Collaborate

The City of Ballarat owns and operates Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre (BALC). The council and BALC team have collaborated with a range of organisations to build and trial initiatives for people with autism.

Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) initiated a relationship with BALC which led to the organisations working together to identify opportunities to improve inclusion. The collaboration expanded to include Ballarat Autism Network and Sports Central (the Regional Sports Assembly for the Central Highlands). The organisations worked together to design a trial of sensory-friendly sessions. During the trial, sessions were held each weekday afternoon and Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Lights were dimmed and noise was reduced through the pool hall, gymnastics hall, and reception area. BALC also trialled sensory balance play and water play sessions for children. Based on the trial experience and positive community feedback, BALC decided to make permanent changes. BALC no longer plays radio in the pool hall at any time. The City of Ballarat has also decided not to play the radio at its outdoor pools.

The Grampians Regional Communication Service provided inclusive communication and ‘Easy English’ training to the BALC team, and the Service was engaged to develop communication boards for the centre’s aquatics and gym programs.

Ballarat Autism Network worked with BALC to create material to prepare patrons for a visit to the centre.

Further collaboration involved a group of swim teachers undertaking Autism Swim training, and BALC becoming an Autism Swim Accredited Centre.

Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre is owned and operated by Hume City Council.

In 2018, Hume City Council and Victoria Police collaborated to deliver an inclusion program at the Centre. The program was supported by funding from the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet. It also featured involvement from Life Saving Victoria (LSV), Northern Community Legal Service, and the Country Fire Authority.

The initiative was targeted at culturally and linguistically diverse women from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds. In light of the number of drownings in Victoria in recent years, a focus on swimming skills was seen as a good way to attract participants to the program.

Key objectives included increasing community engagement and participation, educating participants about policing and legal issues, giving women confidence to interact with police, and teaching participants to swim.

The collaboration of a range of organisations gave the program broad impact, and the forty participants received information and skills in relation to diverse issues. Activities included:

• group discussions with Victoria Police and other agencies covering policing issues, family violence rights, and fire safety;
• a learn-to-swim program;
• first aid training, including obtaining qualifications from LSV;
• a beach safety program delivered by LSV; and
• a ‘beach experience’ day at Altona Beach.

The Broadmeadows Aquatic and Leisure Centre team received positive feedback from participants. Survey data also showed improved knowledge about Victoria Police and increased confidence in the water.

Belgravia Foundation’s ‘All In!’ program aims to build swim teachers’ confidence and capacity to welcome, support and include people with disability and of diversity into aquatic experiences. It includes the use of online training modules and on-site support through mentoring.

The program has involved broad collaboration. It was developed by the Belgravia Foundation in partnership with Belgravia Leisure and Swimming Australia. A 2021 proof-of-concept field trial featured training resources provided by Special Olympics Australia and Royal Life Saving Australia, and funding from a Sport Australia Move It AUS grant.

In addition to this collaboration with large organisations, the program involved Belgravia Leisure venues engaging with their own local communities. For example, the Knox Leisureworks aquatics team collaborated with a local organisation, Eastern Migrant Information centre. This helped the venue to connect to local residents, and children from the local Zomi community took part in swimming lessons during the All In! trial. Research has shown that being unaware of aquatics and recreation programs is a major barrier to participation among underrepresented groups. Connecting with local organisations can be a great way to raise awareness.

Casey Stadium, located in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, is owned by the City of Casey and managed by YMCA Victoria. The venue has collaborated with a number of organisations to design and host wheelchair sport competitions.

In 2018, Casey Stadium partnered with Disability Recreation Victoria to build a focus on wheelchair sport.

In 2019, Casey Stadium launched Australia’s first social Wheelchair Softball competition in collaboration with Softball Australia. The ‘Social 7s’ competition provides an opportunity for people with disability and people without disability to participate equally; players of all ages, genders and abilities play while seated in a wheelchair.

Collaboration was a key enabler of the competition. The organisations involved in designing and promoting the program included YMCA Victoria, the City of Casey, Softball Australia, Softball Victoria, Disability Sport and Recreation Victoria, AAA Play, Casey Softball Association and the Narre Warren Softball Club. This collaboration included Softball Australia training Casey Stadium staff to enable them to umpire games.

The stadium’s programs have expanded even further to include a social Wheelchair Rugby competition.