July 22, 2025
How can surfing support veteran mental health?
Earlier this year, a group of veterans came together at URBNSURF in Melbourne to try something new in a supportive setting. Eight weeks later, they walked away with not only surfing skills, but practical tools for mental wellbeing, renewed confidence and a strong sense of community.
The veteran surfing program, run in partnership with Waves of Wellness Foundation and Invictus Australia was made possible thanks to a grant from the Australian Government Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
We caught up with participants after the program wrapped up to hear about the impact it had on their surfing skills, wellbeing, outlook and sense of connection.
Where Surf Meets Support
The Waves of Wellness (WOW) program is an evidence-based therapy program, using surfing as a tool to proactively support physical and mental health. The program provides a supportive environment for individuals and leverages the therapeutic benefits of the ocean and surfing to facilitate positive mental health outcomes.
Each week, the group started off with a guided “expression session” led by a qualified mental health professional. These sessions involved discussions that explored practical wellbeing strategies drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), covering topics like mindfulness, managing change and dealing with stress.
These themes speak directly to common experiences in the veteran community, such as adapting to life after service, navigating uncertainty and managing the long-term effects of high-stress environments.
Then it was time to get in the water. The group took part in beginner-friendly surf sessions, using movement and the outdoors to support their mental and physical wellbeing.
“I liked the dynamic of [talking about] mental health and an activity like surfing,” one participant shared.
Real Impact, in Real Time
For many in the group, the regular program offered the space to establish a healthy routine that incorporated positive habits for both their physical and mental wellbeing, while giving an exciting sport a try.
The WOW program gave me something to look forward to each week whilst I was going through some turmoil in my personal life.”
“It exposed me to an activity that I was curious about, had never tried and am contemplating sticking with as a hobby,” one participant shared.
Another reflected on what it meant to be around others who simply understood:
“This [program] opened my eyes to a new activity and allowed me to form connections with like-minded people with whom I could discuss my own uncertainty in regards to what happens in my ‘next stage of life’ as I get older. I got a lot out of hearing about their own lived experiences.”
Addressing Isolation and Building Trust
Others found the environment allowed them to process challenges in ways that traditional support services sometimes can’t.
“When veterans seek professional help, it’s often focused on the individual. You’re just talking in isolation. This experience of getting yourself out of bed, trying something new, listening to others made me realise that I’m not the only one who feels like this.”
The surf therapy program offered a safe space where participants didn’t feel the need to explain themselves, where their military service, trauma or personal struggles didn’t require justification. One participant summed it up:
“Although I knew I wasn’t the only one going through things, you can feel that way anyway.
“It was good to be in a place that I didn’t have to qualify myself…everyone there just understood.”
Naturally, this trust and understanding rooted in shared experiences meant the group were able to form lasting bonds. With the support of the WoW mental health professional, each participant was able to walk away with new social connections, but also a comprehensive toolkit to help them effectively manage their mental health and navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
From Camaraderie to Community
While the surf sessions have ended, the community formed throughout the program hasn’t.
The group has continued to connect through sport, meeting up at parkrun, trail runs, pickleball games and even ice hockey matches.
“I met new people I could relate to. It also allowed me to strengthen relationships with people I already knew. It was nice to partake in an activity collectively.”
Over the 8-week period, the bonds this group formed allowed them to see the valuable role that sport can play in managing one’s health and wellbeing. One participant recalled seeing the visible shift in the group over the course of the program:
“When we got out on the water and started getting small wins, you couldn’t wipe the smile off [our] faces.”
Another described their involvement in the program as incredibly vulnerable, but healing:
I had a huge, cathartic, sobbing cry two weeks ago. I felt safe enough in front of the group of veterans to express that vulnerability and got kindness and support back.”
A Holistic Approach to Healing
For the group of participants, and the wider community, this program has highlighted what’s possible when we look at veteran wellbeing through a broader lens, one that includes community, sport, purpose and the outdoors.
The Waves of Wellness program, in partnership with Invictus Australia, is free for veterans to attend. If you’re interested in learning more about the next round of WoW programs, you can find out more here.
Image credit: Waves of Wellness
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