The Rex Centre Manager, Craig Wilson, with the Carers and Disability Links team.

‘The Rex Barossa’ is a thriving community hub for people with a disability in Adelaide, offering a wide range of access and inclusion programs for local families across swimming, fitness and stadium sports.

The Rex has been offering exercise physiology and physiotherapy services to people with intellectual and physical disabilities, including those rehabilitating from injury or a medical event, or are managing ongoing conditions such as cerebral palsy.

Centre Manager, Craig Wilson, said the centre’s hydrotherapy pool and gym are central to these programs.

“The Rex has also partnered with the SA Department of Education to run swim lessons for children with special needs, with about 80 students actively involved in swimming and water safety activities each week,” he said.

The access and inclusion team is currently planning NDIS programs in aquatics, fitness and sports and aims to partner with local disability services to deliver these much-needed programs in the next 12 months.

Vacation Care Coordinator, Laura Saegenschnitter, has secured funding from the Australian Government and SA Department of Education to boost special needs access to The Rex’s vacation care program. Up to $5,000 in funding has helped the centre to employ additional staff, train staff in special needs sports coaching and purchase specialist equipment to meet the physical needs of children with a disability.

Training has been provided by the Kindergarden Union (KU) children services, and Gowrie SA support our services and staff and provide hire equipment.

Craig and The Rex team partnered with Carers and Disability Links to hold an information stand at the Disability Expo; an event that won the Community Event of the Year Award for the 2018 Barossa Australia award program.