Become a member

Diversity, Inclusion in Leisure Forum logo with an icon of 5 humans, holding hands raised in the air. Each person is a different colour, starting on the left they are blue, purple pink, red and orange. The subtitle says "collaboration towards inclusion"

2025 Digital Delegate Pack

View the 2025 Program

Inclusive Aquatics & Recreation: A Guide to Increasing Participation by Underrepresented Communities

AUSactive ADEIAG Overview

Inclusive Council Leisure Centre Network

Presenters

Darren Allen

Darren is an Area Manager at Belgravia Lesiure, with his professional career spanning multiple industries including stadium redevelopment, high profile installations, major events and high volume venue management.

View Darren's Briefing Notes

john boland

John is 25-year-old male living with a vision impairment called cone rod dystrophy. He is the Sport4All Inclusion Coach for the City of Melbourne and a blind cricket player for Victoria.

View John's Briefing Notes

PHOEBE DI TOMMASO

Phoebe Di Tommaso is the Community Activation Manager at the BLAF. She has demonstrated expertise in orchestrating initiatives that foster community participation & drive social impact.

View Phoebe's Briefing Notes

LESLEY GRIMES

Lesley is the Centre Manager at Belgravia Leisure Yarra Centre. Lesley also serves on the Yarra Ranges Council Disability Advisory Committee and Positive Aging Reference Group

View Lesley's Briefing Notes

JAYE HANSFORD

As Communtiy Engagement and Inclusion Coordinator at Belgravia Leisure, Jaye has more than 12 years of expertise in the leisure and recreation industry, specializing in access, inclusion, and community engagement.

View Jaye's Briefing Notes

PAIGE KRISTALYN

Equipped with a degree in Public Health & Health Promotion & a Graduate Certificate in HR Management, Paige commenced with Aligned Leisure in 2016, and has been Cardinia Leisure Manager since 2019.

View Paige & Harpreet's Briefing Notes

ADAM LUSCOMBE

As General Manager of the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre, Adam is a strategic leader dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and Indigenous participation in sport. He fosters equity, reconciliation, and lasting community impact through all he does with SAALC.

View Adam's Briefing Notes

DR. HARPREET SINGH

Dr. Harpreet Singh Kandra is community leader and volunteer passionate about social justice, multiculturalism, health and the environment.

He has been recognised with the 2019 Australian of the Year Award by the Cardinia Shire Council; Federation University Vice-Chancellors Award for Contributions to Student Learning in 2020; and being recognised on the inaugural Victorian Multicultural Commission Honour Roll in 2022. He has been the Community Ambassador for Sustainability Victoria, Department of Transport and Planning and on the consultative committee of Environment Protection Authority Victoria and recently gained substantial media coverage for his water safety program in Cardinia.

He graduated from Monash University with a doctoral qualification and is currently Senior Lecturer at Federation University.

View Harpreet & Paige's Briefing Notes

RUBY SOUTHAM

As Community Engagement Coordinator, Ruby leads Access & Inclusion at Belgravia Leisure creating tailored programs that foster social connection, activity, & wellbeing. Passionate about advocacy, she champions inclusive communities.

View Ruby's Briefing Notes

DR. JUSTIN TroUNSON

Dr Justin Trounson is a proud Dharug man, Indigenous Clinical Psychologist and Wellbeing and Community Programs Psychologist for the Richmond Football Club (RFC). As part of this role with RFC, he provides mental health and wellbeing support to Korin Gamadji and the Bachar Houli Foundation.

Justin is also a Clinical Psychologist, Director of Connected Minds Psychology in Collingwood and board member of First Peoples' Health and Wellbeing, one of Victoria's largest Aboriginal-led primary health services in Victoria. He is an Adjunct Research Fellow at Swinburne University and leads the Social and Emotional Wellbeing support program for the Yoorrook Justice Commission.

Justin has worked within private and public mental health services and provides consultation to organisations in relation to creating and maintaining culturally safe spaces and practices.

View Justin's Briefing Notes

kara Monaghan

Senior Business Operations Manager VIC/TAS at Belgravia Leisure

View Kara's Briefing Notes

LISA WILLIAMS

Lisa Williams is an Aquatics Manager at Clublinks with 15+ years in swim education. Dedicated to access, inclusion, and empowering kids, families, and team members, including those returning to the workforce, to thrive in the water.

View Lisa's Briefing Notes

Panellists

WORKFORCE Panel

AMY CROSS

Amy holds over 15 years of industry experience leading large teams across multiple facilities to deliver programs and services to the community to achieve increased health and wellbeing outcomes. Amy is currently Area Manager at MOVE Moonee Valley.

View Amy's Briefing Notes

TAYLA PALLAS

Tayla is a leader in community engagement in the aquatics sector. She co-designed the Inclusive Aquatics and Recreation Guide and drives workforce diversity to create more inclusive aquatic spaces.

View Tayla's Briefing Notes

AYLIE SPENCE

Holding a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and MBA, Aylie is now approaching 20 years experience in the industry. Aylie has worked across a range of roles including Venue Management, Regional Management and Transitions, and is currently Transition Manager at Belgravia Leisure.

View Aylie's Briefing Notes

UNIVERSITY RELATED PROJECTS

Thea baker

Thea is a Graduate Researcher & Clinical Counsellor and Psychotherapist at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University. Thea's PhD research seeks to support victim-survivors of intimate partner violence, borne from a desire to find evidence-based ways of addressing trauma 'therapy' a little differently.

View Thea's Briefing Notes

BETHANY HOWARD

A lecturer at Monash Univeristy, Bethany coordinates and provides strategic direction for industry-based education within Monash's School of Public Health. Her passion for public health began with physical activity research.

DR. rachel kennedy

Dr. Rachel Kennedy is a physiotherapist and research fellow at La Trobe University. Her research aims to promote physical activity participation among children and young people with disability.

View Rachel's Briefing Notes

DR. RYAN STORR

Dr. Ryan Storr is a Lecturer in the Sport Innovation Research Group at Swinburne University and his research interests focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion across sport and movement settings.

View Ryan's Briefing Notes

Event Sponsors

Proud Australian Manufacturer of high quality assistive technology for the Aquatic sector.

Australia's Leading Pool Hoist Manufacturer - Home of the Pelican Pool & Spa Hoist & the Kingfisher Pool Access Seat
Adult Access Change Facility equipment and installations for Aquatic facilities
Platform Lifts, Sling Style Pool Lifts, Aquatic Wheelchairs to meet DDA requirements of Building Code requirements
Custom built Pool Steps to fit any pool
Also servicing commercial clients across Health, Hospital, Hotel, Leisure, Disability, Aged Care and Rehabilitation sectors
NDIS Registered since 2014 to enable aquatic access solutions to people at home

At Para Mobility we aim to provide a seamless customer experience, from the purchasing process, to the products delivered, enabling people’s lives. We manufacture aged care and disability assistive technology to help improve accessibility and mobility for Australians.
It is our exceptional customer service, knowledgeable advice and passion for our products along with the impact they make to our customers that drives us to be leaders in our field.

Event Delivered By

This event is a collaboration of industry organisations. Visit their websites below:

Forum Advisory Committee

Jacqui O'Dwyer	Aligned Leisure
Kathy Parton	Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
Taya Phillips	Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
Sam Bell	Aquatics and Recreation Victoria
Chris Alexander	AUSactive
Dr. Jeff Walkley	Belgravia Foundation
Mel Atkins	Bluefit
Liz Tesone	Disability Sport & Recreation
Carly Sanders	YMCA Victoria