Intro
What she did know was pain, 18 years of coercive control, financial, emotional, and physical abuse.
But Sadie also carried something else, a quiet, unshakable courage.
Through Zonta House's Positive Pathways program and the Waves of Wellness Surfing Experience, Sadie found herself in unfamiliar waters, literally and emotionally.
The eight-week learn-to-surf program, tailored for women victim-survivors of family and domestic violence, offered more than just sport. It offered healing.
By week 3, Sadie had found her balance on the board and within herself.
Her transformation wasn’t just physical, it was emotional.
Each session, supported by trauma-informed facilitators, warm meals, and gentle counselling, became a sanctuary. Nature itself became a co-therapist, offering calm and clarity in every ripple and breeze.
Sadie’s journey continues by joining the cause to end violence against women and children and is now writing her memoir and sharing her truth.
She’s participating in lived experience advocate development workshops including creative writing, public speaking and media training.
She also attending swimming classes proof that growth doesn’t end, it evolves.
This is what inclusive participation looks like: removing barriers, offering dignity, and creating spaces where people are truly seen. From beach bags to transport, every detail of the program was designed to say, “You belong here.”
Programs like Zonta House’s Positive Pathways program are supported through initiatives such as the WA Government’s Outdoor Active Recreation Participation Program, which aim to empower people facing barriers to engage in sport and recreation.
For more information you can contact the Inclusion team at the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport recreation@cits.wa.gov.au