Hello
My name is Chelsea Marchetti
I am a qualified physiotherapist with an avid interest in working with children, having experience working in paediatrics in both the private and public health care settings in South Australia, it has become apparent to me that many children require ongoing aquatic therapy to assist with their physical development as it has strong correlations to improving physical capacity and self-reliance in the water.
Having been seeing children in a 1:1 hydrotherapy setting for several years, I struggled to find a suitable place for children with disabilities to learn how to swim in an environment that suits their needs. It is for this reason that I decided to start Flipper Academy.
I strongly believe that every child should be given an opportunity to be given appropriate water-based therapy in conjunction with being taught swimming strokes at their own pace. Not only does this provide them with the tools and skills to be independent in the pool, but it also gives them the opportunity to partake in everyday swimming activities at school such as swimming carnival. It also provides them with avenues to partake in social activities with friends.
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Qualifications
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Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Honours) University of South Australia
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Autism swim accredited aquatics instructor
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Level 1 Strength and Conditioning coach
Why Flipper Academy
Flipper Academy offers group water-based therapy with a core focus on learning to swim for children with a disability, to help develop these skills in a supportive environment.
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Children with a disability are at a higher risk of drowning in comparison to other children. Learning to swim is a vital skill for every child to learn however the current swim school structure does not suit all children.
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Flipper Academy programs are Physiotherapy led and tailored to individuals with a variety of disabilities that have water therapy and learn to swim goals. We assist those with a disability to learn essential skills they need to stay safe in the water as well as for their own development.
Skills Developed
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Water safety and drowning prevention – how to safely enter and exit bodies of water, floating and breathing control​​
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​Swimming strokes - to help participate in school events such as swimming carnival​
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Gross motor skills – endurance, strength, balance and coordination
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Fine Motor skills – grip, hand and finger strength
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Our group-based approach also helps children in our program, achieve other goals such as social skills and communication.
The Flipper Academy Difference
Flipper Academy
Understand the unique needs of your child and tailor a program that suits their needs to be water safe based on their developmental stage, not their chronological age.
Swim School
Water safety and basic acclimatisation skills singing songs and swimming.
Develop play-based exercises in the pool that help build the strength needed for your child to develop their land based milestones as well as facilitate skills such as kicking and propulsion needed for swimming. The unique knowledge we have on appropriate age based development allows us to target the child’s aquatic program to their abilities and helps achieve strength and skills for both functional motor milestones and swimming skills.
‘Motor skills” kicking, propulsion skill based teaching.
Targeted and scaffolded program using the water to help develop your child’s oral motor skills. Extensive knowledge on aspiration risks and children with previous respiratory conditions at birth. In-depth understanding of how to guide these children to breathe in the water safely.
Breathing – basic demonstration of bubble blowing.
Using buoyancy and flotation devices to help develop the appropriate muscles groups required to undergo foundational swimming skills. Being a physiotherapist enables us to understand the effects of buoyancy and flotation on movement, providing further ability to scaffold a tailored program for your child.
Buoyancy and floating as skills to learn.
AHPRA Registered
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency works in partnership with the National Boards to ensure that Australia’s registered health practitioners are suitably trained, qualified and safe to practise. Public safety is our priority.
For more information visit www.ahpra.gov.au
Autism Swim Accredited
Autism Swim are international wandering and drowning prevention specialists, who understand the complexities of different learning styles, goals and approaches, and the support mechanisms necessary to educate all swimmers on water safety, water therapy and learn-to-swim.
For more information visit www.autismswim.com.au
Autism SA Friendly
According to the 2018 Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, only around 4% of the more than 200,000 people in Australia on the spectrum believe that businesses, organisations and venues across the country understand autism, or know how to support individuals on the autism spectrum through the provision of autism-friendly places and services.
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By signing up to the Autism Friendly Charter, businesses can play a crucial role in creating a more inclusive community for all, ensuring that people on the autism spectrum are able to enjoy services and participate in activities without the experience negatively impacting on wellbeing
For more information visit www.autismswim.com.au
