Help communities in need thrive with the joy of play
Good360 connects items in four areas of impact: Education, Home, Hygiene and Play.
Play is vital at every age, supporting emotional, physical, and social wellbeing. But for many vulnerable communities, financial hardship creates barriers to accessing even the simplest play essentials, leading to play poverty. Good360 Australia is working to change that by connecting these play essentials with families, fostering connection, confidence, and joy.
Imagine the loneliness of watching from the sidelines
Play poverty is the lack of access to play resources due to financial hardship. It affects children and adults alike, limiting their ability to engage in vital play activities that nurture creativity, social skills, and mental well-being.
In Good360’s newest report, we explore the extent of play poverty in Australia and how living without play essentials affects Australia’s most vulnerable communities. The report also explores how Good360 works with our charity and donor network to connect brand-new play items to vulnerable communities and the impact we have created – but there is still much to be done.
The Facts
1 in 7
Over 3.8 million Australians are experiencing play poverty.
2.9 million
Australians say the cost of sports equipment and other recreation or ‘play’ items is a major barrier to participation for their family.
1 in 2
Australians are worried about being able to afford Christmas presents for their family in 2024.
3.5 million
Australians say that challenges affording play items/activities have impacted their family’s emotional well-being.
1 in 4
Australians are concerned that this Christmas will be the toughest in years for their family.
1 million
Individuals so far in 2024 have been supported with brand-new play items.
Everyone deserves the right to play
At Good360, we are working with our network of product donors and over 4,000 charity and disadvantaged school members to connect vulnerable Australians with the items they need for daily recreational activities.
Play poverty is a lesser-known but significant part of living in poverty. It affects children and adults alike, limiting their ability to engage in vital play activities that nurture creativity, social skills, and mental well-being. Many people might not realise how deeply this impacts physical and emotional health. For families already struggling with basic needs, finding money for play and sporting items becomes impossible.
How Lack of Play Affects Wellbeing
Play is critical to a child’s learning and development. It supports children’s physical, cognitive and social development, teaching them to develop and use language effectively, and solve problems collaboratively and independently. But play isn’t just for kids – it’s also a vital source of relaxation, creativity, and mental health support for adults. Engaging in play can unlock our imagination, relieve stress, and build emotional resilience.
When children and adults miss out on opportunities for play, they may find it hard to fully participate in daily life. The absence of play can lead to feelings of exclusion, isolation, and even shame, impacting mental health and overall well-being.
What does this look like? It could be a child avoiding school to escape feeling left out during recess, or a family unable to join local activities because they can’t afford sports gear. Over time, these barriers to play can have lasting effects on personal development, social connectedness, and mental wellness.
Our Play Partners
With the latest Good360 order being delivered just before the school holidays, our creative staff have been inspired by the power of play. As the orders were being unpacked the team set about to create a range of engaging activities tailored to our therapeutic residential, kinship, and foster care programs.
There is an intangible magic shared as the items received in our most recent order are shared throughout our community. There is a joy that spreads as the children and carers participate in games, and along with laughter that rings through the air over shared experiences we are reminded of the positive impact Good360, and its donors have on the lives of those we walk alongside. There may be a power in play but there is a power in the kindness and generosity of Good360 and their donors.
Spread Christmas Joy
Give the gift of joy this Christmas with Good360.
This Christmas, bring joy to families doing it tough. As the cost-of-living crisis pushes many to choose between essentials like food and housing, your donation can make all the difference. With your support, we can connect gifts that bring joy, connection, and relief to families across Australia who need it most.
There is a huge toll on the mental, financial, and social well-being of Australians impacted by this crisis and everyone is exhausted from the “Permacrisis,” defined as an extended period of instability and insecurity, that has been the last four years.
Immediate action is required to provide everyday essential items, that Australians simply cannot afford, and you can help.
Many families expressed profound gratitude for being able to bring more joy to their children's Christmas experience this year. They shared that without the support from this program, their Christmas celebrations would not have been possible. There were many tears shed and hugs shared.
Good360 Play impact
Creating impact with essential items of play
Impact @ October 2024
the circular economy (RRP)
need supported
to people in need
going to waste
We received a pallet of NIKE football boots from Good360 recently. We distributed 100 pairs of boots to the many children whose parents cannot afford to send them to sport or simply can't afford to buy this kind of shoes.
We have teamed up with a few schools and local football clubs to share these amazing Nike boots with kids in need and the smiles we got were worth their weight in gold.
These kids can have a new pair of boots and join in with all the other kids and continue to grow and develop. Nothing makes us happier than seeing a child smile and being able to give them an opportunity they may not otherwise have had all thanks to the generosity of Good360 and its donor partner NIKE!
A few of the charities & schools we serve
How you can get involved
We are a not-for-profit and Australia’s largest online marketplace for businesses to donate brand-new goods to a network of more than 4,250 pre-vetted charities and disadvantaged schools nationally. Over $470M RRP and 42M items have been donated by brands including BIG W, Harvey Norman, LEGO, Bic, Optus, Booktopia and Colgate.
How does it work? Charities and schools choose the goods they need, from the Good360 website to help individuals. These goods are delivered directly to local communities, or they can be picked up from local stores – we offer a solution that suits communities, charities and schools of all sizes.
