The festive season will come early for a group of children in hospitals across Australia, as Amazon.com.au and the Starlight Children’s Foundation today appoints them to become official toy testers – the Amazon Playmakers – by reviewing Amazon.com.au’s top 100 holiday toy list.

The Amazon Playmakers will review and provide their expert toy tester opinions on Amazon.com.au’s top 100 holiday toys, which will be curated into an Amazon Playmakers toy catalogue to help Australians with their holiday shopping for the little ones in their lives.

For every toy purchased from the Amazon.com.au Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales (29 November – December 2) that is featured in the Amazon Playmakers catalogue, Amazon Australia will donate $5 donation to Starlight Children’s Foundation per toy bought in addition to $40,000 of toys, games and crafts that will be donated to the Starlight Express Rooms.

Amazon Playmaker ambassador and Australian singer, Johnny Ruffo, made the first special delivery of toys to Randwick Children’s Hospital in Sydney including toys such as Disney Frozen, LEGOâ and Barbie sets, scooters and various classic games for the Playmakers Catalogue.

Matt Furlong, Country Manager of Amazon.com.au said, “We are incredibly proud to continue supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation through the release of our Amazon Playmakers toy catalogue that gives back this holiday season. We hope that the opportunity to become an official toy tester helps brighten the holidays for these children, and we look forward to hearing their expert opinions.”

Louise Baxter, Chief Executive Officer of the Starlight Children’s Foundation added, “The work Starlight does across Australia is only made possible through community support, so we’re thrilled to be working with Amazon Australia for the holidays. For Starlight to be able to give the opportunity to play with the season’s top toys and be given the official title of ‘Playmaker’ will add something very special to the festive season for these sick kids at a time when need it most.”

Johnny Ruffo also commented: “As someone who knows the ups and downs of being in-and-out of hospital, I’m honoured to join in on this initiative and highlight the amazing work that the Starlight Children’s Foundation does. It’s an awesome selection of toys for kids of all ages and I can’t wait to see some of their favourites included in the catalogue and soon under trees across the country.”

This week, the top 100 toys will also be delivered to Amazon Playmakers at Royal Children’s Hospital (VIC), Queensland Children’s Hospital (QLD), Perth Children’s Hospital (WA), Women’s and Children’s Hospital (SA) and Royal Darwin Hospital (NT).

The Amazon Playmakers catalogue will be available on amazon.com.au from mid-November, giving time for Australians to read the Amazon Playmakers’ toy reviews ahead of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.