flipperacademy

03/11/2026

Take a behind-the-scenes look at one of our 1:1 hydrotherapy sessions at Flipper Academy.

Our physiotherapy-led aquatic programs incorporate activities tailored to each child’s individual needs and goals, with opportunities to work on gross motor skills.

The water provides a unique environment for movement, and our physiotherapy team plans activities around each child’s assessed abilities and goals.

📩 Interested in learning more about our 1:1 hydrotherapy sessions? Get in touch via [email protected] or visit our website to enquire www.flipperacademy.com.au/contact-1.

02/11/2026

Congratulations to our very own Chelsea Marchetti on being named Young Achiever at the South Australian Italian Association Inc. Awards! 🏆

We couldn't be prouder to see Chelsea recognised for her dedication and the work she continues to do through Flipper Academy and PhysKids.

What started as a vision to create better opportunities for children with disability, developmental delay and neurodiversity to participate in aquatic therapy has grown into a team supporting hundreds of children and families across South Australia.

Since founding Flipper Academy, Chelsea has remained committed to creating an environment where children are supported through individualised, physiotherapy-led aquatic programs that recognise their unique needs, abilities and goals.

This year, that vision has continued to grow with the launch of PhysKids, extending the same child-centred approach into land-based paediatric physiotherapy.

While this award recognises Chelsea's individual achievement, it also reflects the incredible team behind Flipper Academy, including our clinicians, allied health assistants, the families who trust us and, most importantly, the children who inspire the work we do every day.

Congratulations, Chelsea!

02/11/2026

01/11/2026

The Adelaide Aquatic Centre is one of the locations where we deliver our physiotherapy-led aquatic programs, supporting children with disability and additional needs in the water. 🐬

Our sessions are tailored to each child’s individual needs, abilities and goals, with a focus on participation, developing aquatic skills and building water confidence in a supportive environment.

Whether you’re a parent or caregiver exploring aquatic therapy options, or a healthcare professional looking to learn more about our programs, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Find out more or enquire about our programs via www.flipperacademy.com.au/contact-1.

25/10/2026

‘Fear of water is the strongest predictor for no or low swimming competencies.’*

Learning to swim is a vital skill for every child; however, the current swim school structure does not suit all children. Flipper Academy offers one-on-one or group water-based therapy with a core focus on learning to swim.

Read the research here:
https://brnw.ch/21x6EmY

Discover our physiotherapist-led services here: https://brnw.ch/21x6EmZ

*PubMed Central

23/10/2026

19/10/2026

Our hydrotherapy sessions combine physiotherapy-led activities with plenty of fun and engagement in the water. 🐬

Every activity is selected with the individual child in mind, helping our team incorporate movement, aquatic skills and participation into a supportive environment.

Because when you’re working with children, making therapy enjoyable matters too. 💦✨

Want to learn more about our programs? Enquire via www.flipperacademy.com.au/contact-1

📍Adelaide Aquatic Centre

18/10/2026

Not every disability is visible.

Some children may have needs relating to neurodivergence, sensory processing, hearing or vision, or other conditions that aren't immediately obvious to the people around them.

Many of the children we work with have different needs that may not always be visible when they first come through the doors. This is why getting to know each child and understanding how they communicate, learn and participate is so important to our approach.

Our physiotherapy-led aquatic programs are individualised to each child, because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to participation in the water.

This week, we're helping raise awareness of invisible disabilities and encouraging our community to look beyond what we can see.

12/10/2026

Every child is different, which means their sessions need to be different too.

Our process begins with an initial assessment, where our physiotherapists look at areas including aquatic ability and gross motor skills using standardised assessments.

We then use this information, alongside the child's individual needs and goals, to help guide how we structure their sessions.

This means activities aren't simply chosen at random; our team plans sessions with purpose, using clinical reasoning to ensure they are relevant to each child. 🐬💦

Have questions about our assessment process? Get in touch with our team to learn more via [email protected].

12/10/2026

We’re incredibly proud to share that our Director, Chelsea Marchetti, has been named a finalist for Young Achiever at the 2026 South Australian Italian Australian Awards.

A wonderful recognition of Chelsea’s vision, leadership and commitment to creating better opportunities for children and families through Flipper Academy and PhysKids.

We couldn’t be prouder to see her work recognised alongside such an inspiring group of South Australian finalists.