Because every swimmer deserves a space where they feel safe, supported, and seen.
The City of Melbourne has taken a powerful step towards creating more inclusive aquatic spaces by establishing Melbourne City Baths as an Autism Swim Certified Centre.
This milestone reflects the council’s deep commitment to ensuring that neurodivergent people are valued, supported, and empowered across all community programs and services.
Embedding Inclusion in Every Aspect of City Life
Guided by the Inclusive Melbourne Strategy 2022–2025 and Action Plan 2024–2026, the City of Melbourne is focused on removing barriers to participation and celebrating diversity in all forms.
A key element of this strategy is hearing the voices of people with disability, improving access across environments, and upholding the human rights of all individuals.
By partnering with Autism Swim, Melbourne City Baths aims to enhance accessibility for people of all ages and abilities, particularly within the iconic facility. The swimming instructors bring empathy, understanding, and lived experience that help create a supportive and enriching learning environment.
Tarryn Clancy, Swim School Team Leader at Melbourne City Baths is a champion of creating cultures of inclusion within the team.
“Diversity and Inclusion is at the forefront of our people and programs. Everyone deserves access to aquatic education in a way that suits them. Strategies such as inclusive hiring processes, professional development, and including diverse voices in decision making ensure we are fostering positive team culture and meeting our communities’ needs.”
Upskilling for Greater Inclusion
Through Autism Swim Certification, the Melbourne City Baths’ aquatic instructors are gaining both theoretical and practical tools to confidently support neurodivergent participants. The training strengthens their ability to adapt lessons, communicate effectively, and foster environments where every swimmer feels safe, seen, and supported.
Creating Ripple Effects in the Community
The initiative is already paving the way for stronger connections with neurodivergent individuals and families. As the City notes, true accessibility goes beyond ramps and rails, it’s about attitudinal and cultural inclusion.
By integrating Autism Swim’s expertise, the City of Melbourne is not only leading by example but helping to redefine what inclusion in aquatic spaces truly means: belonging, participation, and empowerment for all.
Antoinette Spear, General Manager at Autism Swim, shares: “Neuro-inclusion isn’t about policies gathering dust on a shelf, rather it’s about the everyday actions that shape how we design, communicate, and make people feel. Inclusion thrives when belonging becomes part of the culture, not just a checklist item to tick off. We’re thrilled to see Melbourne City Baths taking this meaningful step towards genuine inclusion and setting this fantastic example of how it can be successfully done.”
Join the Movement for Inclusive Aquatics
Autism Swim Certification is more than just professional development, rather it’s a movement towards safer, more inclusive aquatic spaces for everyone. For councils, leisure centres, and community organisations, it provides a practical and impactful way to upskill large teams with evidence-based knowledge, tools, and resources designed to support neurodiverse participants.
By upskilling with Autism Swim, organisations can strengthen their culture of inclusion, empower their staff, and ensure that every individual feels welcome and supported in the water.
To learn more or get your team certified, visit autismswim.com.au.
To learn more about Melbourne City Baths’ swim school, visit melbourne.vic.gov.au/swim-school.