation, support meaningful relationships, and adapt to the diverse interests, cultures, and identities of the community. When environments are overlooked or treated as static, services risk limiting children and young people’s opportunities for play, passive and active leisure, exploration, wellbeing, and authentic engagement.

This workshop invites educators to critically reflect on their current approaches to environment design and to explore how we can move beyond routine setups towards dynamic and responsive spaces that acknowledge and empower children and young people’s rights.

Participants will investigate practical strategies for fostering engaging environments. Together, we will consider how materials, routines, spatial justice, and educator interactions shape the overall ecology of OSHC.

Underpinned by My Time, Our Place and the National Quality Framework, this session will support educators to reflect on, reframe, and refine their approach towards environment set-ups, ensuring that every space is reflective of the children and young people who use it.

In this session, you will:

• Explore what it means to create engaging, flexible, responsive and rights-based environments that empower children and young people.  
• Critically reflect upon current environment practices and the ‘why’ behind them
• Develop strategies for designing holistic, engaging environments that evolve with the needs, voices, and interests of children and young people