A women-only swimming program is helping migrants and refugees learn to swim and adjust to life in a new country.
The program, an Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) initiative, is held at Sunshine Leisure Centre every second Saturday, with women from across Brimbank learning to swim and enjoying a social outing.
ASRC community engagement officer Kirsty Sword Gusmao said women from refugee and migrant backgrounds were often isolated.
“They are often discouraged from participating in sporting or other recreation activities, such as swimming, for religious or cultural reasons,” she said.
“The Women’s Only Swimming Program provides women with a safe physical space to exercise and to gain confidence in the water. The goal of this program is to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of a group of culturally and linguistically diverse and vulnerable women and their families.”
Iranian migrant Daria (not her real name) said the program was an important outlet for women new to Australia. She encouraged more people to take advantage of the program.
“I [would] tell them that this is your time, use it,” she said. “Some time for you, to appreciate yourself, to not think about a lot of challenges in your life. To have some relaxation time. It is really relaxing.”
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