"SPORT4ALL" ACCESS AND INCLUSION PROGRAM - OUTCOMES AND LEARNINGS · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                             9 JUNE 2026



The role also supported the Sports and Active Lifestyles team with implementation and ongoing use
of the Cerge accessibility platform across key facilities, including Noosa Leisure Centre, Noosa
Aquatic Centre, Cooroy Badminton and Noosa Tennis Club. This improved the accuracy and visibility
of accessibility information and enhanced the user experience for people with disability.

Research and Innovation

The Inclusion Coach role supported two University of the Sunshine Coast Occupational Therapy
Honours projects, providing practical insight to ensure outcomes were relevant to local community
needs. The projects focused on adaptive sports equipment access and sensory spaces for inclusive
events.

Key contributions included:
•   Identifying local priorities to shape project direction
•   Providing practical guidance and real-world context
•   Reviewing solutions to ensure applicability across Council and community settings
This work resulted in:
•   Innovative, locally relevant inclusion solutions
•   Improved access to resources supporting participation
•   Increased capability across Council and partner organisations
It also strengthened partnerships with the tertiary sector, supported workforce development, and
overall contributed to a pipeline of future-focused, evidence-informed inclusion initiatives.

Key Learnings

This program marked Noosa Council’s first dedicated access and inclusion program, providing
valuable insights that will inform and strengthen future action planning and programming. The scale
and breadth of outcomes delivered under a part-time (0.6 FTE) role demonstrates a high return on
investment relative to program cost. Collectively, the outcomes represent a shift from ad hoc
inclusion efforts to a coordinated approach, helping to position Noosa as an emerging leader in
inclusive sport and recreation.

What worked well:
•   Importance of recruiting someone with lived experience and expertise
•   Embedding the role within a Council context
•   Positive impact externally and internally of having an access and inclusion point of contact and
    champion in the organisation
•   Development of strong relationships with clubs, schools and organisations
•   Support from expert, external advisors
•   Model and flexibility of program delivery
•   Ongoing, tailored and practical support to ensure realistic and sustainable change
Improvements for future planning:
•   Earlier and more coordinated integration with internal Council teams
•   Allocation of dedicated resources to support development and implementation of programs
•   Stronger cross-department collaboration to embed inclusion in planning and operations