Making Moana Pool more accessible

Dunedin (Wednesday, 17 February 2016) – The Dunedin City Council has supported a community driven effort to install a hoist in the Moana Pool changing rooms to make the pool more accessible for users.

“We have not had a hoist in our changing rooms and some residents were missing out on using the pool if their carers were unable to lift and assist them because of health and safety concerns,” says DCC Recreation Planning and Facilities Manager Jendi Paterson.

This new hoist means more users can access the pool as the hoist will lift people from their wheelchairs onto a bed and then lift the person to be put into a water wheelchair, from which they can access the pool.

Eleanor Doig, Outcome Facilitator from IDEA Services, the service provider arm of IHC New Zealand, approached Moana Pool about installing the hoist to improve access.

“We couldn’t have done this without the initiative and enthusiasm of the IDEA Services team and the Otago Community Trust and the support from the IHC Otago Association,” says Ms Paterson.

The hoist has been installed and a thank you morning tea will be followed by a demonstration on Friday, 19 February from 10am at Moana Pool.

ENDS

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