Describing it as a fantastic opportunity for migrant women to learn how to swim together in a culturally and religiously respectful community, Swim Brothers founder Omar Mahmoud said it was a program they had been keen to get going for the past few years after the success of the mens-only, learn to swim program for migrant males.
Swim Brothers was started by Omar and Feroz Sattar following a brush with disaster in 2019 when eight migrant men had to be rescued from a rip by off-duty lifesavers while on a father-son camping weekend at Seven Mile Beach near Forster.
Since 2004, migrants have made up over half of those who have died while swimming.
NSW University research reveals that those who had lived in Australia for shorter time periods, were more likely to visit the beach, but were much less likely to: Be able to swim, have participated in swimming lessons, have heard or understood the meaning of flags on patrolled beaches, or understood and be able to spot rip currents.
Omar says he is excited to offer his program, which caters for girls and women aged 11 years and over, to the Cumberland area.
“For migrant communities from landlocked countries or where recreational swimming is less common, learning to swim can be life-changing,” he said.
“This will be one of the first culturally and religiously tailored women’s only learn to swim and ocean safety program with established pathways to surf lifesaving and other qualifications of its kind.”
To register and for more info: herswimschool.com.au
Invite to join female-only swim class
GIRLS and women are invited to join a female-only swim program, expected to get underway in Auburn in August, and be inspired to empower themselves and others.
