Since 2013 we have been running our very successful Same Waves Program, aimed at children with special needs and disabilities.

This innovative program has bought a lot of positive focus on our club, with significant television and media coverage over the summers. The club has been included in the high profile “all kids can play” campaign. Watch here and see how our club has embraced the principals behind “all kids can play”.

As part of our surf club extension, the club installed an internal lift to allow access from the street level of the club to the beach, along with disabled change rooms and ramps to the beach. Along with our beach matting and specialised beach wheelchairs. We have also partnered with Life without Barriers to ensure we enable more beach access. Click here for a look at the opening day.

It has also enabled a lot of people from the broader community to become involved in our club and has been an excellent example of our club offering more than safety and lifesaving skills.

The program was developed to allow for kids with a disability or developmental delay aged 6 yrs up to young adults to participate in beach activities (modified Nippers Program). This program will help the kids to have fun, learn and participate in activities such as flags, sprints, beach relays, as well as a number of other recreational activities. The Program also sees the kids learn to balance and paddle surfboards and to experience the excitement of catching, for many, their very first wave to the shore whilst under the guidance of the trained coordinators.

The aim of the program is to provide some support for career’s whilst also offering children and adolescents a chance to take part in fun beach activities that they may not normally access.

If you are a parent or guardian for a young person under 18 years of age, who has a physical or intellectual disability, we would welcome your consent for their participation in our program.

The program will run for approximately one hour per session and run for a 4week block throughout the summer season. You are welcome to participate for one or all of the blocks.

For more information or to register please contact our Same Waves Coordinators – Sue Hermens and John Mayo at samewaves@cookshillsurfclub.com.au