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diving and was inspired to develop a
therapy using some of the equipment
after discovering the benefits of
underwater weightlessness.
He started Determined2 in
mid-2015 and spent several months
working with leading Adelaide
doctors on the program and
gaining various accreditations
before beginning the Immersion
Therapy service at the Adelaide
Aquatic Centre in March 2016.
Peter has run almost 2000 sessions
with 200 clients, including some
who fly to Adelaide from interstate
specifically to access the therapy.
Xavier from Port Lincoln
participates in Immersion Therapy.
A
The unique therapy technique,
Peter said the principles behind
how the service was delivered, the
offer freedom of movement within a ability to separate it from recreational
weightless environment for a range of scuba diving and the specific medical
clients including people with spinal standards and operational guidelines
cord injuries, amputations, acquired made the therapy a world first.
brain injuries and autism.
Participants use specialised scuba
“I wanted it to be like nothing else
that had been offered before and I
believed to be a world first, was equipment to breathe underwater knew to do that I would need high-
started in South Australia by in a swimming pool, using the level medical involvement,” he said.
Peter Wilson from Determined2. weightlessness to regain confidence After achieving excellent results and build muscle strength. Pain relief incredible – there are some people
in Adelaide and Port Lincoln, the and increased mobility are among who are in a wheelchair on land but
service is now launching in Sydney benefits also often experienced. underwater without gravity they are
and Melbourne.
Available on the National
8
Disability Awards’ Excellence in
Inclusive Service Delivery in 2016.
Immersion therapy
n Immersion Therapy
that is helping people
with disability walk
under water is making a splash
in its Australian rollout.
Determined2 won the National
Peter was seriously injured in a
motorbike accident in 2007, leading
“Some of the results have been
able to stand and walk.
“People are able to move in a
Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), to a long and ongoing period of way they’ve never been able to move
the service was started by Peter to rehabilitation. He took up scuba before.”
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