Having arrived in Australia from Afghanistan as refugees to rebuild their lives, friends Azifa, Afra and Zahra needed a safe space to build water confidence and feel connected to their community.
In partnership with the Australian Red Cross, Stromlo Leisure Centre have hosted the three women from the Red Cross’ Connected Families program at an inclusive swimming session.
Held after hours with the support of an all-female team of lifeguards and pool team members, the session gave participants the opportunity to learn aquatic skills in a safe, culturally appropriate environment.
As of December 2025, there were over 123 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the highest number ever recorded. Of those people, 41.6 million are refugees, driven from their homes by conflict, disaster, violence or human rights abuses (UNHCR Global Trends, 2026).
The initiative reflects a shared commitment between Stromlo Leisure Centre and the Australian Red Cross to creating inclusive opportunities that help people feel supported and connected.
Creating a culturally appropriate space to learn
Co-designed by the refugee and migrant communities taking part in it, the Connected Families program – where the women met and became close friends – supports individuals to identify how they would like to participate in community life, helping to build confidence and a sense of belonging.
Recognising how much Australian life revolves around the water, members of the Canberran Afghan community, which Azifa, Afra and Zahra are all part of, identified swimming as something they wanted to experience.
Samer Kamal, Venue Manager at Stromlo Leisure Centre said:
“We know being confident around water is an important life skill in Australia, but we also understand that access to those experiences can look different for different communities.
“It was wonderful to welcome these women to our venue in a way that respected their cultural needs. Seeing them support each other in the water was a powerful reminder of the impact of our partnership with the Australian Red Cross.”
“Coming into a new community, seeking safety – you can feel quite isolated and there’s not that feeling of belonging right away,” says Australian Red Cross Director of National Migration Operations Jessi Claudianos.
For Azifa, it was the first time she had ever visited a swimming pool. “At first, I was feeling stressed because I was scared about getting into the water,” she says. “But after some time, we were really enjoying the swimming and I was so happy. It was a new experience, and I really loved it.”
Through initiatives like these, Stromlo demonstrates the positive effect that local partnerships and inclusive programs at Belgravia Leisure have on communities. Learn more about Belgravia Leisure’s Social Inclusion Statement here.
Visit the Stromlo Leisure Centre website here and to learn about the Australian Red Cross’ programs, visit the website here.
Key facts:
- Partnership: Stromlo Leisure Centre and Australian Red Cross
- Initiative: An all-female swimming session for women participating in the Red Cross’ Connected Families program
- Who was involved: Members of Canberra’s Afghan refugee community, an all-female team of lifeguards and aquatic team members supported the session
- When: After-hours
- Why it exists: Helps refugees build water confidence, a sense of belonging through community participation and increase their access to aquatic experiences
- Community impact: The partnership demonstrates how community leisure venues can support inclusion, wellbeing and community connection
