Access All Abilities program going swimmingly well at MOVE Leisure Centres

The Access All Abilities (AAA) Swim and Social Program welcomes people of all abilities to participate in a variety of aquatic activities. Since the commencement of the program in January 2023 the swim classes have soared in popularity within the community.

 

Thanks to a Government grant received last year, community members living with a disability have been provided increased opportunities to participate in swimming and aquatic recreation activities across our MOVE Aquatic and Fitness facilities. The program offers lessons and social swimming for community members living with a physical disability, intellectual disability, autism, vision and hearing impairment, age-related disabilities, and psychosocial disability. The program also provides the freedom for the participants to choose which sessions and locations they would like to attend.

Belgravia Leisure and Swimming Victoria has partnered with Moonee Valley City Council to deliver the AAA Swim and Social Program, in collaboration with Swimming Victoria, Water Polo Victoria, Life Saving Victoria and Austswim.

During its pilot year, the program has been warmly received within the community. Moonee Valley strives to create a fair city where everyone feels safe, included, is healthy, and has access to community services.

 

An inclusive and adaptive program:

The Access All Abilities program offers classes that cover a variety of activities including:

• Water Safety Activities: Water introduction and familiarization skill development
• Aquacise:  Aqua aerobics in water low-impact exercise
• Water Sports: Beginner-level introductory water polo activities
• Social tea and coffee following the water activities

 

Growing popularity

Participants, carers, and teachers alike are highly recommending the program. Many are grateful for the enriching opportunity AAA delivers to them on a weekly basis.

‘I have enjoyed being part of the access all abilities swim and social program. The program variety has been fantastic in catering for everyone. It has assisted me in providing structure in my life. It gets me out of the house and provides me with an opportunity to participate in various programs and meet with different people with varied lived experiences and challenges. Fatigue is a big issue for me, this program has helped with this, giving me energy and focus to do other things for myself. It can be easy to fall into a less positive routine, daily household tasks that I had lost motivation for, I am now doing.

It has been great to see and be part of connections and relationships growing within the group, socially bringing different people together and seeing this strengthen each week. I have found inspiration from others helping me to cope with my own condition.

I am grateful I have had the opportunity to include this activity as part of my health management and those associated with it as part of my support network.’

– Roberto, participant

 

‘Patrick has benefited greatly from the AAA program which apart from creating a positive social network and team mindset, especially for people with disabilities, goes a long way to reducing stress levels, improving balance and motor skills, enhancing cardiovascular endurance and higher energy levels which in turn leads to a greater level of independence and freedom, thereby boosting confidence and self-esteem. Many thanks to MVCC, Jaye and MOVE for providing this excellent opportunity for Patrick who is enjoying the program immensely and looking forward to the continuation of the same.’

– Greg, on behalf of Patrick a participant

 

‘As an instructor, the AAA program is my favourite moment of the working week. This rings especially true for a someone as fresh as I am to swim instructing: I am given a safe environment to hone my own abilities/knowledge as a teacher while simultaneously rewarded for keeping the tone I am to swim instructing. I have learned not just from my fellow teachers, but also from the participants themselves in how best to share my knowledge in the most ‘me’ way possible. I am definitely a better teacher because of this program and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m a better person as well. This is still a new program and there are still places to grow – one possible way could be to increase the variability of lessons, including different water sports/exercises – and at this rate I believe we’ll get there together. I’m not worried about this program, but I am invested in its continual evolution for the foreseeable future. Long live AAA!’

– Thomas, AAA Swim Teacher

 

This program has recently been nominated for the National Sports & Physical Activity Convention- Sports & Inclusion Award.

 

Joining the program

Please connect with our MOVE Aquatic and Fitness facilities Centres for more information about this program.