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Welcome to PARS playwork in Australia! 


PARS is a tried-and-tested model of playwork practice for professionals working with children in their leisure time. The PARS model was developed from research by Dr Shelly Newstead into the theory and practice of the adventure playground pioneers.

PARS playwork practice is used anywhere children
spend their free time: hospitals, religious provision, summer camps, children’s museums, adventure playgrounds, childcare settings, schools, play programmes, social work settings, homes, zoos...and many more!

Australian PARS playwork programmes are delivered by PPP4 qualified PARS Licensed Trainer, Polly Howard. Polly's OOSH services in NSW have been recognised for their pioneering PARS playwork approach to letting children by children! Polly is happy to deliver PARS training in-house as well as online .

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Upcoming Courses

Book your place on our next PARS Australia courses.

PPP3 Australia
August 2025, online

PPP2 Australia
October 2025, online

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PARS is a tried-and-tested model of playwork practice for professionals working with children in their leisure time.

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Watch this Porch Play Chat with the creator of the PARS playwork model, Dr Shelly Newstead.
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Join an internationally accredited PARS programme if you want to...

Let children 
be children

  • Learn how to provide fun and freedom for children in their leisure time.
  • Find the balance between freedom and chaos with PARS - learn when and how to get involved in children's activities and when and how to leave children to do their own thing!
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Define your professional approach

  • Learn a technical language to describe your playwork practice.
  • Describe your playwork practice to help other adults to understand the need to provide time and space for children to be children!
  • Gain a NCFE certificate to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
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Relax and

have fun at work

  • Adults who use PARS playwork practice at work  tell us they are happier in their jobs
  • Parents tell us that they have more fun with their own children when using PARS at home
  • Children have more fun too when adults are using PARS!
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What is involved in a PARS programme?

Teaching

Your PARS programme will be taught live by a PPP4 qualified PARS Licensed Trainer. All PARS courses are interactive with plenty of time for discussion and learning from other participants. The course materials are provided online and include handouts and two course handbooks which you will use to help you complete your assessments.

Practice

During the course you will be asked to try out some of the PARS model whilst working with children. Real-world case studies, discussions and assessments will enable you to put PARS into practice wherever you work in children's leisure time. You will not be assessed in your workplace.


Assessment

PARS is an NCFE International Award Centre. Your assessments are completed online through short assignments and multiple choice texts. You will receive feedback from your dedicated PARS assessor and supported throughout the assessment process.
Get pars playwork qualified

Which PARS course is right for you?

There is no requirement to complete PPP2 before joining a PPP3 course. Anybody who wants to take part in PPP4 and become a PARS Licensed Trainer must complete PPP3 first.

PPP2: Beginner Level

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PPP2 is an introductory qualification for individuals working with children during their leisure time. Parents can also join PPP2 courses! 

  • Aim of PPP2

    By the end of the PPP2 course, participants should be able to begin to apply the PARS model in their settings and to describe their PARS playwork practice to other adults.

  • Who is it for?

    PPP2 is suitable for any adults who work with or care for children. 

  • Course content                                                
    PPP2 introduces the basics of the PARS model of playwork practice, so that participants can begin to use the PARS practice with children at work and at home and to explain it to other adults! 
     

  • Assessment and study                                            

    12 hours teaching + 13 hours private study. Participants complete short online assignments and multiple-choice tests to demonstrate their understanding and application of the PARS model.

  • Certification

    Participants who pass the PPP2 assessments will receive a certificate from NCFE, one of the UK's leading Awarding Bodies. 

PPP3: Advanced Practitioner Level

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PPP3 provides an in-depth exploration of the PARS model to enable experienced practitioners to develop and evaluate their PARS playwork practice. 

  • Aim of PPP3

    By the end of the PPP3 course, participants should be able to articulate, develop and evaluate their PARS playwork practice.

  • Who is it for?

    Experienced practitioners currently working with children with good study skills (please note that there is a substantial amount of reading and assessment work for PPP3). 

  • Course Content                                                
    PPP3 involves an in-depth exploration of all of the theories, methods and techniques included in the PARS model of playwork practice and its underpinning philosophy. A detailed examination of how the PARS model of playwork practice was constructed and works in practice.

  • Assessment and study                                            
    18 hours teaching + 42 hours private study.

    Participants complete written online assessments (200 - 500 words each) that demonstrate their ability to put PARS playwork into practice and to evaluate their PARS practice.

  • Certification

    Participants who pass the PPP3 assessments will receive a certificate from NCFE, one of the UK's leading Awarding Bodies. 
I was able to do a presentation of some of what I learned through the PARS course at our monthly P & C meeting. It was super exciting and I received great feedback from being able to explain not just how, but also why we are choosing to practice in this way. For some, it changed the way they looked at what we did and it brought a few more enrolments too!  
Susie Berkhut
Queensland, Australia
I loved participating in the PARS training. It was a fantastic introduction to playwork; providing great tools to help in our important work with children. It translates beautifully to the Outside School Hours context in Australia.
Rarni Rothwell
Brisbane, Australia
One immeasurable benefit of PARS is now having the language to engage with, both in self-reflection and in conversation with other practitioners and stakeholders. It means that we can now discuss what we think is happening for the children and what we think we can do to enhance (or meaningfully not ruin) what is happening, and to start to work on a collective understanding of our practice as a service.
Amy Blane
Queensland, Australia

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to attend previous PARS training before I join PPP2 or PPP3?

There is no requirement for previous PARS training or playwork experience before joining a PPP2 or PPP3 programme. Anybody who wants to take part in PPP4 and become a PARS Licensed Trainer must complete PPP3 first.

Will I need to do homework?

Yes, afraid so! PPP2 and PPP3 are NCFE accredited Customised Qualifications, so all participants need to do weekly assignments during the course to demonstrate how they can put PARS playwork into practice when working with children. These assignments are assessed by our Assessment Team who will give feedback on each assignment. 

What is included in the cost of the course?

The cost includes all live teaching sessions and course materials, assessment and certificate from NCFE. There is nothing else you will need to pay once you have joined the course!

Once I get my PPP2 or PPP3 qualification, can I teach others to use PARS?

No. To teach PARS to others, you must be qualified to PPP4 and be a PARS Licensed Trainer. If you are qualified at PPP3, you may be eligible to join our PARS Schools Mentor Programme. For more information on how to share your PARS knowledge with others, please get in touch!

How long does my PPP2 or PPP3 Customised Qualification last?

Technically there is no expiry date for your NCFE certificate. However, we strongly encourage you to continuously develop your PARS playwork practice and you can find plenty of opportunities to do so here!

Do I have to attend previous PARS training before I join PPP2 or PPP3?

There is no requirement for previous PARS training or playwork experience before joining a PPP2 or PPP3 programme. Anybody who wants to take part in PPP4 and become a PARS Licensed Trainer must complete PPP3 first.

Do I have to attend previous PARS training before I join PPP2 or PPP3?

There is no requirement for previous PARS training or playwork experience before joining a PPP2 or PPP3 programme. Anybody who wants to take part in PPP4 and become a PARS Licensed Trainer must complete PPP3 first.

Do I have to attend previous PARS training before I join PPP2 or PPP3?

There is no requirement for previous PARS training or playwork experience before joining a PPP2 or PPP3 programme. Anybody who wants to take part in PPP4 and become a PARS Licensed Trainer must complete PPP3 first.

Our international PARS community

PARS Licensed Trainers

PARS trainees worldwide

different countries

PARS practitioners belong to the international PARS community, with lots of opportunities to connect with like-minded people around the world. There is also a free CPD programme for those who complete a PARS Customised Qualification.

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GET PARS PLAYWORK QUALIFIED!

Join the international PARS community 

There are lots of ways to make PARS playwork work for you - if you can't find what you need on this page, please contact us so we can make it work for you too!