Surf Therapy Sessions

What is Surf Therapy?

Beach Break Occupational Therapy was formed to provide access to alternative Occupational Therapy programs and surfing opportunities on the South Coast, NSW. Our focus is to provide OT services through an adapted surfing program, as a way to facilitate therapy goals, by using an activity and an environment that is meaningful to our surfers and their families. We recognise the therapeutic benefits of working in nature, as well as the integral need for everyone to have opportunity to participate in recreational activities that promote inclusion, social development and physical and mental well-being.

Check out our video and article with ABC news for a sneak peak into our sessions.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-19/surf-therapy-improves-lives-of-kids-with-disability/101817752

Our Surf Sessions

Our surf sessions are located at Broulee and Narooma. We run our program in summer only- term 4, summer school holidays, term 1 and easter school holidays Monday - Saturday. We offer 1:1 sessions and small group programs. Whilst the main focus is surfing, therapy will also occur in still water (e.g. creek/river), in the waves or on the sand for other therapy-based activities. This is dependent on the individuals needs and goals. We supply our surfers with rash vests, life jackets and other therapy equipment.

Accessing Surf Therapy

Surf Therapy can be accessed through:

Self-managed or plan-managed NDIS plans. You will require ‘Capacity Building’ funding to use your NDIS plan for Surf Therapy
Private payment

Please get in touch with us for program prices

Our Process

Getting Started

Fill out the contact form on the website
Admin support will send you our terms of service, information gathering and consent forms for you to review and complete
We will be in touch with you about availability and booking session times

Assessment and Goal Setting

We use a client/family centred approach to gather information in order to gain a holistic understanding of the surfer. We would aim to achieve very similar goals to that is provided by a standard paediatric OT service, but using surfing and the ocean/beach as a means to achieve therapy outcomes.

Common goals that our surfers work on:

Increasing gross motor skills and mobility
Emotional and self-regulation skills (e.g. flexible thinking, coping with changes, labelling emotions)
Social skills
Cognitive skills (e.g. attention, following instructions)
Sensory processing skills
Dressing
Fitness
And of course, developing a meaningful leisure activity (surfing!)

Intervention

We use the information from the initial assessment to make a Therapy Plan that is based on the surfers individual 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.

Goal Attainment

At the end of each Surf Therapy intervention, we reflect on the individuals goals. We document each of our sessions and can provide a report if requested.