On the first Friday of every month the Fawkner Lawn Bowls Club in Melbourne’s north is taken over by an unlikely bunch; a group of migrant women.
The women gather to share stories, socialise, and of course, play some lawn bowls.
Sometimes up to 30 women attend, mingling with people from a number of countries including Pakistan, India, Iraq and Syria. Many are trying a sport they had never heard of before, let alone played.
“This was a new thing for me, I didn’t know anything about lawn bowling. I was surprised when I came here and they taught us how to play,” Ayesha Hashmi told SBS News.
“I enjoyed it and I've joined many sessions here. It was a wonderful experience coming here.”
The mother-of-four arrived from Pakistan two years ago and found moving to a new country with little family support difficult.
Women attend an event to celebrate the success of the program. Source: Merri Health/Facebook
“Before coming here, I was kind of depressed and there was no social life for me, when I started coming here, my family liked it. There was a positive change in me,” she said.
“And of course, when there's a positive change in the mother, all the family changes positively.”
The bowling meet-ups began nearly 12 months ago as part of the Count Me In Too program, which supports women and girls from diverse communities to engage with sporting clubs as participants, volunteers, board members, coaches and referees.
It is funded through the Victorian Labor government’s Free from Violence strategy and supported by Merri Health and Moreland City Council.
Its aim is to bring together women from culturally diverse backgrounds in Fawkner, Glenroy and Hadfield, to improve their physical and mental health and help develop social connections.
The session at Fawkner Lawn Bowls Club has become so successful it has now created a women-only day on the first Friday of each month.
Alveena Nasir has been attending since it began.
Also from Pakistan, she said heading along one day a month has given her the courage and confidence to get more involved in the wider community.
“One activity is a doorstep to another activity. So if we get involved in one activity, then definitely connect to another activity that opens the door for us,” she said.
Nazish Khan, herself a migrant, helped organise a sports day as part of the program.
Alveena Nasi moved to Australia from Pakistan. Source: SBS News
She said the participation levels of women and girls in sport is generally is lower than men, but getting migrant women active has an extra layer of difficulty.
“We know that multicultural women have additional barriers, resettlement issues, so when they come to a new country, all the things like finding a house to live in, to finding a job and finding a pathway to work or finding a school for children,” she said.
“All these are additional challenges for them getting used to a new place isn’t very easy, and finding a sporting opportunity comes very last.”
Ms Khan said many of the women were reluctant to take part because playing sport was not something they had done before.
But, she said, creating an inclusive and private space helped convince them it was a good idea.
“This is especially popular because it’s a private facility, it’s a female-only option for women, they feel very comfortable when there are no men around and they can bring their children,” she said.
“To see the shift in community attitudes, as well as the clubs', they understand what opportunities are available to them and they also understand they can have their say in designing these programs.”
Vicky Kennedy who runs the Fawkner Bowls Club said when she heard about the program she was happy to get on board.
Source: Merri Health/Facebook
“After two or three Fridays and watching these ladies out there and listening to them, and listening to their stories, it became more personal. You know, us and them, and being inclusive,” she said.
She said the change she has seen in the women has been noticeable, both at the club and in the community.
“Some of them, I felt, were here more just for the social interaction and didn’t really want to bowl, those ladies are now bowling and having a good time, they see each other on the street and there’s a connection there now.”
The Victorian Minister for Women Gabrielle Williams said sport can be a powerful tool for social change and the success of the program means she hopes other sporting clubs will get involved in running similar events.
“Hopefully others are taking notice, they’re seeing that they can boost participation in their clubs by just being that bit more inclusive,” she said.
“To make this something that can be expanded, that other clubs can learn from to really set it up as an example setter across that community.” 
Ms Khan now hopes other sporting clubs will get onboard to run similar programs.
The club now hosts women-only days. Source: SBS News
She said while getting fit and active was important, creating social connections was also vital to ensure many of these women continue to feel like active participants in their community.
“These women are role models, they’re participating as players, as committed people and they’re bringing their friends along, it’s creating a snowball effect.”
“They’ve got the confidence to participate in community life. They felt lonely, now they’re saying this program has benefited them immensely.”
Ms Hashmi said she would encourage everyone to get involved in a local sporting club.
“New experiences change our lives positively. If we start a new experience, sometimes we fail, but many times we also enjoy it.”
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