The Relationship between Disability and Inclusion Policies (1990-2016) and Swimming Coaching Practices in Victoria, Australia

This thesis examines the relationship between disability and inclusion policies (produced during the years of 1990 and 2016) and swimming coaching practices in Victoria, Australia. It found that the sports model of organization based on classification and paralympic pathways constrained the enactment of these policies, meaning that coaches tend to work with the most abled of athletes with a disability. It recommended that coaches need innovative coach education and that the sport must broaden its focus beyond models that focus on classification and paralympic pathways if it indeed is to be more inclusive of all Australians.