Step inside Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre to find a space where lives are changed.

The centre has recently been awarded NSW Venue of the Year as well as the prestigious Belgravia Foundation award for one of its most heartwarming achievements, the Ukrainian Aquatic Program, a partnership with STARTTS (Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) at the 2025 Belgravia Leisure Awards.

The Ukrainian Aquatic Program was born from listening to the needs of newly arrived refugees, especially women, who were facing isolation and anxiety after displacement. The solution? Gentle aqua aerobics classes that offered both physical activity and a safe space to heal and build confidence together.