Indigenous youth from the Central Coast’s Deadly Young Indigenous Surfing program took to the water at Terrigal Beach this morning with new surfboards and rash vests thanks to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.

The Deadly Young Indigenous Surfing program is a collaboration between the Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation, Gosford City Council and other local supporters. Launched in 2005, it makes surfing accessible for Indigenous youth throughout the Central Coast region.

The program promotes healthy lifestyles and provides the local Indigenous community with the opportunity to experience surfing in a fun, safe and supervised environment.

Australian Sports Commission’s Director of National Sports Programs Greg Nance praised the initiative shown by the central coast community to get this program off the ground.

‘The ASC’s Indigenous Sport Program works to provide ongoing support to the Indigenous community with running effective, sustainable programs and the Deadly Young Indigenous Surfing program is an excellent example of this type of program’ Nance said.

Kylie Cassidy, Aboriginal Community Development Officer from the Mingaletta Aboriginal Corporation is excited about receiving the new equipment.

‘The program greatly benefits local Indigenous youth by providing them with an alternative activity outside school hours. This new equipment will enable the program to grow further which is great news for everyone involved.’

The Central Coast is one of four communities that will benefit from this equipment. New surfboards and rash vests were also presented to Indigenous surfing programs at Byron Bay and Maroubra (NSW), and Warrnambool (VIC).

The Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, founded in 2000, is an apolitical charitable initiative that uses the positive influence of sport to tackle society's most pressing challenges. It celebrates the universal power of sport to bring people together as a force for good.

The ASC’s Indigenous Sport Program aims to increase Indigenous Australians’ participation in structured sport at all levels, builds the capacity of Indigenous people to run sustainable sporting programs and supports talented Indigenous sportspeople to achieve their sporting goals.

For more information on the ASC’s Indigenous Sport Program and opportunities in sport for Indigenous Australians go to www.ausport.gov.au/participating/all/indigenous
Media contact: Jason Iten (02) 6214 1376 or 0438 591 323