Sasha Job

This project will develop and evaluate a collaborative and community-driven model of accessibility for beach environments (The Universal Beach Access Hub: U-BEACH). Through government, industry and community collaboration, U-BEACH will offer a socially innovative platform from which interventions that encourage physical activity can be implemented. Benefits, barriers and facilitators to beach access will first be investigated and considered in a model of beach accessibility designed to improve health outcomes. The relationship between improved beach accessibility and physical activity rates in individuals with mobility limitations will then be investigated.

This is the first study to develop and evaluate the impact of a universal beach accessibility program (U-BEACH) on the health and well-being of Australians with mobility limitations. This will offer a unique perspective into recreational accessibility from the context of community access and inclusion for all individuals. U-BEACH represents an innovative and community-integrated health initiative that will drive social change to improve physical activity rates within the community.