Key Takeaways
- The first fully-accessible beach in Australia has been launched in Frankston, allowing people with disabilities to enjoy the beach in the same way as others.
- The beach features 70 meters of beach matting, daybeds with cabanas, beach wheelchairs, beach walkers, and a hoist to support transfers between wheelchairs.
- The pilot program is the result of a nearly 10-year effort by Accessible Beaches Australia founder Shane Hryhorec, who was inspired by a photo of a beach mat and a visit to the world’s most accessible beach in France.
- The program aims to promote inclusion and encourage people with disabilities, as well as the ageing population, to visit the beach and enjoy the benefits of beach activities.
- The success of the pilot program is credited to the support of Frankston City Council and the local community, who raised $200,000 to bring the project to fruition.
Introduction to Accessible Beaches
A quick dip to cool off on a scorching summer’s day, or a casual wade through gentle waves with family and friends, is a pastime deeply rooted in the Australian experience. However, for people with disabilities, accessing the beach can be a significant challenge. Until recently, Carly Burns, a 38-year-old woman from Frankston, struggled to get past the beach car park due to her spina bifida, which has required her to use a wheelchair for most of her life. But with the launch of the first fully-accessible beach in Australia, Burns and many others like her can now enjoy the beach in the same way as others.
The Launch of the Accessible Beach Pilot
The accessible beach pilot was launched on December 5, and features 70 meters of beach matting running to the water’s edge, allowing wheelchairs to traverse the sand. The beach also includes daybeds with cabanas, five beach wheelchairs, two beach walkers, and a hoist to support transfers between wheelchairs. Out of the 160 accessible beaches in Australia, Frankston is the first to have staff and volunteers to help beachgoers enter and exit the water. For participants like Chris Wiggett, swimming at the beach was an opportunity more than seven years in the making. With the help of a volunteer, Wiggett was able to put her feet in the water and walk along the sand, a experience that brought her to tears.
The Mission to Create a Fully Accessible Beach
The mission to create a fully accessible beach in Australia was a dream first imagined nearly 10 years ago by Accessible Beaches Australia founder Shane Hryhorec. Hryhorec grew up in South Australia, where he spent his days patrolling Grange Beach as a surf lifesaver. But after breaking his neck in a swimming pool accident in 2007, Hryhorec became an incomplete quadriplegic aged 21. After his accident, he says the beach quickly became a place he avoided, but a photo of a beach mat and a visit to the world’s most accessible beach in France inspired him to create Accessible Beaches Australia. Hryhorec hopes that the inclusion of daybeds and volunteer staff can also encourage the ageing population to visit the beach, a sight he said "warmed [his] heart" in France.
The Push for Accessible Beaches Nationwide
The push for accessible beaches nationwide is gaining momentum, with Hryhorec crediting much of the success of the summer pilot program to Frankston City Council, which worked with the local community to raise $200,000 to bring it to fruition. Frankston City councillor Kris Bolam said he hopes the pilot "becomes the spark that inspires similar programs across Australia". Hryhorec and Burns share the same goal, with Hryhorec hoping that every patrolled beach in the entire country has a level of accessibility on the beach, just like in Frankston. Burns is looking forward to her first summer at the beach, where she can join her young nieces and nephews in the water rather than having to just sit back and watch.
The Future of Accessible Beaches
The pilot program will run on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 10:30am and 2:30pm, from December 6 and finishing February 28, located between the Frankston Pier and Kananook Creek. The success of the program will be evaluated, and Hryhorec hopes that it will become a permanent fixture in Frankston and inspire other beaches across Australia to follow suit. With the support of local councils and communities, the future of accessible beaches in Australia looks promising, and people with disabilities can look forward to enjoying the beach in the same way as others. The launch of the accessible beach pilot is a significant step towards promoting inclusion and encouraging people with disabilities to visit the beach and enjoy the benefits of beach activities.
