Captivate: local participation for all

Recreation & Sport Network is one of four partners in a project that commenced last year with funding from the WA Department of Sport and Recreation and WA Disability Services Commission.

Rather than fund four separate but related projects, DSR and DSC asked the four organisations if they would consider working together as partners on one large project that would encompass the aims of each. The organisations agreed to this and 'Captivate: Local Participation for All' commenced in mid 2006.

The funding that led to the Captivate project was made available by DSR and DSC to organisations involved in sport and recreation that wished to respond to the broad guidelines contained within Fair Play: Strategic framework for inclusive sport and recreation, produced by DSR and DSC in 2006. This strategic framework outlines a way forward for all those involved in sport and recreation to increase and develop inclusive sport and recreation provision within local communities.

Captivate project: stage 1

The project's first stage has been completed, which involved documenting existing inclusive sport and recreation practices, noting the key features of those that are successful and those that have experienced difficulties.

A literature review was completed in March 2007.This document is easy to read and covers:

• The development and current thinking about ‘inclusion’, particularly in relation to people with a disability.
• Opportunities, capacity and challenges to local government as an inclusive sport and recreation provider.
• Benefits of exercise for people with a disability — and a specific review on evidence relevant to physical disability.
• Barriers and enablers to participation and inclusion in community sport and recreation.
• Recent evidence of successful inclusive sport and recreation in a local government context and the basis for success.
• A brief review of current thinking on adult learning principles and practice.

An environmental scan has just been completed and has involved a series of state-wide workshops and questionaires. Local governments, consumers and service providers were asked about participation, including sucesses and barriers to inclusion. 

Captivate project: stage 2

The project’s second stage is now underway and involves:

• Writing, designing and producing an Inclusion Toolkit of information for local government sport and recreation facilities, in particular front-line staff, on legislation, inclusive roles and responsibilities, policy templates, good practice and other issues raised through stage 1.
• Developing a Sport ‘n’ Rec Training Package material for community recreation facilities and staff, detailing how to provide a service to people with physical disabilities accessing gymnasiums, fitness classes and aquatic activities. This package will be included in the Inclusion Toolkit.
• Piloting and evaluating the Inclusion Toolkit and Sport ‘n’ Rec Training Package through an education and training process.

Captivate project: stage 3

The project’s third stage is to:

• Develop a policy framework based on information collected and legislation that impacts on local government.
• Recommend policy changes to assist local governments in their inclusive sport and recreation practices.

 

 

• Captivate literature review
• Captivate environmental scan
• Captivate information bulletin
• Captivate inclusion toolkit