ASB MAGAZINE: A program encouraging young Aboriginal Victorians to surf has received a generous grant thanks to the Victorian Government. Surfing Victoria’s Indigenous Surfing Program recently scored a $100,000 boost from  the Together More Active grant funding platform.

Since 1998 the Indigenous Surfing Program has provided a range of opportunities for young Aboriginal Victorians to participate and compete in surfing, and more recently stand-up paddleboarding.

Between 2018 and 2020 alone, more than a thousand participants took part in wave riding, skills workshops, water safety and competitions across 14 different locations around the state, 50 per cent of those participants were young women and girls.

The funding will help Surfing Victoria increase social participation and employment opportunities for young Indigenous Australians and broaden its partnerships through the program.

VicHealth will also continue its support of the Indigenous Surfing Program providing $100,000.

The support for the Surfing Victoria initiative is part of the Government’s work to build a more sustainable sport sector and increase participation for everyone.

Government investment includes more than $18 million kicked in through the first round of the Together More Active Program, with $6.3 million going to 79 sport and active recreation organisations for projects that improve their competitive edge, boost organisational capacity, increase membership and sustainability, create more participation opportunities, and increase diversity and inclusiveness.

PRESS RELEASE VIA  Sport and Recreation Victoria.