Swimming Australia to develop new National Inclusion Framework

Swimming Australia is marking Social Inclusion week and today's International Day of People with a Disability, by turning its focus to being proactive in its endeavour to ensure all Australians have the opportunity to participate in swimming and aquatic activities.

In order to deliver best inclusive practice, Swimming Australia is currently developing a National Inclusive Swimming Framework as part of a strategic commitment to guarantee the sport is accessible and welcoming to Australians who typically experience disadvantage when it comes to getting involved in sport and physical activity.

The new concept is based on seven pillars of inclusion; access, attitude, choice, partnerships, participation, policy and opportunities which were developed by Play by the Rules.

The idea of the Framework is that it becomes an important practical tool to help the swimming and aquatic community identify how it can be more inclusive of people with a disability and people from different cultural backgrounds.

Swimming Australia Chief Executive Mark Anderson said it was important that everyone could enjoy swimming in an environment characterised by fairness, safety and respect.

Anderson explained "swimming is a sport of national importance so ensuring all Australians have the opportunity to get involved is vital.

"This new Framework is an important evolution in Swimming Australia's inclusion strategy and will shape Swimming Australia's future operations and planning in this area.

"The Framework is designed to become an essential tool to assist organisations in their planning and operations, as well as provide a practical tool for clubs, learn to swim centres and other aquatic organisations to ensure our sport reflects our community values."

To assist in the development of the Framework, Swimming Australia will begin hosting a seven part webinar series this week, with each part focussing on one of the Pillars of Inclusion. The series will also offer the opportunity for the wider swimming and aquatics community to contribute to the Framework.

The webinar series will begin this week and those interested in making a contribution or learning more about the Framework are invited to contact Swimming Australia.

Webinar details (all webinars take place at 3.30 pm AEDT):

Webinar 1: Access How to get there and get in! Friday, 6th December

Webinar 2: Attitudes How willing are you to make it happen? Monday 9th December

Webinar 3: Choice What can you do? Wednesday 11th December

Webinar 4: Partnerships Who will you work with? Friday 13th December

Webinar 5: Communication Who will you tell? Monday 16th December

Webinar 6: Policy How are you responsible? Wednesday 18th December

Webinar 7: Opportunities What do you want to do? Friday 20th December

The webinars are expected to run for 30 minutes.

For more information go to www.swimming.org.au

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