The water wellness class bringing joy and healing to women in Balgo

A weekly women’s wellness class in Balgo is demonstrating the incredible healing powers of water, transforming the lives of women in one of Western Australia’s most remote communities.

In partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) Kutjungka Health Clinic, this new initiative is bringing movement and a renewed sense of wellbeing to the women of Balgo, a small Kimberley community that lies between the Great Sandy and Tanami Deserts.

Every Wednesday, women gather at the Balgo Remote Pool for a unique aquatic class that blends the therapeutic effects of water with community connection and mental wellbeing.

With pool noodles and kickboards in hand, the women float, chat, and experience the physical and mental benefits of swimming. The class welcomes all women regardless of experience— from first-time swimmers to those with mobility challenges, providing a safe and welcoming space to escape the desert heat.

The sessions, led by Royal Life Saving WA’s Brenda Walker, have quickly become a highlight of the week for the group. Brenda has observed remarkable improvements in the participants’ mobility and energy levels, and the women have expressed their joy in having time to relax and enjoy themselves in the pool without men and children present.

Word of the class is spreading quickly, with Brenda and the participants sharing their experiences at the clinic and inspiring more women to join each week.

The program is supported by dedicated nurses and workers from the Kutjungka Clinic who help organise and transport the participants, coordinate the sessions, and ensure participants stay hydrated and nourished with fresh fruit and water before and after their swim.

This program is more than just a fitness class, with each session boosting physical, emotional, and social wellbeing, spreading positivity beyond the pool.

Thanks to Brenda and Balgo’s Pool Manager Mark Walker, this long-time dream is now a reality, showcasing the extraordinary power of water to heal, inspire, and bring people together, even in one of Australia’s most remote regions.