The vital lessons these survivors are getting in Sydney’s suburbs

Only a few months ago, Adam Murad, 9, and Mohammed Al-Bashiti, 10, were living in Gaza where swimming lessons were virtually non-existent even before war destroyed most infrastructure.

Now refugees living in Sydney’s western suburbs, the boys jumped into Australian culture on Sunday with free learn-to-swim lessons at Roselands Leisure and Aquatic Centre tailored for those who have experienced the trauma of war.

Swim Brothers instructor Omar Affouf with Gazan refugees Adam Murad and Mohammed Al-Bashiti during a free lesson. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

Asked what they knew about Australian pools and beaches, Mohammed’s older brother Ahmed Al- Bashiti, 18, replied: “Swim between the flags.”

The free lessons for the Gazan children and others across Sydney are organised by the non-profit Swim Brothers. On Tuesday night, The Journey, a documentary about the program and its founders, pharmacist Omar Abu-Mahmoud and non-practising lawyer Feroz Sattar, will be screened at Bankstown’s Bryan Brown Theatre.

Royal Life Saving Australia research estimates people born overseas account for one in three fatal drownings over the past 10 years. Chief executive Dr Justin Scarr said the first months and years in Australia were critical for children such as Adam and Mohammed.

“Water safety starts at local pools,” Scarr said.

Affouf gives Adam and Mohammed encouragement at Roselands pool.Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

“They are critically vital for all communities, particularly those who live a long way from the beach.

“The pool is much more accessible, and if run well, more inclusive, and the safest place to swim.”

Swim Brothers was created four years ago after members of Abu-Mahmoud and Sattar’s mosque were caught in rips on two successive days – seven men on one day alone – on a father-son camping trip at Seven Mile Beach near Forster. On both occasions, the men were saved by off-duty lifeguards.

Abu-Mahmoud discovered no structured water safety programs were tailored to “people from our community”.

Swim Brothers started as a male-only program to address the high rate of drownings of men – about 82 per cent. They expanded to include swimming lessons for women, which are provided out of public view in a culturally sensitive way.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said one of his “absolute policy priorities” was inclusion. Modern Australia was incredibly diverse and initiatives such as Swim Brothers had so many positive flow-on effects for communities, he said.

The program was a “wonderful example of Surf Life Saving NSW really opening their arms up to people who would not traditionally be lifesavers”.

Swim Brothers has about 300 people attending classes across four pools in the western suburbs, including at Auburn and Liverpool.

The programs go beyond the pool, with community gatherings, beach outings and other events. “What’s come out of it is the power of connection with and across communities, and what that’s meant for mental health,” Abu-Mahmoud said.

Sattar said they have trained the team on how to teach people who suffer from trauma.

“People may be emotionally exhausted. They might disengage, they might not listen [due to trauma triggers or stressors],” he said.

Kassem Chalabi, the president of the Palestinian Australians Welfare Association, said there was a huge demand for learn-to-swim classes from new arrivals from Gaza.

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