WHO IS ONEWAVE?
OneWave is a non-profit surf community raising awareness of mental health with a simple recipe...saltwater therapy, surfing and fluro. We believe everyone should have the chance to ride waves and talk about mental health without being judged.
Since launching at Bondi Beach in March 2013, OneWave has created a global impact through Fluro Friday events, using surfing, saltwater therapy and fluro to bring more colour to mental health.
Fluro Friday has since reached more than 200 beaches across 50+ countries, from New Zealand to Norway. In 2018, the OneWave community attracted global attention when Prince Harry and Meghan joined Fluro Friday at Bondi Beach wearing colourful leis.
OneWave also delivers Salty Sessions and Free the Funk school programs, giving more people the chance to ride waves and talk about mental health, and giving young people practical tools to look after their wellbeing. The Free the Funk school program has now impacted more than 68,000 young people.
THE ONEWAVE STORY
Grant Trebilco - OneWave Founder
After years of battling with mental health challenges, without seeking treatment OneWave Founder Grant Trebilco was hospitalized in 2012 and diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a manic episode. The ocean, surfing and good people were Grant’s saviour during tough times when he was released from hospital. Grant has surfed most of his life, but it was during the six months recovering in New Zealand he really discovered that sometimes one wave is all it takes.
After hiding mental health challenges for years, he decided enough was enough, it was time to start talking and sharing his experience to try and help others. “Maybe if I share the simple recipe of saltwater therapy, surfing and it’s ok not to be ok, I can prevent people from ever feeling the way I did”. So one Friday morning he decided to dress up in a shirt and tie and go surfing solo at Bondi to try and spark conversations about mental health. That was OneWave’s first Fluro Friday, which have now taken place at over 200 beaches Worldwide.
Sam Schumacher - OneWave Director
Sam was the first person to jump on board and help Grant build the OneWave community into what it is today and they have been working together on OneWave ever since. You can find Sam down at Bondi every Friday morning running the Fluro Friday events, sharing his love of saltwater therapy, surfing and fluro to help people get their stoke back.
Sam graduated as an aero-space engineer, however this was overpowered by the pull of helping other people enjoy the ocean and surf board riding.