News

Congratulations to 33 toy libraries operating across 42 communities who will share $312,500 through Toy Libraries Australia's Pathways to Inclusion and Belonging Grants. Read which communities will benefit and discover how this investment is helping build more welcoming, accessible and inclusive toy libraries for children and families across Australia.

Direct funding to 30 local toy libraries helped create more welcoming, flexible and inclusive services for children with disability and developmental difference. Although the grant program has ended, the changes it supported are continuing in communities across Australia. Every child should have the chance to play, learn and feel that they belong. For many families, their local toy library is an important part of making that possible. With funding from the Australian Governme

Want to understand your community better? Discover why Toy Libraries Australia's Join Us in July campaign is inviting councillors, MPs, election candidates, business owners and community leaders to volunteer for a toy library shift. Learn how spending just two hours in a toy library can reveal the powerful role these hidden community assets play in supporting children, families and stronger local communities across Australia.

Toy Libraries Australia has made a formal submission to the NSW Strategic Plan for Children and Young People 2027–2030. Here's what we said, and why it matters.

Toy libraries are helping Victorian families through rising living costs, social isolation and growing pressure on household budgets. Across Victoria, 151 toy libraries support around 56,000 people each year. Independent research shows that every $1 invested in toy libraries creates $4.22 in social value. As the 2026 Victorian election approaches, TLA is calling for continued investment in toy libraries as valuable community infrastructure.

This year, the Toy Well Awards were expanded to celebrate not only more outstanding individual volunteers, but also the collective contribution volunteers make in shaping their toy library into a valued community asset. Toy Well toy libraries simply couldn’t operate without the dedication of hub leaders and, most importantly, the wonderful volunteers who keep their libraries running each week. And what a better time to celebrate their impact than during National Volunteer Wee

Those of us involved in running toy libraries already know their value. We see it when a family leaves with arms full of toys and big smiles. We hear it when a child excitedly tells us about a favourite toy they’re returning. We feel it in the pride of parents who know they’re supporting their children to learn and thrive. And we hear it when community members connect, share knowledge, and support each other — moments that make our hearts feel full. But while lived experience

Toy libraries have always been about more than toys. They’re community spaces where families connect, children learn through play, and everyone is welcome. But how inclusive are they for families of children with disability or developmental delay? That’s the question explored in recent national research led by Toy Libraries Australia and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. The study surveyed parents, carers, and professionals across the country

2025 is rolling to a close so we thought it was time to share an update on the activities, progress and latest achievements of the Toy Libraries Australia Disability Access, Inclusion, and Support (DAIS) Program. Program highlight: National training weekend in Perth In August, we were able to sponsor two people from each of the nine DAIS sites to attend Toy Library Australia’s national training weekend in Perth, Western Australia. We also invited the members of our National D

Summary: A new pilot across three Melbourne toy libraries is expanding access to switch-adapted and inclusive toys for families. The service allows families to borrow specialist toys, explore what works for their child and enjoy accessible play at home. The pilot supports play for children with diverse needs while offering a budget friendly way to try adaptive toys. Exciting update: Toys Without Barriers expands delivery across Melbourne (click here to jump to update) Quick l

40 toy libraries have been successful in our 2025 Small Grants Round. To receive the $1,000 grant, toy libraries were asked to present a project that would improve their service for children with disability, developmental delay, or developmental concern. Can $1,000 Make a Difference? It’s true that $1,000 doesn’t stretch far for most organisations these days—especially when disability or developmental support is involved, which often comes with higher costs. But in the contex

Summary: Selected toy libraries across Australia now offer supported borrowing sessions for families of children with disability, developmental delay and concerns The type of support available varies, but may include quiet times, by-appointment visits, or extra support from trained staff They aim to create safe, inclusive spaces for every child. Find your nearest supported toy library here Every child deserves the chance to play, learn, and belong. Across Australia, doze

We’re delighted to welcome Gosnells Toy Library (WA), Stonnington Toy Library (VIC), and Murray Bridge Toy Library (SA) to our additional sessions to support children with developmental delay and disability project. By joining, these libraries will help even more families enjoy relaxed, supportive borrowing time — thanks to extra opening hours made possible through this program. Making time for families Toy libraries across Australia are showing that longer opening hours can

We’re excited to celebrate the announcement of Round 2 of the Victorian Toy Library Grants Program, which will fund two brand new toy libraries alongside support for existing services across the state. The new toy libraries in Roxburgh Park and Seymour will bring families together, providing affordable access to quality toys that inspire play and learning. These hubs will become places for local connection, where children can explore, parents and carers can connect, and commu

Key information Toy Libraries Australia has launched a pilot project with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program in toy libraries across the country This two-year trial aims to ensure people with hidden disabilities are seen and welcome The initiative is fully funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services through the Information Linkages and Capacity Building program How toy libraries can get involved Is this something your local toy library would li

The Australian Government’s Building Early Education Fund presents an important opportunity to embed Integrated Early Childhood Hubs as a cornerstone of a place-based, integrated early childhood system. Toy Libraries Australia supports the National Child and Family Hubs Network's briefing paper outlining five key recommendations that are required to deliver a meaningful return on investment on the Building Early Education Fund. Communities deserve government investments to gi

We’re thrilled to announce support for the people that are the driving force and heart of our community toy libraries. This week, Toy Libraries Australia awarded travel subsidies to 18 dedicated leaders from toy libraries across the country. Funding from DSS has enabled targeted support for Rural and Remote communities (Ballarat, Yeppoon, Toowoomba and Wangaratta) and those involved in projects which promote diversity and inclusion (Ocean Grove). Additional subsidies have

This July, toy libraries across Australia are once again rolling out the welcome mat for local decision-makers, stakeholders, and other awesome humans as part of our annual Join Us in July toy library awareness campaign. We’re inviting community leaders—from MPs to local legends, business owners to big personalities—to step inside a toy library for just one volunteer shift. Trust us: it’s a shift you won’t forget. Toy libraries are magical places full of play, laughter, learn

Sunday evening 4 May was the Australian Toy Libraries 'night of nights'. We came together online from all states and territories for the Annual Australian Toy Library Awards ceremony. Staff and volunteers attending the awards represented big toy libraries and small; metro and regional; Some joined from the comfort of their lounge rooms streaming the ceremony on 'the big screen' and others joined from their toy library watching and listening on mobile phones. TLA freshly re-el

30 Australian toy libraries will soon be opening their doors in extended and modified borrowing sessions for children with disability and developmental delay. “We are so grateful to have received this grant! For our community it means better access for more families to quality toys and resources, especially those who couldn’t previously reach the library due to having additional needs. We are especially excited to be partnering with two other toy libraries in our wider regi