About
The Rehabilitation to Recreation Program is a new Disability Sport & Recreation initiative that introduces accessible sport and recreation activities to people with a recently acquired disability in Victorian Rehabilitation Centres. It aims to assist in their transition from rehabilitation settings back into the community.
The Rehabilitation to Recreation Program offers a continuum of care which begins when Victorians with a disability are inpatients in a rehabilitation setting, through to when they go back home. The program is offered for as long as individuals require our support; however we anticipate the program will have the most need within the first two years of the patient leaving the rehabilitation centre.
The program is a state-wide initiative which includes a mix of public and private settings, in both metropolitan and regional areas
Who is eligible?
Victorians of all ages in rehabilitation settings who have recently acquired a disability as a result of trauma, an accident, illness, genetic condition or ageing are eligible. People with an existing disability who re-enter the rehabilitation system are also considered eligible for this program.
What does it involve?
The Rehabilitation to Recreation Program comprises of three components
- therapist education and professional development
- What’s Out There days (WOT)
- peer mentoring and support service
Four rehabilitation hospitals are to be included in the first year of the pilot program and will be visited on a quarterly basis by the R2R Program Coordinator and in some cases, with the support of other Disability Sport & Recreation staff and Peer Support Volunteers.
The Rehabilitation to Recreation Program is planned, promoted, delivered and evaluated in consultation with an Advisory Panel. Members of the Advisory Panel provide the specialist medical, clinical knowledge and industry networks to design and implement the program. The program will be formally evaluated by a tertiary institution partner in a way that it contributes to the evidence-base for best practice in community-based approaches to better health outcomes for people with a disability going through rehabilitation.
For further details regarding the Program, including its Aims, Strategies, Advisory Panel, Peer Support Program and Evaluation, please contact Program Coordinator.
Rehabilitation to Recreation Program Coordinator
Sean Corcoran
(03) 9473 0133
sean@dsr.org.au