Video: Enhancing the lives of those living with autism through surfing

Program: Ocean Heroes

Ocean Heroes is one of our seven successful 2017/ 2018 Ansvar Community Education Program grant recipients. They will use the CEP grant funds to continue their Ocean Heroes program. The program creates a safe, fun and caring environment for Australian youth in Western Australia with autism spectrum disorder to go surfing. The funds will contribute towards a new van, allowing more equipment to be purchased and transported to and from events. This will allow them to become fully self-sufficient and continue to grow across Western Australia, with the opportunity to host surf events in remote areas.

These events that span across a year will allow up to 1,000 youths living with autism to gain self-confidence, and be part of an organised sport activity, in a supported and structured environment.

Key Objectives:

-To enhance the lives of those living with autism through surfing
-Hold monthly surfing events to increase self-confidence and physical activity and surf skills amongst young people living with autism.

Expected outcome from the program:

The program with the help of the Ansvar CEP grant fund will allow Ocean Heroes to hold more events and across other regions around Western Australia. This will allow more children and young adults on the autism spectrum to have an opportunity to participate, regardless of where they live.
Through wider participation Ocean Heroes want to identify themselves as a major service towards Perth’s autism community.

Ansvar is delighted to support such an amazing organisation. Ocean Heroes recently received some media attention for the wonderful work that they do.