It was fantastic to see over 200 professionals from the aquatic and recreation industry nationwide come together at Zinc, Federation Square in Melbourne for the third Diversity & Inclusion in Leisure Forum on Thursday, February 13. The event followed the Belgravia Foundation’s 2025 Inspiration Breakfast, making for a meaningful and impactful day.
Coordinated by a joint industry of Aligned Leisure, AUSactive, Aquatics and Recreation Victoria (ARV), Belgravia Foundation, Belgravia Leisure, Bluefit, Disability Sport & Recreation and The Y Victoria, the Forum delivered a series of TEDx style presentations, industry expert panels and an interactive workshop for those in attendance.
Watch the highlights from the 2025 Diversity, Inclusion in Leisure Forum.
The Forum featured several different topics, initiatives and issues from within the industry being addressed through evidence-based practices including combating loneliness, supporting those living with disabilities and providing safe and inclusive environments for those of minority backgrounds, including but not limited to our indigenous and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Speaking about the event, ARV Chief Executive Kathy Parton stated, “This forum is as important an event as any on our calendar to ensure we continue to educate, connect and learn together as an industry on this important industry priority.”
Parton noted, “Each presentation provided valuable insights for those in attendance and everyone who presented did a fantastic job.
“We are very proud to not only deliver this forum in collaboration with a number of other organisations from our industry but to see how passionate and in tune our industry is at wanting to make our industry the best it can be, for absolutely everyone.”
The Forum was sponsored by Para Mobility and Access Maps, along with Belgravia Foundation and The Y Victoria.
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