Visitors to Thomas H Halton Park at Croudace Bay now have a new way to connect, with Lake Macquarie City Council installing a communication board as part of an inclusive play trial.

The board uses symbols, pictures and words to help people of all ages and abilities communicate, interact and take part in play.

Council’s Manager Community Partnerships Matt Holloway said the tool could support people with a wide range of communication styles and needs, including people with autism, young children and people learning English.

“They help users express ideas, feelings and preferences, make choices, share experiences and join in social interactions,” he said.

Mr Holloway said the idea was inspired by a proposal from local paediatric speech pathology service ATUNE Kids, which identified an opportunity to make playgrounds more inclusive.

ATUNE senior speech pathologist Katrina Allen said communication boards were especially useful for people who relied on augmentative and alternative communication.

“Alongside speech, people naturally use facial expressions, body language, gestures, pointing and visual supports,” she said.

“For some children and adults, these alternative forms of communication are their primary way of expressing themselves.”

Ms Allen said it was important for community spaces to reflect the different ways people communicate.

“Having communication boards in our playgrounds is one small but meaningful way of recognising and celebrating that diversity,” she said.

Council consulted its Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel before selecting the concept and Thomas H Halton Park as the trial location.

The Croudace Bay playground was chosen because it already includes accessible facilities and is popular with local families.

Lake Macquarie mother Abbey Caroll, whose six-year-old son Cliff relies on non-verbal communication, welcomed the initiative.

“I love it. It’s inclusion, and that’s what every autism parent wants for their kids, to feel like they’re included,” she said.

The board was developed in partnership with Scope Australia and includes symbols and core vocabulary designed specifically for playground settings.

Mr Holloway said communication boards were already used in schools, health services and community facilities across Australia, but this was the first trial at a Lake Macquarie City Council site.

“By introducing this trial in such a popular location, we’re helping normalise different ways of communicating and making it easier for everyone to join in play,” he said.

Community members are encouraged to visit the playground and provide feedback through council’s online survey.

The feedback will help determine whether communication boards could be introduced at other Lake Macquarie locations.