Female Afghan athletes move to Melbourne

Seven female taekwondo athletes who fled Taliban-controlled Afghanistan have resettled in Melbourne.

The women are completing quarantine this week and will start a new life in Victoria, welcomed by the Australian Taekwondo community.

Former Socceroos captain and vocal humanitarian advocate Craig Foster worked with the Australian government, Australian Taekwondo and Oceania Taekwondo on the high-risk evacuation.

"We're really pleased the ladies are safe and incredibly grateful for the assistance of the Australian government and Oceania Taekwondo in getting them out of Afghanistan," Australian Taekwondo's chief executive Heather Garriock said.

"The lives of these women were in danger.

"As a sport, we needed to pull together and do something to help.

"The Australian taekwondo community is incredibly welcoming, and these ladies will be welcomed with open arms."

Garriock - who played for the Matildas at two Olympics - contacted Foster to help in relocating the athletes to Australia.

"Craig is a passionate advocate for multiculturalism and refugees, so it was only natural that he was the first person I contacted to discuss what needed to happen, Garriock said.

One of the athletes, Fatima Ahmadi, said she was grateful for the assistance of all parties who supported their evacuation.

"I feel so good about arriving in Australia. We are safe here without any danger," she said.

"Australian Taekwondo helped us a lot and I am so thankful. We are now waiting to do some useful things for Australia and repay your help."

The Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan last month with a regime that will forbid Afghan women from playing sport.

There is one remaining athlete in Kabul, with the relevant agencies working to secure her safe passage.