- EduMarking has launched EduMaintenance, a structured outdoor safety and maintenance programme for primary and secondary schools across Victoria, developed in partnership with Must Have Maintenance.
- The programme aims to shift schools from reactive to planned maintenance of outdoor spaces, including sandpits, turf, mulch, and play areas, which are typically only addressed once problems become visible.
- Poorly maintained impact-absorbing surfaces such as compacted or depleted mulch beneath play equipment create fall risks that may not be immediately apparent, contributing to one of the highest-frequency injury sites in schools.
- Schools enrolled in EduMaintenance receive scheduled servicing, condition reporting, and a prioritised maintenance roadmap, with Must Have Maintenance providing trade-qualified servicing and regional coverage across Victoria.
- EduMaintenance is currently available to Victorian schools, with an initial outdoor safety assessment available by contacting EduMarking directly.
MELBOURNE, Australia, 29 July 2026: EduMarking, a specialist provider of school outdoor environments, has launched EduMaintenance in partnership with Must Have Maintenance, a structured outdoor safety and maintenance program now available to primary and secondary schools across Victoria.
The program addresses a gap in how schools manage outdoor spaces. Most school grounds are serviced reactively, with sandpits, turf, mulch, and play areas attended to only when problems become visible. By that point, wear is advanced, safety risks have compounded, and rectification costs are higher than they would have been under a planned maintenance schedule. EduMaintenance is designed to move schools from reactive to planned, with regular on-site servicing across the key outdoor surface categories.
According to Safe Work Australia, falls from height and falls on the same level remain among the most common causes of serious injury claims in public environments. For schools, outdoor play areas represent one of the highest-frequency injury sites, particularly where impact-absorbing surfaces such as mulch are not regularly maintained. Mulch that has compacted or reduced in depth below equipment no longer functions as a protective surface, creating fall-risk conditions that are not always visible during routine supervision.
Under the EduMaintenance program, schools receive scheduled servicing for sandpits, turf, mulch, and outdoor play areas, supported by condition reporting and a prioritised maintenance roadmap. The partnership with Must Have Maintenance brings trade-qualified servicing capability and regional coverage across Victoria, complementing EduMarking's existing expertise in playground design and outdoor learning environments.
"Schools put real money into their outdoor spaces, but without a maintenance plan in place, that investment deteriorates faster than most realise," said Tim Reiter, founder of EduMarking. "EduMaintenance gives schools a structured, managed pathway to keep those spaces safe and functional. We want schools getting ahead of problems, not responding to them after a child has been hurt or a capital replacement is the only option left."
"What we see on-site regularly are surfaces that look fine from a distance but have gone well past the point where they're doing their job," said Lukas James, director of Must Have Maintenance. "Partnering with Edu Marking means schools now have a complete picture, from design and installation through to ongoing care. That continuity is what's been missing for most schools managing outdoor spaces."
EduMaintenance is currently available to schools across Victoria. Schools interested in an initial outdoor safety assessment can contact EduMarking directly.
About us:
About EDU Marking
EDU Marking partners with schools to plan and deliver outdoor improvements built for daily use and long-term results. Its services span playground markings, outdoor seating and design, civil works and surfaces, musical instruments, and maintenance, providing schools with a single, structured partner for their outdoor environments.
About Must Have Maintenance
Must Have Maintenance is a Victorian-based maintenance services provider specialising in outdoor and commercial environments. The company delivers scheduled servicing programs for schools, councils, and public facilities, with a focus on safety compliance, surface longevity, and practical, trade-qualified care.
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