Surfing Mums recently collaborated with the Australian Sports Commission as part of an initiative called “Coaching Women and Girls.” 

The "Coaching Women and Girls" initiative has been launched to bolster support for coaches in community sports, ensuring the creation of safe, inclusive, welcoming, and enjoyable environments for women and girls. This program aims to raise awareness and foster a deeper understanding of the key opportunities to enhance the inclusion of women and girls in sports, benefiting not only participants but also coaches, officials, parents, and sporting organisations.

The initiative is dedicated to providing vital information, resources, and targeted support tailored to the specific needs of women and girls in community sports. It seeks to assist those in coaching, officiating, and other critical roles, such as volunteers, in fostering fun, safe, and inclusive settings. By collaborating extensively with the community sports ecosystem, the initiative ensures that its efforts are appropriately targeted and based on real needs. Additionally, it aims to highlight the unique experiences of women and girls, supporting others in enhancing their sporting experiences. 

ASC reached out to the Surfing Mums Committee earlier in the year to see if we would be interested in participating in the initiative and highlighting our supportive and inclusive community. We were obviously stoked to be invited to participate! We thought it best to showcase one of our groups in a regional area, where sometimes building and sustaining those vital support networks can be more challenging. We know that the Albany Crew in Western Australia truly embody the spirit of Surfing Mums, so we reached out to their coordinate Vanessa and she graciously hosted the film crew. Check out the gorgeous mini-documentary the ASC have created here. It not only showcases the stunning beauty of Albany’s beaches but also the heartwarming group they’ve cultivated.   

Our story is one of many inspiring stories that the ASC will use to give coaches an insight to the unique experiences of womanhood and girlhood and how these experiences can be enhanced by coaches and facilitators who prioritise creating spaces which celebrate them as people and what they need.

Learn more about the initiative here.

Massive thanks to Vanessa for coordinating with the film crew. Another huge thank you to Annabelle White from ASC for reaching out and documentary our story. And lastly thanks to all the amazing Mums in Albany for joining in and helping to spread the message about Surfing Mums.