Safe surf fun for neurodivergent young people
Autism Swim’s free Dippers program in Queenscliff aims to turn the tide on the statistics which show that children on the autism spectrum are 160 times more likely to drown than their peers.
Established in 2016, Dippers is an inclusive surf safety program for neurodivergent young people, which not only works to make beach a fun space, but also fosters broader community inclusion through training volunteers.
Dippers is run every summer, usually during the school term between February and March when the water is at its warmest. Autism Swim works with surf clubs and trains volunteers.
Antoinette Spear, general manager of Autism Swim, lives in Frenchs Forest. Her son, 10, was diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age six and loves Dippers.
“The joy on his face is just incredible,” says Antoinette. Children will often start by using the Queenscliff ocean pool. “It has enbled that stepping stone to going ‘full throttle’ on the beach!”
Being a modified version of Nippers, Dippers is run differently. Routine is critical for the neurodivergent participants.
“We’ve got a wonderful visual setup – a gazebo that’s branded with the Autism Swim logo and it matches the logo on the volunteer and participant t-shirts.”
After signing in, a sand-based group activity is first up. “Everyone’s welcome to participate in a way that makes sense for them and how they would like to contribute,” explains Antoinette. “Within their sand-based activities participants might be exploring the sand or we might have them watching or observing.”
Each participant has a profile that their primary volunteer receives, so activities are tailored for each person.
“(Volunteers) have more insight as to what their interests and strengths are and what they love about being outdoors,” says Antoinette. “We help facilitate the outcomes in a really low-demand, no pressure and fun way, and we engage special interests.”
The program was run in Warriewood in 2025, and has moved to Queenscliff this year, as Autism Swim got an Uplift Northern Beaches Grant to establish a new club.
They partnered with Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club, and the eight-week program, which continues until 29 March, is supported by Autism Swim–trained volunteers and clinicians.
Queenscliff Dippers runs for one hour at 7.45 am on Sundays and offers 11 participant spots (which fill up fast), with two to three volunteers per child and a clinician on site to provide advice if needed.
Antoinette says she would love to expand throughout the Northern Beaches to meet the demand for the Dippers program, but they need more funding.
“We desperately need community fundraisers,” she says. “April is World Autism Awareness Month so that’s our big fundraising month.”
To donate, visit autismswim.com.au
