CQUniversity is hoping to understand how better access to beaches in the Bundaberg Region could help older residents and those with disabilities to be more physically active.
A team of physiotherapy and occupational therapy researchers are conducting a beach accessibility research project titled U-Beach: Tides of Change.
They are now seeking input from local residents over the age of 65 and those living with a disability or mobility limitation.
An anonymous survey is being conducted to understand this cohort’s physical activity, patterns of beach use, challenges accessing beaches and how beach access could potentially be improved in the region.
Physiotherapy lecturer Sasha Job said information collected in the survey will enable researchers to identify how local beach access can be improved to promote physical activity and improved health and wellbeing.
“Following the analysis of this survey, information will be provided to Bundaberg Regional Council who have now committed funds to improve local beach access,” Ms Job said.
“By conducting this survey we hope to determine the benefits, barriers and facilitators of beach access for older adults and people living with a disability or mobility limitation.
“Information collected will provide key data to understand the diversity of our community, physical activity levels and beach usage patterns, and will enable the identification of barriers and facilitators to both travelling to the beach and accessing the beach and surrounds.
“We are hoping that we can have our first accessible beach in time for summer but will be dependent on the community survey and also the impact of COVID-19 which is causing some delays in the project.”
For a full participant information sheet and further information about this study, contact Sasha Job at CQUniversity, via email s.job@cqu.edu.au or telephone 07 4150 7702.
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