Toy Libraries Australia
Australian nonprofit supporting community-run toy libraries nationwide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Toy Libraries Australia are a not-for-profit organisation[2] which serves as the governing body for volunteer-run toy libraries within Australia.
| |
| Abbreviation | TLA |
|---|---|
| Founded at | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location |
|
CEO | Debbie Williams[1] |
Main organ | Committee |
| Funding | Federal and state governments, memberships |
| Website | toylibraries |
Formerly called | Toy Libraries Association of Victoria, Toy Libraries Victoria |
Toy Libraries Australia started in 1977 as the Toy Libraries Association of Victoria, uniting five Victorian toy libraries.[3] The name was changed to Toy Libraries Victoria in 2000, and then to Toy Libraries Australia in 2012.[4][5]
TLA supports over 280 toy libraries in Australia,[6] 130 of which are in Melbourne.[5] In 2020, toy library memberships in toy libraries supported by TLA was over 130,000 families.[7]
In 2024, the Australian Federal Government provided AU$2.3million of funding to Toy Libraries Australia.[6] However, government funding is not continuous and the main stable income comes from membership fees.[5] Toy Libraries Australia is primarily volunteer run, with two paid staff members.[2]
Toy Libraries Australia won the Marie Claire Sustainability Award in the "parenting" category in 2024.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]