On Thursday, 10 April 2025, the Play Our Way – Learn to Swim Program was officially launched at Whitlam Leisure Centre, marking a significant milestone in the program’s rollout. The event celebrated the collective commitment of partners and the local community to create safer, more inclusive spaces for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women and girls.

This transformative new program is set to launch across Western Sydney, aimed at removing barriers that prevent CALD women and girls from accessing water safety and recreation programs. The Learn to Swim and Recreation Program is a joint initiative between the Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, Belgravia Leisure, Belgravia Foundation and Liverpool City Council, supported through the Australian Government’s Play Well Participation Grant Program. Running from 2024 to 2027, the program will deliver life-changing opportunities across the region.

Designed to foster health, confidence, and a more inclusive community, the program will provide aquatics and recreational activities, as well as health and wellbeing workshops, over a three-year period. Participants will also have access to yoga, personal training, social events, and team sports, including some subsidised equipment or uniform costs to address financial barriers, a known impediment to participation in health community-based activities.

A dedicated Project Coordinator, supported by Project Officers embedded in each participating venue, will oversee and support program delivery, ensuring participants feel welcomed, supported and included at every stage. Regular assessments will measure satisfaction, water safety knowledge, and overall program outcomes, ensuring the initiative remains impactful.

This ambitious initiative exemplifies the power of partnership and collaboration. Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre CEO Maeve Brown highlights the impact, stating: 

“By addressing barriers to access and providing women and girls the opportunity to participate in sports, recreation, and wellbeing programs, this initiative highlights the importance of collaboration in building healthier, more inclusive communities, reiterating that through partnership, we can achieve more.” 

The program aims to cultivate a culture of ongoing participation in physical and social activities for CALD women and girls, their families, and their communities, setting participants on a path to sustained health and social inclusion.

“This program is a meaningful step toward making recreation safer and more welcoming for CALD women and girls. By working in partnership with communities, we’re breaking down barriers and building lasting pathways to participation,” said Tayla Pallas, Aquatics & Inclusion Coordinator, Belgravia Foundation.

To register your interest in this program, please click here.

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