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MY Swim to Sports

MY Swim to Sports program: teaching young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to swim.
  • Understanding and overcoming barriers to participation in physical activity through pathways to sporting clubs and infrastructure.
  • Focuses on people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with low English language levels.

The Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania’s Multicultural Youth (MY) Swim to Sport program in Hobart delivered two 16-week program with From Zero to Hero swim instructor Nadia Azizabadi and local water sports groups to teach young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to swim.

The program aimed to connect multicultural communities to sporting clubs and supports pathways to sports through swimming for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

In the first six months, 18 graduates completed two rounds of the program. Participants have increased confidence in swimming and are now engaging in the wider sporting community. This includes eight participants participating in come and try underwater hockey sessions and two participants joining the Kingston Beach Surf Lifesaving Club. There has also been an increase in regular use of the Hobart Aquatic Centre facilities.

MY Swim to Sport also offered advice and specialised training to swimming and sporting clubs to build cultural competency and has provided National Youth Settlement Framework (NYSF) training for participating clubs and project collaborators. Strong partnerships have formed with sporting clubs and organisations – all of which have reported an increased knowledge in cross-cultural awareness and a better understanding of barriers to sports inclusion.

The program has enjoyed a strong social media presence encouraging other family and community members to get active and try new sports.

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image: MY Swim to Sports program: teaching young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds to swim.