Building Health, Wellbeing and Belonging Through Swimming

When a Chin Bicultural Worker from cohealth’s Bicultural program asked women in her community what would make the biggest difference to their health and wellbeing, the answer was simple: they wanted to learn to swim.

For many women from refugee backgrounds, swimming lessons had always been out of reach because of cost, language barriers, cultural considerations and limited confidence. Working alongside community leaders, our Bicultural Worker co-designed a culturally safe program where women could learn together, build confidence and support one another.

Across nine sessions, 13 women participated in the program, with 113 total attendances. The evaluation found that 100% of participants reported increased social connections, increased physical activity, and improved swimming and water safety skills. Participants also described feeling healthier, more confident and better connected to one another.

“These swimming lessons have made me realise I can learn to swim, and they make me feel much healthier. We’d love to be able to continue this program.”

The project demonstrates that when communities identify their own priorities and Bicultural Workers lead the response, health promotion becomes more accessible, culturally safe and effective. By listening first and removing barriers to participation, community-led approaches create healthier, more connected communities.

Community-led health promotion starts with listening. Involving Bicultural Workers from the beginning helps create prevention initiatives that are trusted, culturally responsive and more likely to achieve lasting health outcomes.