OUR STORY
Founded by husband and wife team, Justine and Lachlan Spencer. Justine, an Occupational Therapist, and Lachlan, a Carpenter, both grew up in the Sutherland Shire, spending much of their time at Cronulla Beach, particularly surfing. This is now their favourite place to spend any spare moment we have with our little family.
The primary goal of their program is to promote Disability Inclusion and to ‘Close the Gap,’ aiming to enhance independence, societal inclusion, and the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The ocean has been a source of countless memories for Justine and Lachlan, offering them a place to reset and recharge. They are passionate about sharing this experience and supporting others' regulation through the positive impacts of Surf Therapy, Ocean Safety, and Surfing on the mental, emotional, sensory, and physical well-being of individuals in the program. They are passionate about sharing their experience and supporting others. This has been clear through the positive impact Surf Therapy, Ocean Safety and Surfing can play on the mental, emotional, sensory and physical well-being of the individuals in the program.
Justine earned her degree in Occupational Therapy from The University of Western Sydney in 2016 and began her career as a Paediatric Occupational Therapist. Currently, she continues to provide intervention in clinic, home, and school settings. Her experience in delivering various programs within the community, and witnessing the endless benefits to her clients and their families, highlighted a gap. There was a need for these individuals to access the beach in a safe and supportive manner, to participate in and enjoy surfing while achieving therapy goals discreetly and inclusively.
Credentials
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Bachelor Health Science/Masters of Occupational Therapy (Western Sydney University)
Certified Level 1 Surf Coach, Surfing Australia
CPR and Resuscitation Certificate
Ocean Rescue
Inclusive Beach Certificate
SLS Foundation Coach Certificate
Certified and/or mentored in:
‘Listening With the Whole Body’ (Therapeutic Listening®) Basic Level DIR®-Floortime™
Understanding the Vestibular System: Theory, Anatomy, and Implications for Practice (Sheila Frick).
Completed and mentored in courses such as:
Understanding Trauma & Understanding Secondary Trauma (Mary Cutts)
S.O.S Feeding Program
The Wilbarger – Sensory Defensiveness technique
M.O.R.E – Integrating the Mouth with Sensory and Postural
Functions (Oetter & Richter)
Astronaut Program
Postgraduate Sensory Integration Module 1 – Foundations and Neuroscience
Jabiru Symposium – Perspectives on Sensory Modulation and Regulation
Child Protection Mandatory training
Social Thinking Training
Key Word Sign
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Different Way of Thinking, Learning and Managing Emotions – Tony Attwood
Fully trained Therasuit therapist
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Certified Level 1 Surf Coach, Surfing Australia
CPR and Resuscitation Certificate
Ocean Rescue
Inclusive Beach Certificate
SLS Foundation Coach Certificate
Key Word Sign