The initiative provides residents and visitors with free access to beach matting, floating beach wheelchairs (St Kilda and Port Melbourne), and an all-terrain powered beach wheelchair (St Kilda) throughout the summer season.
These services are designed for people with permanent or temporary disabilities, or reduced mobility, and are supported by the dedicated teams at St Kilda and Port Melbourne Life Saving Clubs.
St Kilda resident and regular user of the Accessible Beaches program, Larry Rosenzweig, described the services as “amazing”.
Larry uses the Floating Wheelchair to take a dip in the ocean.
“With the assistance of my carer, I can get into the water safely and once I’m in, I just jump off and can swim,” he said.
He also enjoys hitting the sand thanks to the motorised wheelchair.
“The major benefit is that you can actually go on the beach sand and right along the water’s edge – you get that amazing view of the sea, the smell of the sea, and the salt air,” Larry said.
The Accessible Beaches program runs from November to April. For more information, and to make a free booking, visit: Accessible Beaches Program.
