About

Surfing Mental Health 360 is a surf community-driven program connecting boardriders clubs, surf schools and high schools in communities affected by drought, bushfires and Covid-19.

As part of the program, Surfing NSW has teamed up five Surfing Mental Health organisations; Batyr, Waves of Wellness, The Good Human Factory, Man Anchor and The Rise Foundation who will all be working together through the sport of surfing with a holistic view to create awareness and provide ongoing referrals and support pathways.Surfing Mental Health 360 is jointly funded by The NSW Mental Health Sports Fund, CommBank South Coast Bushfire Relief Grant and Randwick City club GRANTS.

Our Partners

The Good Human Factory

In late 2018 professional surfer Cooper Chapman realised something needed to change.

An undisputed issue. Australia saw over 2000 suicides in 2019 alone, currently this is the leading cause of death for Australians between the ages 15 and 44. 2019 was a year where we have become more connected online yet disconnected in reality. This is the same year that has seen 3.5 billion people active on social media… a figure that is both impressive and alarming.

Our organisation is all about what it means to be a ‘Good Human’. A simple concept that can take a lifetime to master, if ever at all. We look to inspire a positive and balanced life focusing on Gratitude, Mindfulness, Values, Kindness and Empathy.

batyr

Surfing NSW has partnered with batyr to provide a number of leading educational programs at three high schools in the far north coast, designed to smash the stigma around mental health and empower young people to reach out for support.

The Surfing Mental Health 360 program is providing 800+ students will with free batyr@school programs along with free surfing lessons after each program, aimed to remove the stigma around mental health.

The batyr Team are leaders in delivering high-impact mental health programs for a range of audiences and linked to our clubs and surf schools this is a very powerful authentic way for youth to be educated. With tailored options for students, parents, and teachers. The Surfing Metal Health 360 Program will engage the year 9 cohort in positive conversations around mental health and wellbeing.

The Rise Foundation

The Rise Foundation are Mental Health First Aid and Mental Health Response trainers who use evidence based technical expertise and personal insights through lived experience to up skill businesses, communities and individuals in suicide prevention and mental health wellbeing.

Founder of Rise, Ben Higgs has a passionate interest in supporting the youth from arising mental health issues within the surfing community. Ben and the team are working closely with Surfing NSW to provide support to the local Randwick community through the Randwick City Club Grants. 2036 in 360 will be the first offical community event targeted at the youth of Randwick/ Malabar/ La Perouse and Maroubra. The day will showcase motivational speaker and fun activities for the kids. More here

Man Anchor

Man Anchor are offering FREE Mental health 1st aid training to our boardrider clubs and surf schools and surfers in the far north coast and South coast.

The course is a combination of modules completed online in your own time over 3 weeks followed by 2x 2/1/2 hour zoom discussion with the Man Anchor team.

The Standard Mental Health First Aid course will teach you how to provide initial support to other adults who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis until appropriate professional help is received or the crisis resolves, using a practical, evidence-based Action Plan.

Waves OF Wellness

Waves of Wellness (WOW) Foundation is a mental health surf therapy charity, committed to changing lives by delivering for-purpose, innovative support programs for people experiencing mental health challenges.

Over the past month, 20 plus individuals from the far north coast have been offered to complete a FREE WOW Surfing Experience. The Waves Of Wellness Surfing Experience is an eight-week evidence-based learn-to-surf program for people experiencing mental health issues. It facilitates functional recovery while promoting social inclusion, engagement through surfing.

The upcoming program in Kingscliff & Ballina includes ongoing mental health check-ins and invitations to engage in Surf therapy experiences via the local surf school or join a Boardrider Clubs (for surfers) and continue surf lessons (for new surfers).