Help put smiles on dials of disabled surfers

Central Coast Disabled Surfers Association (DSACC) will hold a Smiles on Dials event at Umina Beach on Saturday, December 7.

Celebrating International Day of People with Disability, this year’s theme is Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.

Organisers are on the lookout for large volunteer numbers to help make the surfing experience safe and enjoyable.

Interested volunteers are asked to register online via Humanitix or via https://bit.ly/7Dec2024 prior to the event so organisers can determine how many surfers can take part.

Volunteers will also be accepted on the day.

Volunteers do not need to know how to surf although water skills are highly valued.

A water refill station and a rash shirt will be provided for the day, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own wetsuits.

A sausage sizzle will complete the festivities.

Volunteering at a Smiles on Dials event consists of helping participants to and from the beach, assisting them in and out of the water and helping set up and clean up.

DSACC is a volunteer-run organisation that enables people of all ages and abilities to take part in one of Australia’s most popular past-times, beach surfing.

DSA volunteers serve to provide a safe and happy surfing experience to a wide range of people with various disabilities who would otherwise be unable to access the beach.

In order to ensure safety, DSA has a very high volunteer-to-participant ratio, with a minimum of six-to-one up to as high as 30-to-one for more challenging participants.

Participants only surf in broken waves, in waist depth water.

The DSA was established in 1986 and currently has 19 branches across Australia and New Zealand.

The association sets world’s best practice for the sport of disabled surfing.

The DSA creates opportunities for everyone, including disabled participants and able-bodied volunteers, to experience safe and happy surfing events while under complete supervision from trained team leaders and beach marshalls.