{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,10]],"date-time":"2026-10-10T15:33:49Z","timestamp":1791646429560,"version":"4.3.4"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,26]],"date-time":"2023-04-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1682467200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The beach is Australia\u2019s most popular recreational destination with participation in beach-based activities associated with a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits. Unfortunately, access to beach environments is not possible for many older people and people with a disability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the barriers and facilitators of beach accessibility using a framework that recognises the complex interconnections between blue space, accessibility, physical activity, and health and wellbeing. A 39-item anonymous online cross-sectional survey was developed and administered to explore the perspectives of older people and people with a disability regarding beach accessibility. In total, 350 people completed the survey (69% female, age range 2\u201390 years (mean = 52)). Disability was reported by 88% of respondents, with 77% requiring a community mobility aid. Two-thirds (68%) of respondents were unable to visit the beach as often as they wanted, with 45% unable to visit at all. The most frequently reported barriers to beach access included difficulty moving on soft sand (87%), no specialised mobility equipment (75%), and inaccessible lead-up pathways (81%). If beach access was improved, respondents reported they would visit the beach more often (85%), for longer (83%), and have an improved experience (91%). The most frequently reported facilitators to beach access were the presence of accessible lead-up pathways (90%), sand walkways (89%), and parking (87%). Older people and people with disability have limited beach access, primarily due to a lack of accessible equipment, excluding them from the wide range of health benefits associated with visiting the beach.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20095651","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,27]],"date-time":"2023-04-27T02:18:34Z","timestamp":1682561914000},"page":"5651","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":15,"title":["Tides of Change\u2014Barriers and Facilitators to Beach Accessibility for Older People and People with Disability: An Australian Community Survey"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9819-1831","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sasha","family":"Job","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bundaberg, QLD 4670, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Luke","family":"Heales","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD 4701, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Steven","family":"Obst","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bundaberg, QLD 4670, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,4,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Australian Insitute of Health and Welfare (2020). 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