When Canberra locals Annie, Clare, Andrew and Liam tragically lost a mutual friend from a refugee community to drowning in 2020, they felt compelled to act. Recognising the urgent need for water safety and swimming education within Canberra’s growing refugee and migrant populations, they were determined to make a difference.

At the time, Canberra was the only major Australian city currently without a specialist swimming program for refugees and migrants, leaving these communities vulnerable to drowning, particularly in unpatrolled waterways likes rivers and lakes.

In honour of their friend and in a move to address the gap in Canberra for these communities, the group founded the Refugee and Migrant Swimming Project (RMSP), a not-for-profit initiative running out of Gungahlin Leisure Centre since 2021.

RMSP is a free, culturally safe program that creates a safe swimming environment whilst teaching essential trauma-informed swimming and water safety lessons to Canberra’s refugee and migrant community.

Initially supported and run by the founders and supportive local organisations, a community partner was needed that would embrace the program and support its sustainability and expansion in the ACT.  Belgravia Foundation readily accepted that opportunity, and along with innovation partner Belgravia Leisure, worked closely with the founders to ensure the RMSP could be sustained, and then flourish in the ACT.

To date, the program has provided free water safety and swimming lessons to over 80 community members, with plans to upskill many more moving forward. 

Nicole Trindorfer, Venue Manager at Gunghalin Leisure Centre expressed her enthusiasm for the program’s continuation. 

“We are thrilled to have the program back again and it was so wonderful to see everyone having a go with smiles all round. The first week in the water saw participants learning about safe entries into the pool and learning to float, and we’re looking forward to seeing their confidence grow over the coming weeks,” Nicole shared. 

Clare McBride-Kelly, one of the founders of RMSP expressed her gratitude to be working with the team at Gungahlin Leisure Centre to bring this program to life. 

“It’s incredible to collaborate with a team so dedicated to making this program a reality. Together, we’re creating a safer future for Canberra’s refugee and migrant communities and I can’t thank Jayd and the Aquatics team enough for making this such a worthy and enjoyable experience.” 

Dr Jeff Walkley, CEO of Belgravia Foundation, said “RMSP is a standout program, providing immensely important support to help people become safer around and in water.  The great thing about is that it concurrently supports community participation, presence and understanding, and combined these things lead to improved health and happiness for all.”

The Belgravia Foundation works with Belgravia Leisure to help connect people with a disability, of diversity and those who experience disadvantage to sport, aquatic, fitness, recreation and health programs.

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