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More Victorians with a disability will be moving more often for better health, thanks to the recent partnership between YMCA Victoria and Disability Sport & Recreation (DSR).

With around one in five people identifying as having a disability, the partnership commits to increasing the opportunities for all Victorians to increase their physical activity and community engagement.

Wade Mackrell, General Manager Recreation at YMCA Victoria, explained that the organisation’s ambition was to give people with disability the platform to shape program execution and to remove the barriers to participation, stating “YMCA Victoria-managed recreation and camping facilities already run a range of accessible and inclusive programs, but we believe we can do more. 

“Our partnership with DSR will amplify the voice of people with a disability within our organisation. 

“By directly engaging with people with a disability, we can better meet their needs, whether that be through employment, volunteering or simply participating in a program at one of our facilities."

Richard Amon, Chief Executive of Disability Sport & Recreation said the partnership would create a space where ideas could be shared and evidence gathered to demonstrate the impact of the programs and services on the quality of life experienced by people with a disability. 

Amon added “we are working to enhance the voice of people with disability, to deliver greater choice, access and participation in sport and recreation. On a purely practical level, this partnership will give people with disability greater access to their local YMCA-managed facility. 

“But more importantly, it provides the framework for us to measure the benefits of participating in physical activity on a signification portion of the Victorian population so often forgotten by mainstream health research.

“We also look forward to working with YMCA to advance a number of projects including a leisure facility disability audit tool and a disability sport hub.”

Image: Richard Amon, Chief Executive of Disability Sport & Recreation (left) and Wade Mackrell, General Manager Recreation at YMCA Victoria agree the new partnership.

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