Some of the best things start with a simple idea between mates. Ocean Heroes started exactly like that — three local West Australian surfers, a shared belief that the ocean can heal, and a question: what if we could share this with kids who need it most?
That idea became one of Perth's most special not-for-profit organisations. And we're proud to say it was co-founded right here at Go Surf Perth.
The Beginning (And Yes, That Logo)
The OG logo. Designed on a Sunday afternoon with a big vision and a small budget. Character for days.
Back in early 2016, Tom Johnston (head coach and owner of Perth Go Surf), Luke Hallam (personal trainer running specialised fitness programs for autistic children at Revolution Sport in Shenton Park), and Sam Moyle (marine scientist here in WA) put their heads together with a mission: to enhance the lives of those living with Autism Spectrum Disorder through surfing.
The first logo? Well, we'll let you judge that one for yourself. 😅
It had soul. It looked like it was designed on a Sunday afternoon with a big vision and a small budget — because it was. And honestly? That perfectly captured where Ocean Heroes began.
What Actually Happens at an Ocean Heroes Event
The first event was held at Leighton Beach, Fremantle in June 2016. Twenty-four young surfers showed up, each getting around 45 minutes in the water with Tom, Luke, Sam, and a crew of dedicated volunteers managing registrations and getting in alongside every single kid.
The front page of the Post Newspaper covered it on 4 June 2016. But the real story was told in the smiles.
The early crew — this is what a grassroots movement looks like.
Luke described what they kept seeing in the water:
““It is such a positive thing for the kids to be in the ocean. And once they catch a wave, they just want to do it again. It’s great for kids who experience sensory overload. They chill out and it’s therapeutic.””
🌊 Ocean Heroes — Early Events Timeline
Surfing the Spectrum · Perth, Western Australia
Every single one of those events ran on volunteer power and community support.
What the Families Said
❤️ What the Families Said
Real words from real families · Ocean Heroes events, Perth 2016–2017
"Thanks to Ocean Heroes we can now introduce him as 'Paddy, he loves to surf.' Much better conversation opener. The effects of a morning surfing with your amazing organisation lasts longer than the day. Paddy has no functional communication system but it is clear the joy he gets from being on the board. Just look at that face."
Family of Patrick Callum Michael O'Brien
"What a great day it was. What a lovely opportunity to give our kids some wonderful experiences. The staff, volunteers and organisers did a fantastic job. There was so much love and enthusiasm for our kids, and the whole experience was just awesome."
Lina Castro
"I can't thank you enough — my boys enjoy every minute! Your passion and enthusiasm for surfing just rubs off on them! Both my boys want to take up surfing full time so now we just need to find them a club to join."
Pamela
"Ocean Heroes has once again been a huge success for our children on the autism spectrum and their families. This unique event is clearly giving these kids huge relief from anxiety and depression by surfing the ocean's waters. Keep ridin' those waves guys, just keep ridin' those waves."
Judi Barrett-Lennard
"Thanks to Ocean Heroes we can now introduce him as 'Paddy, he loves to surf.' Much better conversation opener. The effects of a morning surfing with your amazing organisation lasts longer than the day. Paddy has no functional communication system but it is clear the joy he gets from being on the board. Just look at that face."
Family of Patrick Callum Michael O'Brien
"What a great day it was. What a lovely opportunity to give our kids some wonderful experiences. The staff, volunteers and organisers did a fantastic job. There was so much love and enthusiasm for our kids, and the whole experience was just awesome."
Lina Castro
"I can't thank you enough — my boys enjoy every minute! Your passion and enthusiasm for surfing just rubs off on them! Both my boys want to take up surfing full time so now we just need to find them a club to join."
Pamela
"Ocean Heroes has once again been a huge success for our children on the autism spectrum and their families. This unique event is clearly giving these kids huge relief from anxiety and depression by surfing the ocean's waters. Keep ridin' those waves guys, just keep ridin' those waves."
Judi Barrett-Lennard
The Science Behind the Smiles
Surfing has always been known for the physical workout — but the mental side is often overlooked. What Ocean Heroes taps into is something surfers have always known instinctively: the ocean demands your full attention. You can't be anxious about tomorrow when you're watching a wave. You can't be in your head when your body is finding its balance on a board.
For kids who experience sensory overload, that forced presence in the moment — the cool water, the salt air, the rhythm of the swell — can be genuinely therapeutic. The ocean is an equaliser.
See It for Yourself
Early days at Perth beaches — the moments that started it all.
Ten Years On
What started as three mates with an idea has now been running for a decade. The "Hero Helper" program, launched in 2017/2018, became one of the most meaningful evolutions of the project — giving teenagers and young adults with ASD the chance to step up as mentors, organisers, and team leaders at events. Participants became contributors. Surf students became role models.
Ten years of events. Hundreds of volunteers. Thousands of waves shared with kids who needed them.
Ocean Heroes is still going — still run on community energy, still showing up at Perth beaches, still putting kids with autism on surfboards. If anything, that's the most remarkable part: it started because a few people believed in it, and that belief turned out to be contagious.
How You Can Support
Ocean Heroes is powered by volunteers and community donations.
Volunteer: Comfortable in the ocean or happy to help on the day? Email info@oceanheroes.com.au
Donate: oceanheroes.com.au
Follow for updates: @oceanheroes on Facebook
If the ocean has ever done something good for you — if you've felt that particular calm after a surf, that feeling of being completely in your body and out of your head — you already know why this matters. That's what Ocean Heroes gives these kids. Every single event.
Go Surf Perth is proud to be a founding partner of Ocean Heroes Australia. If you'd like to learn to surf in Perth — whether you're a kid, an adult, a school group, or a corporate team — book a lesson here.
