Australia’s famous beach culture is one of the features many people find most appealing about the country and pictures of people of all ages on surf boards are naturally associated with the country. While the benefits of exercise in general have been known for decades, along with the importance of the social aspect of sports and outdoor activities, research from the UK suggests that the popularity of surfing in Australia might be more beneficial than people have realized.
Backed by the government, a UK-based charity has been researching the use of surfing as a way to combat mental illness and depression in children and young adults. In essence they see that the physical and mental challenge of learning how to control a surf board, even more than other forms of sport, gives young people a sense of achievement and empowerment, which transfers to other areas of their lives.
While it’s still early days for the scheme in the UK, it is being monitored with interest and while the aim of the scheme is to encourage self-development rather than to produce champion surfers, it’s possible that in future years some of these young surfers will join the ranks of the international surf community and head to Australia to hit the waves there. While people from the UK can generally adapt easily to Australian English, many people from other countries benefit from the services of a professional NAATI translator.
