Community

In 2020, during Covid lockdowns across the world, according to multiple studies, rates of domestic violence were increasing. This concerned Chloë McCardel greatly.

She started a campaign in August 2020 to use the international press around her 35th English Channel swim, which broke the Men’s World Record for Greatest Crossings of the English Channel, to shine a light on this alarming statistic.

She continued her advocacy work in conjunction into 2021 and particularly around her media campaign  around her World Record for Greatest Crossings of the English Channel.

Chloë is currently lending her voice and story to the National Campaign to Criminalise Coercive Control across Australia. Coercive control was found to be prevalent in 99% of intimate partner homicides in one NSW study (Australia).

Chloë was not only a victim of domestic violence, she was also victim blamed by a police officer and a police prosecutor and was pursued through the adversarial Magistrate Courts in 2018 by Victoria Police, on behalf of her perpetrator. She was misidentified by Victoria Police as a ‘perpetrator’. She has since received an apology from Lauren Callaway, Assistant Commissioner – Family Violence..

Chloë is proud to be a Starlight Swim ambassador for the Feb 2022 Super Swim! Dive in and Join Chloë by registering HERE and get started 🙂

During Chloë’s 15 year marathon swimming career she has donated her time, fundraised for and advocated for the groups and campaigns below.

Domestic Violence

My Red Flags (Australia & worldwide), Honourary Ambassador
Submission (written and in-person) to the NSW Joint Select Committee Investigating Coercive Control, Advocacy
White Ribbon Australia (Australia), Fundraising
Women’s Community Shelters (NSW, Australia), Fundraising
Monash Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre (Victoria, Australia), Victim-survivor testimony
Family Violence Reform Implementation (Victoria, Australia), Victim-survivor testimony
Sydney International Women’s Day March and Rally, Guest Speaker victim-survivor
Youth for Human Rights Australia, Guest Speaker victim-survivor
Various interviews with Australian and international media advocating on behalf of Domestic Violence victims (worldwide) Victim-survivor advocacy

Swimming

Coogee Surf Club (New South Wales, Australia), Honourary Ambassador
Mentone Surf Life Saving Club  (Victoria, Australia), Honourary Ambassador
Williamstown Surf & Swimming Club (Victoria, Australia), Honourary Ambassador
Rotary Club – Point Gelibrand (Victoria, Australia),Honourary Ambassador
Rotary Club – Brighton (Victoria, Australia), Voluntary work
Masters Swimming Victoria (Victoria, Australia), Honourary Ambassador
Masters Swimming Australia (Australia), Honourary Ambassador
South End Rowing (and swimming) Club  (San Francisco, USA), Honourary Ambassador

Cancer

Tour de Cure (Australia), Voluntary work
Swim Across America (USA), Voluntary work
Starlight  Children’s Foundation (Australia), Honourary Ambassador
Canteen (Australia), Fundraising
CanToo (Australia), Fundraising
Can Assist (Australia), Fundraising
Cure Cancer (Australia), Voluntary work
Breast Cancer Network Australia (Australia), Voluntary work

Other

Victorian Bushfire Emergency Appeal (2019-20), Fundraising
Mencap (UK), Voluntary work
Emerge Foundation (based in Australia, funds go towards projects in East Timor), Voluntary work
Free to Run | Female Empowerment Through Sport in Afghanistan, Fundraising
Channel4Change, Deniliquin Mental Health Awareness Group Inc. (Australia), Voluntary work