Our Story
Water Belongs to Everyone
APCAA exists to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering aquatic home for African and People of Colour communities across Australia — from a child's very first stroke to the Olympic pool.
Our Mission
The African and People of Colour Aquatics Australia Limited (APCAA) exists to create a safe, inclusive, and empowering aquatic home for African and People of Colour communities across Australia.
We deliver world-class swimming and fin swimming programs from a child's very first stroke to the Olympic pool — while building a generation of qualified educators, coaches, and water safety champions who give back to the communities that raised them.
Our Vision
A future where every person of African and Colour background in Australia can confidently enter the water, feel completely safe in it, and — should they choose — compete at the highest levels of aquatic sport.
APCAA envisions communities where swimming is no longer a barrier divided by race or background, but a shared source of health, joy, confidence, and national pride.
A Note from the Founder
I found my passion for swimming as a child from 6 years of age. When I was selected to represent my school at state level at the age of eleven, it truly should have been the beginning of everything — but my mother became very unwell, and we simply couldn't afford the time or money to get me to training. The opportunity slipped away.
While living in Australia for nearly 20 years, I stepped outside my comfort zone and tried underwater rugby and I loved it. That experience reignited something in me and led me to fin swimming. It was then that I had my 'aha' moment: I could use everything I was rediscovering to help people from similar backgrounds who, like me as a child, never had the opportunity, the encouragement, or the means to be given a fair go in the water.
APCAA is my answer to that gap. It is built on the belief that swimming is for everyone — and that with the right environment, guidance, and community, anyone can go from their first breath underwater to standing on a world stage. We will one day cheer for an APCAA athlete at the Olympic Games.
— APCAA Founder
Our Core Values
Inclusion & Belonging
Every person, every background, every age is welcome. We build spaces where everyone feels they belong.
Safety First
Water safety is a right, not a privilege. Every APCAA program embeds practical safety knowledge from day one.
Excellence & Aspiration
We set no ceiling on what our members can achieve — from first splash to Olympic ambition.
Community Ownership
All funds raised go back to sustaining and growing our programs, keeping them accessible and affordable.
Empowerment Through Education
We train the teachers, coaches, and leaders of tomorrow from within our own community.
Integrity & Transparency
We are accountable to our members and our community in everything we do.
Join the Movement
Whether you want to enrol in a program, volunteer, or partner with us — there's a place for you in the APCAA community.