Thea had a fear of water. She's now an ambassador for an international women's surf community.
Thea is an NDIS participant and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. She lives with autism, anxiety, depression and aquaphobia (a fear of water) following a traumatic experience when she was younger.
Thea connected with Castle with a goal to learn a new skill and make some new friends. With support from her Disability Support Worker, Anna, Thea focused on practical steps to move forward.
“We’ve focused on building Thea’s confidence and identity,” Anna says.
“That’s included joining social groups, helping her phrase messages to reach out to people and build friendships, and even something as simple as finding clothes that make her feel confident in herself.”
Together, they also worked towards something Thea had always wanted to try: surfing.
“I didn’t want to hold myself back anymore, so I took the plunge and got surf lessons,” Thea says.
The first few lessons were challenging. Thea experienced high levels of fear and anxiety in the water. But she kept going.
Over time, her confidence grew. Thea has now completed multiple surf courses, improved her fitness, and built friendships through the surf community.
“I now feel more confident around the water. Surfing has become a massive part of my life and identity and I’ve made so many friends thanks to it.”
Thea is now an ambassador for an international women’s surf community, where she advocates for inclusion and supports others to feel welcome.
“I want to be an advocate and peer for others like me,” she says.
“People like me do exist in the surf community and will continue to exist regardless of what others will say.”
Her story shows that with practical support and the right opportunities, people can build confidence, try new things and connect with their community in ways that work for them.