Belgravia Foundation Celebrates Culturally Inclusive Swim Program Driving Generational Change
Belgravia Foundation Celebrates Culturally Inclusive Swim Program Driving Generational Change
Belgravia Foundation celebrates the success of a culturally inclusive swimming program that is creating life-changing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the Liverpool community. Delivered in partnership with the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council and guided by local Elders, the program offers free, year-round swimming lessons for children aged 5 to 17 at Michael Wenden Aquatic Leisure Centre.
The program was developed in response to community conversations that revealed barriers such as cost and a lack of culturally safe spaces for learning to swim. With funding provided through RVM contributions, the initiative was carefully shaped by Elders and community leaders to ensure it reflects cultural values while promoting water safety, confidence, and physical wellbeing. This collaboration has resulted in a program that is both inclusive and deeply meaningful for local families.
The impact of the program has already been felt across generations. One local carer shared how she had learned to swim at Michael Wenden when it first opened, then enrolled her daughter years later, and now proudly watches her grandchildren learning to swim through this program, an experience that she says brings immense pride and gratitude. This story reflects the heart of Belgravia Foundation’s mission of connecting community to leisure.
Over the past calendar year, more than 500 swimming lessons have been delivered through the program. Evaluation efforts, including tracking participation numbers and gathering feedback from families and staff, have shown that the program is helping children feel more confident and safe in and around the water. Staff observations and family updates highlight steady progress in water skills and confidence.
The program has also strengthened connections between Belgravia Leisure, the Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council, and the wider Liverpool community. Michael Wenden Aquatic Leisure Centre is increasingly viewed as a culturally safe and welcoming place for all, with water safety becoming a valued part of growing up.
Belgravia Foundation celebrates this program as an example of how collaboration, cultural respect, and inclusive opportunities can create lasting community impact and generational change.
