Accessible programs

Access for All Abilities Play (AAA Play) is a free information and referral service to assist people of all ages with a disability to become involved in sport and active recreation.

With personal assistance from AAA Play, you can discover a new sporting challenge. Our Active Merri-bek leisure centres are featured on the AAA Play website, where you can discover the huge amount of sports and active recreation activities close to your home and available for people of all abilities.

Alternatively, you can give them a call on 1800 AAA VIC (1800 222 842) to find out more.

We pride ourselves on providing programs and opportunities to people with disabilities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Regardless of your ability, age, cultural background, fears or phobias there is a class just for you. The Access and Inclusion Program encourages community participation and strives for learning outcomes that include:

• water familiarisation;
• water safety;
• skill development;
• personal development;
• appropriate transition and integration.

Should you fit the criteria, you or your child may be eligible for YMCA Open Doors funding.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

The Attendant Support Initiative (ASI) is a service providing people with additional needs an opportunity to book an Attendant Support Worker to assist them at our centres.

ASI staff can assist service users with the following:

• mobility and transfers;
• use of the gym including specialised equipment;
• entry and exit into the centre pools and assistance while in the pool;
• use of accessible change rooms including personal care.

Centre providers

The program is available at the Active Merri-bek Aquatic and Leisure centres:

• Brunswick Baths;
• Coburg Leisure Centre;
• Oak Park Sports and Aquatic Centre.

How to access this service

New clients first need to register as a user of the Attendant Support Initiative (ASI) program and complete a Service User Profile.

This means you need to:

1. Download a form (PDF version or Word version) or pick up a form from one of the above Active Merri-bek centres. 
2. Complete the form and submit to one of the four relevant centre above.*
3. Once this form is complete and assessed you are able to book a session at one of our centres listed above.

*This provides program staff with the information needed to ensure you get the most out of your sessions and that a safe environment can be provided during your sessions. Information collected in the form is completely confidential and used only by ASI program staff for the purposes of the service. Information collected includes:

• type and level of your disability;
• your independence and personal care requirements;
• behaviours that may affect your sessions;
• emergency and medical details;
• your preferred activities and individual goals;
• information on facilities available at each centre.

Booking a session

When making an Attendant Support Initiative (ASI) booking, at least 48 hours notice must be provided. If possible, we recommend you provide more than 48 hours notice as this enables the centre to confirm that an Attendant Support Worker is available and to finalise the booking.

Bookings are finalised within 24 hours. Where the requested time is unavailable other alternative times that a support worker is available will be discussed with you.

Fees

There is an initial $15.00 administration fee to become a registered user of the Attendant Support Initiative program. Fees for ASI sessions are $31.00 per hour with a minimum booking length of one hour.

Active Merri-bek is committed to ensuring that barriers to participation are reduced for those in need. All centres offer concessional pricing and take part in the Companion Card Program, which means a person with a disability does not have to pay the entry fee for the carer that comes with them.

Active Merri-bek offers several memberships and programs to help those in our community who are least likely or unable to participate.

Active Merri-bek is committed to ensuring that barriers to participation are reduced for those in need.

Eligible Merri-bek community members are able to access reduced-cost or free Active Merri-Bek centre memberships through several support streams.

These include:

• Asylum Seeker Membership;
• Concession Support Membership;
• Participation Support Membership.

Active Merri-bek centres also provide low cost or free community programs through YMCA Open Doors funding. Find out more about our memberships.