Albanese government commits $1 million to women’s surfing growth

Richmond MP Justine Elliot is stoked and throwing shakas after the Federal government revealed a solid boost for women’s surfing to encourage younger girls to get into the sport.

Federal Richmond MP Justine Elliot with Surfing Australia High Performance Director Kate Wilcomes, former world champ Chelsea Hedges, Hannah Jessup, Belen Alvarez-Kimble, Tru Starling and Phoebe Kane. Picture: Supplied.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot is stoked and throwing shakas after the Federal government revealed a solid boost for women’s surfing, to encourage younger girls to get into the sport.

It comes as former world champ and Surfing Australia’s talent pathway coach Chelsea Hedges said there’s “no better time” to be a lady carving up the waves.

The $1 million funding commitment from the Albanese government will go towards the New Wave of Female Boardriders project.

“This exciting new project aims to increase boardrider club membership for women in surfing, ensure access to safe surfing equipment and facilities, and increase the number of women in official and senior positions,” Ms Elliot said.

The cash injection is particularly pertinent for northern New South Wales, with Surfing Australia’s high performance centre located at Casuarina.

Champion Chelsea Hedges after a surf at Burleigh Heads. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The program fosters a culture of respect and gender equality, inclusion in sport and physical activity at local, state, and national levels, and a strong sense of community belonging,” Ms Elliot said.
Ms Hedges, who went from barely surviving and maxing out credit cards to fund her world tour journey to losing her major sponsor, said “the sport has now evolved so much for women”.

Women’s surfing prize money was lower than the men’s for years and has only increased in recent times amid a well-documented battle for gender equality in surfing.

World Surfing League commissioner Jessi Miley-Dier helped cement a 2019 decision for female pros to earn as much as the men.

“With the changes in the surf industry, and some major brands taking a back seat, I think the young girls are starting to diversify and gain sponsorship from brands that aren’t necessarily surf focused,” Ms Hedges said.

Stephanie Gilmore and fellow Team Australia squad member Sally Fitzgibbons at the Surfing Australia High Performance Centre at Casuarina in 2020. Photo: Melanie Belanic

“The fact surfing is now an Olympic sport has placed even more emphasis on it too.
“There’s young girls all over the world now who see this and the best of the best are in the global spotlight.”

Ms Hedges said she was looking to “how to best support young athletes in and out of the water” at the high performance centre at Casuarina.

“Not only are we thinking about their careers, but their careers after surfing,” she said.

“We have some of the best up-and-coming progressive female surfers I have ever seen.

“We aren’t seeing too many aerials and that type of surfing from the women in competition but I think that’s all about to change – they will probably blow the men out of the water.”

Originally published as Albanese government commits $1 million to women’s surfing growth