Beach Access Days

Whether your goal is to participate in ocean pool hydrotherapy, broaden your horizons on what is possible when living with a disability or you would just like to access the ocean, beach and be outdoors, ARC Beach Access days might be for you.

This Summer we are hoping to expand our Beach Access days to include the Southerland Shire as well as the Northern Beaches. Places are available now to book for Collaroy Beach, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Northern Beaches Council provides free to rent pool access wheelchairs and beach access chairs to people with a disability so they can enjoy the benefits of getting back onto the beach. https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/recreation-area/collaroy-accessibility-precinct

ARC’s Exercise Physiologist’s Jason King and Sarah Markland will be running the beach days in Collaroy and are here to support you along the way.

Places available on Thursday 30th November & Friday 8th December at Collaroy Ocean Pool.

The session goals will be led by you. The focus can be to continue working on your exercise goals in an outdoor environment or we can simply support you to experience the psychological and social benefits of accessing the beach and ocean. We can also help to build you and your support team’s confidence to continue these activities independently.

• The Hydrotherapy sessions will take place in the ocean pool at Collaroy beach using the pool access chair (if required). 
• For safety reasons, all sessions will be run by an Exercise Physiologist and an Allied Health Assistant. If possible it is recommended that you please bring a carer, support worker or family member that is willing to get in the pool to assist with each session.
• The session will be 1 hour in total which includes assistance getting in and out of the pool, meaning we usually aim for approx. 40 minutes in the water.
• Please aim to arrive at least 15 minutes before your session time to begin preparing.
• You can access the pool with use of the chair and ramp and depending on your mobility we may conduct the session in or out of the chair once you are safely in the water.
• The session is designed to continue working on your exercise goals as well as allow you to experience the psychological and social benefits of accessing the beach and ocean pool.
• We will assess the weather forecast in the days leading up to your session. If it is predicted that conditions will be unsafe or if conditions change on the day, your EP may get in contact with you to re-schedule the session.
• Should you need to cancel the session due to illness or any other reasons please follow normal ARC procedures and call reception on 9906 7777. Please see ARC’s cancellation policy for more details.

• Your carer, family member or support worker.
• Any mobility aids / wheelchairs you would usually use for outdoor mobility.
• Sunscreen, hat and appropriate swimming costume for sun protection.
• Water bottles
• Towel
• Change of dry clothes
• Medications

• There are 2 accessible bathrooms*, one of which has a shower and an electric hoist for transfers and an adjustable table for changing. NB If you require use of the hoist, you MUST bring your own sling.
• There is disabled parking and ramps to access the bathrooms and the pool.
• There are two different wheelchairs available to rent. The Pool Access Chair* and may also be a Beach Access Chair.
• The Beach Access Chair can be used to access the beach via a sand ramp however this chair is unable to go in the water and this will be done outside of the session time with your support worker.
• There are also accessible picnic areas and plenty of café’s in the area so feel free to turn your session into a full day out.
• You may want to scope out the area prior to your first visit so you are well prepared.

Four years ago, Tho suffered a Hypoxic Brain Injury resulting in a loss of coordination of his trunk and limbs (ataxia) and is dependent on using a walker in order to mobilise safely.

Prior to his injury one of Tho’s favourite hobbies was snorkelling which is why he decided to give ARC’s beach access a try! Tho has now attended 2 sessions in the ocean pool at Collaroy and has thoroughly enjoyed getting back in the water. He has started working on coordination of swimming strokes with the use of floats and assistance from Jason, ARC’s Exercise Physiologist. Tho has also started attending his local pool with his carer in order to get more practice!

His next ocean pool session will involve practicing snorkelling. With continued practice and support from ARC we hope to see Tho gain the skills and confidence to resume his favourite activity – snorkelling in open water!