Toy Libraries Australia

Toy Libraries Australia
AbbreviationTLA
Founded atMelbourne, Victoria
TypeNonprofit
LocationAustralia
CEO
Debbie Williams
Main organ
Committee
FundingFederal and state governments, memberships
Websitetoylibraries.org.au
Formerly called
Toy Libraries Association of Victoria, Toy Libraries Victoria

Toy Libraries Australia are a not-for-profit organisation which serves as the governing body for volunteer-run toy libraries within Australia.

TLA supports over 280 toy libraries in Australia, 130 of which are in Melbourne. In 2020, the number of toy library memberships in toy libraries supported by TLA was over 130,000.

History

Toy Libraries Australia started in 1977 as the Toy Libraries Association of Victoria, uniting five Victorian toy libraries. The name was changed to Toy Libraries Victoria in 2000, and then to Toy Libraries Australia in 2012.

Toy Libraries Australia won the Marie Claire Sustainability Award in the "parenting" category in 2024.

Organisation

In 2024, the Australian Federal Government provided AU$2.3million of funding to Toy Libraries Australia. However, government funding is not continuous and the main stable income comes from membership fees.

Toy Libraries Australia is primarily volunteer run, with two paid staff members.

Initiatives

In March 2025, TLA announced grants for toy libraries to support them in being more accessible for children with disabilities, in particular ADHD and autism. The grants are intended to help toy libraries run as low-sensory sessions, increase volunteer and staff training, buy specialised toys, and set up a mobile toy library in Western Australia.

The TLA's Toy Well Program runs 18 free toy libraries in Victoria for children from migrant and refuge families.

References

  1. ↑ "Borrowing boom for toy libraries as cost-of-living pressure hits families". CHILD Magazines. 2023-03-03. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  2. 1 2 Rigby, Mark; O'Toole, Kate (2017-05-22). "Toy libraries stop plastic treasures becoming trash-pile terrors". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  3. 1 2 Lucas, Freya (2025-03-10). "Additional funding for Toy Libraries". The Sector. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  4. 1 2 3 Mont, Oksana (2025-03-18), "Assessing sharing of household goods: tool and toy sharing in Melbourne and Toronto", Understanding the Urban Sharing Economy, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 110–130, ISBN 978-1-0353-2054-7, retrieved 2025-04-10
  5. ↑ Prosser, Candice (2023-12-18). "Nearly $30m worth of toys in Australian libraries help parents keep living costs down". ABC News. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  6. ↑ Sarwal, Amit. "Do you know about toy libraries in Australia?". SBS Language. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  7. ↑ Media, Ripefruit. "Toy Libraries Australia". Only Melbourne. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  8. ↑ "VOLVO Sustainability Awards 2024". marie claire. Retrieved 2025-04-10.
  9. ↑ Lucas, Freya (2024-02-12). "More funding for playgroups and toy libraries". The Sector. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  10. ↑ "New funding for toy libraries to support children with disabilities". Disability Insider. 2025-03-06. Retrieved 2025-04-18.
  11. ↑ "Winners of the 2025 Victorian Early Years Awards". www.vic.gov.au. 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-06-30.