SURF THERAPY

Surf Therapy allows individuals to engage in a meaningful age appropriate activity. It also supports and enhances their sensory-motor skills, motor planning abilities, social skills, self-regulation, and emotional regulation. It serves as a subtle therapeutic tool in a natural setting, offering a wide range of therapeutic benefits.

For Surf Therapy, specialised care is ensured for each client through activities that are modified to match the child’s abilities, goals, and sensory needs. The session plan and routine is established with the use of visual schedules. We program and tailor the sessions to the individual in a 1:1 safe and supportive environment. Sessions are unique to each individual and provide flexibility where necessary.
Each session is supported and facilitated by an OT in collaboration with a surf coach. All of our surf coaches are a part of Surf Life Saving Clubs along Cronulla beaches. All of our coaches have extensive surf awareness knowledge and experience to ensure every child is safe in and out of the water. All of our coaches are certified with their Bronze Medallion, First Aid and CPR certificates and are continually being provided with disability support training.

GOALS

There are many gains to be made from being a part of the ‘Super Groms Surf Program’, and each child has their own individual goals. A detailed range may include:
- Acquiring a new skill for lifelong community belonging, engaging in suitable physical activities, and integrating into social activities to support physical and mental well-being.
- Enhancing physical attributes like strength, flexibility, and endurance, alongside improvements in social skills, self-confidence, self-esteem, and outdoor activity motivation.
- Fostering self-regulation, sustained attention, emotional and behavioral regulation, and problem-solving skills.
- Developing sensory system integration, motor skills, group participation, independence in daily activities, and learning swimming, water skills and Surf Life Saving.

Super Groms is supported by Wanda SLSC and primarily run at Wanda Beach, Cronulla.
When Wanda Beach is closed (lifeguards make this decision) or on days of bad weather we relocate sessions to Silver Beach, Kurnell. The kids' safety is our number one priority. Families will be notified on the day of their child’s scheduled session if their location is required to change.
We provide equipment including; surfboards, life jackets, rash shirts (that the children keep and wear to their sessions each week) and OT equipment used on the beach. We do have wetsuits for children to trial and use, however due the children’s individual sensory needs we find it is best for the children to purchase their own wetsuit that is the right fit and feels comfortable to them.
Our Occupational Therapy Surfing based program offers disability inclusion services for families who are not able to join mainstream surf programs.
Prior to the first session we will email through a questionnaire. This will determine if we are able to begin surf therapy sessions immediately or if we feel it would be best to complete an initial OT assessment in the clinic before we commence at the beach. This ensures we are able to adjust the program and sessions to suit the individual child and their goals in a 1:1 safe and supportive environment.
The focus of the child’s sessions are based on the individual's needs and goals. This ensures the safety of our surfers and ensures we use the right therapeutic approach and teaching strategies to facilitate successful engagement in therapy, skill development and achievement of goals. Along with the therapeutic benefits of being in nature and the evidenced based intervention of Surf Therapy itself, we utilise a number of other evidenced based interventions and therapy approaches to achieve your therapy goals.
At the end of each Surf Therapy intervention, we reflect on the individuals goals. We document each child’s individual sessions to monitor their goals and progress. This also includes any parent feedback provided during the session. If necessary we are able to provide any requested reports, such as NDIS annual reviews, progress reports, school/ preschool summary reports etc. to support your child’s development and engagement across their other desired environments.
We primarily offer individualised 1:1 surf therapy sessions for optimal skill development and to develop an understanding of the surfer, their needs and abilities. We program and tailor the sessions to the individual in a 1:1 safe and supportive environment.
We give the parents the choice of commencing sessions at either Silver Beach, Kurnell or Wanda Beach, Cronulla. This is entirely up to the child and their individual needs. For some kids who have limited exposure to the beach we recommend commencing at Silver Beach, Kurnell where it is flat and more predictable. This helps to build the child’s confidence, enhance skill development and build rapport with the coaching staff. This also helps to facilitate a more positive experience and success with their sessions.
If the beach is a familiar place to your child and you feel they would be more than capable of starting at Wanda Beach, Cronulla we are happy to do so. The parents know their child beach so we are happy to be led by the parents and their choice in location for their child.
Our surf therapy sessions are 45 minute duration. All of our children’s surf therapy sessions are individualised. This means each child’s session may look different.
Our sessions are structured to have a sand component that includes an Occupational Therapy designed program to build not only the child’s sensory-motor skills to support their skill development in the water but to also support their regulation to ensure the child is able to participate to the best of their ability. The activity and program designed for the session is different each week. It is used throughout the course of the session not only part of the warm up component but also throughout. We use it as a tool for the child to participate in if they need a break from the surf. It provides a chance for the child to reset in an active and productive way and to encourage them to enter the surf once they are feeling able to again.
We follow the child’s lead. If the child needs to spend more time on the sand than in the water then that is ok. The program on the sand is aimed to be beneficial and productive if this is what the child spends most of the session completing before they are ready to spend the majority of their session in the surf.
A referral is not needed to access our service. However, you can gain a Medicare referral from your GP or Paediatrician which will entitle you to some rebates. If you are accessing our services through NDIS or Private Health a referral is not required.
NDIS
We are currently able to accept clients who are self-managed and plan-managed clients. We are not registered providers so we cannot accept NDIA managed clients.
Medicare
Super Groms Therapies can accept Medicare referrals under the Enhanced Primary Care Plan, Helping Children with Autism & Focussed Psychological Strategies. All services are payable on the day and you will receive a receipt that can be easily claimed through your Medicare app, with funds reimbursed directly to you.
Private Health
Super Groms Therapies is registered with all of the major health funds. Please contact your health fund provider to see if you are covered for Occupational Therapy. All services are payable on the day and you will receive a receipt that can be easily claimed through your Private Health app, with funds reimbursed directly to you.
Active Kids Vouchers
We are also Active Kid Providers. We accept these vouchers for children's surf lessons who attend weekly during the school term.