AALARA recently held Indoor Play Industry Meetings in Sydney at the Wiggly Play Centre, Seven Hills on 31 January and Brisbane at the Lollipops Playland, Springwood, on 7 February.

The purpose of these evenings was to inform owners and operators of Indoor Play Centres of the Australian Standard that is being drafted for their Industry.

At these meetings we discussed at length the proposed level of staffing that was currently being written into the draft, there was some very negative thoughts that the levels being suggested were unreasonable.

Discussions continued to include general operations of Indoor Play Centres, the need to carry out and document your training, daily inspections, maintenance and cleaning procedures.

At these meetings AALARA's three representatives on the Australian Standards ME-051 working committee for Contained Play Facilities were present – Ken Smith from Megamania, Warners Bay, chairperson for AALARA's Indoor Play Sub-Committee; Tim Newman-Morris, franchise manager Lollipoops Playland Franchising, Indoor Play Sub-Committee member; and myself.

We took notes of the meetings which were discussed at the Standards meeting in Melbourne, 22 February, all comments will be discussed at length as we work through the draft.

The Committee has agreed to move forward as quickly as possible, meeting dates have already been set, the next is 22 March, the committee is looking at the Draft going for Public Comment no later than January, 2008.

Jeana Zacchini

AALARA Board