Adaptive surfing (also called para-surfing) enables people with physical, visual, or intellectual disabilities to experience and compete in surfing. Surfing Australia has developed adaptive surfing programmes, and the International Surfing Association (ISA) includes para-surfing at the World Surfing Games — para-surfing is on the pathway toward Olympic and Paralympic inclusion. This guide covers the key funding sources.
Surfing Australia has an adaptive surfing programme:
- Para-surfing as a discipline
- State adaptive surfing programmes
- ISA Para Surfing World Championship pathway
- Inclusive surfing development
Contact Surfing Australia and your state surfing body for investment access.
Para-surfing has six divisions based on disability type:
- SA1 (Prone): Significant limb or trunk impairment, surfs prone
- SA2 (Kneel): Surfs on knees
- SIT1/SIT2: Surfs in a seated position
- VS1/VS2: Visual impairment
- AS and related: Additional categories
Understanding classification is valuable for funding applications — equipment needs vary by division.
Paralympics Australia has interest in para-surfing development:
- ISA para-surfing pathway toward Paralympic inclusion
- Potential for future Paralympic investment
State Paralympic councils fund disability sport including adaptive surfing.
Sport Australia funds surfing through Surfing Australia:
- Para-surfing development investment
State sport agencies fund community adaptive surfing:
- NSW Office of Sport: Adaptive water sport grants
- Sport and Recreation Victoria: Disability sport inclusion
- State agencies: Para-surfing development
Gaming grants fund adaptive surfing programmes:
- NSW ClubGRANTS: Community sport development
- State gaming trusts: Equipment and programme grants
Gaming grant applications for adaptive surfing:
- Adaptive surfboards (wider, more stable boards for prone or seated surfing)
- Adaptive surfing vests and tethers
- Beach wheelchairs and access equipment
- Swim assistance equipment
- Programme delivery costs
Adaptive surfing requires specific equipment:
- Adaptive surfboards: Wider, more stable boards for various disability types — $500–$2,000+
- Beach wheelchair: Enables access to the water — $1,500–$5,000
- Tethers and handles: For supporting surfers with upper limb impairments
- Adaptive vests: Buoyancy aids for adaptive surfers
- Transfer equipment: For moving from wheelchair to board
Beach wheelchairs are a major capital item — they transform beach access for people using wheelchairs.
Adaptive surfing requires beach access:
- Accessible beach pathways: Boardwalks to the water's edge
- Accessible toilets: Beach facilities for people with disability
- Local councils: Beach access infrastructure grants
Adaptive surfing's therapeutic dimensions:
- Ocean therapy: Therapeutic benefits of surfing for people with disability
- Rehabilitation through surf: Post-injury and disability rehabilitation
- Social wellbeing: Community connection through adaptive surfing
Beyond sport funders:
- NDIS: Adaptive surfing participation for eligible individuals
- Disability foundations: Equipment and programme grants
- Community foundations: Inclusive outdoor sport development
Women's participation:
- Para-surfing women's divisions: Full women's competition
- Sport Australia: Women in sport investment
- Growing women's adaptive surfing community
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Participant numbers: Surfers by disability classification, age, and gender
- Adaptive equipment: Boards, beach wheelchairs, access gear — specific and justified
- Beach access: How access barriers are reduced
- Paralympic pathway: ISA para-surfing competitive pathway
- Ocean therapy outcomes: Wellbeing and rehabilitation dimensions
- Disability inclusion: Accessible programme for diverse disability types
- Organisation governance: Affiliation to Surfing Australia and state body
Tahua's grants management platform helps adaptive surfing programmes manage grant applications across Surfing Australia, state sport agencies, disability funders, and community funders, tracking equipment, access, and participation outcomes.