This school holiday season, the Parramatta Eels have joined forces with Surfing Australia to deliver an inspiring Active Participation initiative aimed at fostering confidence and promoting healthy, active lifestyles for young students. The Surf for Life program brought together 25 children aged 6 to 11 years from Rydalmere Public School and St Oliver’s Primary School, Harris Park, for a series of six free surf lessons at URBNSURF Sydney Olympic Park.
The program, designed to engage children in water safety and surf skills, saw local children connecting with their community and building confidence in the water. In addition to hands-on surf training, participants were joined by two-time world surfing champion Tom Carroll and Parramatta Eels NRL player Joey Lussick. Earlier in the week, Eels NRL player Luca Moretti also made a surprise appearance, engaging with the children and adding to the excitement of the event.
The Surf for Life program is an initiative under the broader Parra Eels Play project, supported by the City of Parramatta. This program aims to encourage children to stay active and engaged through a variety of inclusive activities, from school programs and holiday camps to special events and community experiences. Since its inception, Parra Eels Play has impacted over 7,000 primary school-aged children, who have collectively logged more than 25,000 hours of active play.
Organized by Surfing NSW and Surfing Australia and proudly supported by the Australian Sports Commission, the Play Well Surf for Life program has made a meaningful impact across New South Wales, offering opportunities to children who may not otherwise have had the chance to experience the sport of surfing. Over the course of six weeks, 70 young participants from diverse backgrounds have gained confidence both in and out of the water.
In recognition of their efforts, each participant will receive a rashie and an $80 URBN Surf voucher to continue their surfing journey. The program’s organizers expressed pride in providing such opportunities to children from vibrant and diverse communities, many of whom had never before had access to surfing. Moving forward, the initiative aims to expand and invite even more families from across the region to take part in community-driven, active experiences.
“We’re especially proud to offer these kinds of opportunities to students from such a vibrant and diverse community, many of whom may not have had the chance to experience activities like this before,” said one of the program’s organizers. “We look forward to expanding the program and encouraging even more families across our region to get involved in active, community-focused experiences.”
The collaboration between the Parramatta Eels and Surfing Australia marks a significant step in making active participation in sports more accessible to children, fostering a sense of connection and confidence that will benefit them for years to come.