I want our organisation to contribute to inclusion in aquatics and recreation. Where do I start?

This guide encourages an evidence-based approach to inclusion in aquatics and recreation. We will encourage your organisation to gain an understanding of who is missing out and why. You can then build strategies to overcome those barriers. 

Improving access to aquatics and recreation

This guide discusses strategies for improving access to aquatics and recreation for ‘underrepresented communities’. We are using this as a shorthand term to refer to:

• groups that have low participation rates in aquatics and recreation relative to their representation in the Victorian community; and
• groups that have low employment and/or leadership rates in the aquatics and recreation industry relative to their representation in the Victorian community.

Groups that may be underrepresented in your aquatics and recreation venues - or in some activities in your venues - include:

• asylum seekers and refugees;
• culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities;
• carers (people who provide unpaid care to a person with disability, chronic health issue, or an older person with care needs);
• First Nations people;
• LGBTIQA+ communities;
• older people;
• people living on low incomes;
• people who are socially, geographically and/or technologically isolated;
• people with disability; and
• women and girls.

Don’t let this list limit you – there are likely to be other groups who don’t participate equally in aquatics and recreation in the communities you operate in.

Why are people missing out?

Victorians can face a number of barriers to participation in aquatics and recreation. Some examples of potential barriers are below. These lists are not intended to be comprehensive, and not all members of these groups will experience these barriers.

People may be part of more than one group, and this can intensify the effect of barriers. For example, compounding barriers can be experienced by women with disability, older people from CALD communities, and people with disability who are geographically isolated.

These lists focus on barriers to participation in aquatic and recreation activities, but many of the barriers will also restrict access to employment in the sector. For example ‘Cost of participation’ can also be read as ‘Cost of participation in the workforce, e.g. the cost of gaining qualifications and other necessary purchases for gaining employment’. Similarly, some people may not consider employment in the sector due to a lack of role models, or a perception that the sector will not welcome them.

Asylum seekers and refugees

• Cost of participation
• Lack of role models
• Language barriers
• Non-inclusive communication and imagery
• Racism and vilification
• Unwelcoming staff and facilities

CALD communities

• Lack of role models
• Language barriers
• Non-inclusive communication and imagery
• Racism and vilification
• Unwelcoming staff and facilities (e.g. a lack of cultural awareness)

Carers

• Competing demands for time and lack of discretionary time
• Cost of participation
• Lack of people to exercise with
• Prioritising care over activities for themselves, and feelings of guilt
• Insufficient or poor quality replacement care
• Unpredictability of demands of caring – it can be difficult for carers to keep routines and timetables

First Nations people

• Lack of cultural inclusiveness
• Non-inclusive communication and imagery
• Ongoing impact of past racist practices (e.g. older people who cannot swim due to past segregation of swimming pools)
• Particularly in some remote and regional areas, lack of facilities and transport
• Perceptions about priorities (e.g. competing family care commitments)
• Racism and vilification
• Unwelcoming staff and facilities

LGBTIQA+ communities

• Anticipation of a lack of acceptance and inclusion
• Concerns regarding safety during use of facilities
• Gender and sexuality discrimination
• Lack of role models
• Provider ignorance of issues associated with the two gender/sex model of sport
• Unwelcoming staff and facilities

Older people

• Cost of participation
• Difficulties in accessing information, booking, membership
• Health/injury concerns
• Lack of transport
• Negative stereotypes/perceptions about physical activity and ageing (both on the part of participants and providers)
• Social isolation
• Staff capability and attitudes

People living on low incomes

• Cost of/access to childcare
• Cost of participation
• Difficulties in accessing information and booking systems (e.g. technological constraints)
• Ineffective communication methods
• Lack of time, for example, due to work (particularly shift work) and family commitments
• Lack of knowledge of subsidies/low cost opportunities
• Lack of transport
• May have had fewer opportunities to build skills
• Providers may only assist those who ask for help, and requirements for being provided with assistance may also be a barrier
• Unwelcoming staff and facilities

People who are socially, geographically and/or technologically isolated

• Difficulties in accessing information and booking systems
• Distance
• Lack of support/encouragement
• Lack of/cost of transport

People with disability

• Communication barriers and lack of inclusive and accessible communication
• Cost of participation, including cost of transport, equipment and support workers
• Inaccessible facilities
• Lack of accessible equipment
• Lack of accessible programs
• Lack of accessible transport
• Lack of encouragement
• Lack of information about opportunities
• Lack of role models
• Lack of self-confidence, which may be linked to negative experiences of sport and recreation at an early age
• Lack of support at facilities
• Limited skills of staff
• Negative community and provider perceptions/attitudes about disability and physical activity

Women and girls

• Body image issues
• Community expectations about participation (e.g. regarding what activities are suitable for women)
• Competing demands for time, including a lack of discretionary time and a lack of support to manage competing social, study and work commitments
• Cost of participation
• Cultural norms (e.g. some women may not want to swim with men)
• Fear of judgment about appearance, ability, and priorities
• Discomfort, unease and concern about being watched or leered at by others
• Lack of encouragement and lack of opportunity to acquire physical skills

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