Send us a text

"I like that African proverb that it takes a village to raise a child because it always makes me think ‘and what does it take to build a village?’"

In Conversation with Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott – World-Leading Expert in Child and Family Welfare

This special episode of For the Love of Play was in fact part of our original podcast series, the Playgroup Podcast, which we launched in early 2020. Sadly, the project was derailed by the pandemic.

Our conversation with Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott was recorded in 2019, but remains as interesting and relevant now as it was all those years ago.

The discussion covers Dorothy’s early professional years, including how she came to the field of early childhood, her work in developing the state’s first sexual assault counselling service, as well as the radical societal shifts over the past 50 years that have changed parenting and roles within families. Dorothy also talks about the fundamentally inclusive and democratic nature of community institutions such as playgroups.

About Our Guest

Emeritus Professor Dorothy Scott is Playgroup Victoria’s Patron.

Over a long and distinguished career, Dorothy has closely examined the folds of early childhood, disentangling aspects of children's and families' worlds, as well as our wider communities - our villages. Dorothy is a scholar, an honorary fellow at the University of Melbourne, and the custodian of much knowledge and wisdom in the field of child and family welfare.

• View Professor Scott’s University of Melbourne Profile

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

"Playgroup saved me. Although I know that sounds really dramatic, I actually feel it’s really true."

In Conversation with Naomi Jeffree – Playgroup Facilitator and Training Coordinator

In our final episode of season one, we speak with our wonderful colleague and playgroup expert, Naomi Jeffree.

Naomi has been working with families for over twenty years and her work within playgroups has focused heavily on families whose children have different abilities and needs.

In this conversation, Naomi discusses the way playgroups can give people a profound sense of belonging, can change children’s lives for the better and which, above all else, emphasise fun and joy. She also reflects on the fact that because playgroups are so varied, there is really no such thing as typical “playgroup mum”.

About Our Guest

Naomi Jeffree has dedicated more than 20 years of her professional life to working with families. Today she is a facilitator, training coordinator, community leader and, most importantly, the proud mum of two boys.

• Read the story of a PlayConnect+ playgroup facilitated by Naomi.

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

"That’s a really powerful thing... for people to have almost an oasis from the chaos of their lives to come and spend time at a sports club.”

In Conversation with Paul Kennedy – Journalist, Author and TV Presenter

Content Warning: this episode references child abuse. Please take care of yourself when listening and, if necessary, skip the interview between 39:10 and 42:00.

While Paul is well known as the former ABC mornings sports reporter, his books and documentaries shed more light on who he is and what he cares about. In this episode we talk about his writing, his love of sport and his discovery of creativity as an outlet.

The conversation also explores the importance of family and how community institutions like sporting clubs can connect us, providing support, purpose and sometimes even a sanctuary from the challenges of life.

Paul talks about why role models matter, the importance of encouragement during childhood and how one person can have a profound influence on their community - and society at large.

About Our Guest

A promising footballer in his youth, Paul pursued his love of sport and writing to become a journalist, eventually spending more than a decade as ABC TV’s morning sport reporter. His journalism has also taken the form of books and documentaries, and his beautifully honest memoir, Funkytown, is a rite-of-passage story, focusing on his teenage years in the Melbourne suburb of Seaford.

• Read Paul’s bio on the ABC website.
• Read Paul’s Penguin Books profile.

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

"Play is the most important learning vehicle of life..."

In Conversation with Emma Watkins – Children’s Entertainer, Singer, Dancer and Author

In this episode, we speak with beloved children’s entertainer, Emma Watkins, better known as the Yellow Wiggle and Emma Memma.

We discuss play as a vehicle for early learning and talk in depth about Emma’s passion for visual communication and her endeavour to create interactive spaces that connect us through dance, movement and Auslan.

We ask Emma about her experience with the Wiggles and her love of performance, but we also learn more about her life outside her characters and costumes.

A quick heads up: We recorded this interview over Zoom, and you'll notice the audio has a few minor blips.

About Our Guest

Emma Watkins, who rose to international stardom as the Yellow Wiggle, is a dancer, filmmaker and a passionate Auslan advocate. Her work and performances shine a light on accessibility in visual communicative.

• www.emmawatkins.com
• www.emmamemma.com
• View Emma Memma’s YouTube channel.

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

"We are all craving connection. We are all hungry for it. And I think that we’ve been desensitised to the value of it."

In Conversation with Alice Zaslavsky – Author, Cook, TV and Radio Personality

In this episode of For the Love of Play, we speak with author, chef, teacher, TV and radio personality, Alice Zaslavsky.

Our conversation explores the innate human need for connection, cooking as a form of play and food as a celebration of culture. We talk about Alice’s childhood and how her Georgian heritage, as well as her childhood spent in the Soviet Union, has shaped her - and her zest for life!

About Our Guest

When you think of cooking, colour and contagious enthusiasm - Alice Zaslavsky is one of the first people who springs to mind! Her vibrant cookbooks light up the shelves of bookshops across the country, and she is a warm, familiar presence on ABC radio and television.

• www.alicezaslavsky.com
• Phenomenom
• Listen to Alice’s conversation with Dr Flavia Fayet-Moore

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

"Everything that’s good about human beings came from playfulness..."

In Conversation with Steve Biddulph – Psychologist and Top-Selling Author

In our very first episode of For the Love of Play, we sit down with world-renowned psychologist, educator and best-selling author Steve Biddulph for a heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation.

Steve has spent his adult life helping families thrive, and his books on raising children - including Raising Boys and Raising Girls - have been embraced across the globe. In this wide-ranging discussion, we explore what it means to be human - and how kindness, a sense of belonging and joyful interactions shape our wellbeing from the earliest years.

Steve shares powerful perspectives on parenthood, the preciousness of early childhood and how play has changed lives - and the world - for the better.

About Our Guest

Steve Biddulph is a psychologist, educator and one of the world’s best-selling parenting authors. His work - including books, workshops and talks that champion compassion, empathy and playful connection - has touched millions of families.

• www.stevebiddulph.com
• Join the Raising Girls Facebook community HERE
• Join the Raising Boys Facebook community HERE

Show Links

• Website: For the Love of Play
• Listen to all episodes: Buzzsprout
• Follow us on Instagram: @fortheloveofplaypodcast

Learn More About Playgroup Victoria

• Website: playgroup.org.au
• Instagram: @playgroupvicofficial
• Facebook: Playgroup Victoria
• LinkedIn: Playgroup Victoria

Episode Credits

Hosted by Mylie Nauendorf and Sinead Halliday.

Interview conducted by Sinead Halliday.

Edited by Jonathan Rivett.

Mastering by James North Productions.

Music by Selina Byrne.

And thanks to our little friends Toby and Adelaide for voicing the intro.

Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a conversation. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with friends and family.

Support the show

Send us a text

For the Love of Play is a podcast by Playgroup Victoria. In this series, we explore childhood, community, family and belonging... and play of course, in its many wonderful forms. 

In this intro episode, we give listeners a glimpse at what you can expect from the first season.

Support the show