Swimming Australia spotlights its Body Empowerment initiative

Swimming Australia is spotlighting its Body Empowerment initiative, launched in 2024, and aimed at helping all members of the swimming community understand how to best support athletes (and themselves) in developing and sustaining an empowered relationship with their body.

With extensive resources developed and implemented by industry experts, the Body Empowerment initiative provides a range of support and educational opportunities for those involved in the swimming community.

Swimming Australia Body Empowerment Workshops cover a range of specialist topics, including language and communication, body image and eating disorders and were designed to be delivered via a blended learning model approach to ensure a wide range of audiences can be reached and conversations can be tailored to their needs.

Across June and October 2024, over 15 free webinars were delivered to coaches, parents, athletes and the wider community. Community clubs were also connected to local Body Empowerment advocates to run information sessions and further share Swimming Australia developed resources.

Swimming Australia notes “education at all levels is crucial for this initiative, that’s why we invested in upskilling existing Swimming Australia practitioners, worked alongside Swimming Pathways managers in the development of workshops, and collaborated with the Integrity team to ensure our Body Empowerment standards are implemented within the revised National Integrity Framework.”

In January 2025, Swimming Australia are rolling out a new delivery platform that was built in collaboration with Athlete Experience Design staff and National Coach Education manager to further integrate body empowerment messaging within education materials.

Swimming Australia’s full Body Empowerment Resources and Support Information

Image. Credit: Pexels