Helping every family feel welcome: Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program continues to grow in Australian toy libraries
52 participating toy libraries
27 toy library leaders surveyed
90% of participants felt confident explaining the program after taking part
Funding secured through to June 2028
Over the past year, 52 toy libraries across Australia have joined Toy Libraries Australia's Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program pilot. The internationally recognised Hidden Disabilities Sunflower helps people with non-visible disabilities discreetly indicate they may need a little extra understanding, patience or support.
The results have been very encouraging.
Our evaluation found that participating toy libraries reported increased awareness of hidden disabilities, greater confidence among volunteers, and more conversations about inclusion with families and community members. Many libraries described the program as a natural extension of their commitment to welcoming every child and every family.
More than wearing a lanyard
While many people recognise the distinctive green Sunflower lanyard, the program is about much more than wearing a symbol.
For toy libraries, participating means:
Building volunteer awareness of hidden disabilities.
Creating opportunities for respectful conversations about inclusion.
Providing a simple way for families to communicate that they may appreciate additional understanding or support.
Demonstrating a visible commitment to welcoming everyone.
As one participating toy librarian shared:
"We're really pleased to be involved and would love to continue in the program! Anything we can do to make our community feel more comfortable and welcome is wonderful."
A simple program for volunteer-run toy libraries
One of the strongest findings from the evaluation was that the program was straightforward to implement.
Toy libraries valued the ready-made resources, practical training and ongoing support from Toy Libraries Australia, making it achievable even for busy volunteer-run organisations. Participants also told us the program prompted meaningful conversations that may not otherwise have happened and reinforced the inclusive values already present in many toy libraries. You can access the full evaluation report here.
We're continuing the journey
Following the positive evaluation, Toy Libraries Australia has secured funding to continue our Corporate/Charity partnership with the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program through to June 2028. Over the coming year we'll continue supporting participating toy libraries by administering the program directly, expanding resources, sharing ideas and helping raise awareness of the program within our communities.
Would your toy library like to join?
Whether your toy library is just beginning its inclusion journey or building on existing work, the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program provides a simple, practical way to demonstrate that everyone is welcome.
By joining, your toy library will receive:
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyards for your toy library.
Promotional resources and signage.
Access to awareness training.
Implementation guidance and support from Toy Libraries Australia.
If your toy library would like to learn more or register your interest, we'd love to hear from you. You can read the guidelines for the program here or contact the Inclusion team by email: inclusionteam@toylibraries.org.au for more information.
