School Outdoor Spaces Forum 2026
Your school grounds are one of your biggest assets.
They influence student wellbeing, behaviour, physical activity, learning, social connection and even staff satisfaction.
Yet many schools are investing significant money into outdoor spaces that do not deliver the outcomes they hoped for.
Great outdoor environments are about much more than playground equipment. The most successful school grounds create opportunities for play, learning, exploration, connection, challenge and ownership.
The spaces students choose.
The best outdoor spaces are not always the most expensive. They are the spaces students choose.
Join us to discover how your school can create outdoor environments that support play, learning, wellbeing and connection for years to come.
What You’ll Learn
An engaging afternoon of practical presentations, real-world case studies and hands-on activities for school leaders.
Why some playgrounds sit empty
Discover what students are really looking for in outdoor environments and why expensive equipment alone rarely creates meaningful play opportunities.
How children actually use space
Explore child-led play, different types of play and the gap between what adults design and how children actually interact with outdoor environments.
Creating spaces for all ages
Learn how to design for early years through to secondary students while supporting interaction, mentoring and shared learning.
Getting more value from your budget
Understand how loose parts, nature play, flexible spaces and simple interventions can often create greater play value than expensive equipment upgrades.
Avoiding costly maintenance mistakes
Learn common maintenance challenges and how to design spaces that remain safe, functional and enjoyable for years.
Delivering projects without headaches
Learn from industry experts about common issues that derail projects and how to avoid them.
Ideas you can implement immediately
Leave with actionable strategies and inspiration that can be applied regardless of your school’s size, budget or location.
Who Should Attend?
This forum has been designed specifically for school leaders and staff involved in school improvement projects.
A Different Kind of Professional Learning
This is not a sales event. It is a collaborative learning experience bringing together educators, landscape architects, play specialists and industry experts who share a common goal: creating outdoor spaces where children thrive.
The afternoon includes practical presentations, discussion sessions and a hands-on design activity that will help you see your own school grounds in a completely new way.
Designed for practical action
Whether you are planning a major redevelopment, upgrading a playground, improving student wellbeing or looking for better value from your existing grounds, you will leave with ideas you can use immediately.
Walk Away With
- Practical ideas to improve student engagement
- Strategies for supporting wellbeing through outdoor environments
- Inspiration for future projects
- Better understanding of what students actually need
- Knowledge to make more informed spending decisions
- Connections with like-minded school leaders
- Resources you can take back to your school
Event Details
Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School
68 Mirambeena Dr, Pimpama QLD 4209
Places are limited to ensure an interactive experience.