About Us

Ocean Heroes

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability that severely comprises intellectual development, quality of life, inter-personal relationships, and mental health. The prevalence of autism has increased 50 fold over the past 30 years, and it is now estimated that at least 1% of children have the condition. There are an estimated 48,000 children with autism living in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics). Ocean Heroes fills a much needed gap in the community. Children with autism are often excluded from organised sport activities, which has been shown to have a detrimental effect on their physical and mental health. Ocean Heroes provides children with autism the opportunity to take part in organised sport in a highly supported and structured environment. There is no equivalent organisation like Ocean Heroes in Australia, and to my knowledge, only one similar organisation in the world (Surfers Healing in the USA). Ocean Heroes combines compassion, skill and professionalism to provide children with a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of catching a wave. Given the hugely successful events conducted to date, as well large numbers of children diagnosed with autism each year, I firmly believe that Ocean Heroes will grow to an important and sustainable organisation that could operate nationwide

Board Members

Luke Hallam (Co-founder)

Luke loves everything about the ocean and spreads his time between stand-up paddle boarding and surfing. He is known for being just as stoked on 30 knots of wind as he is for 6ft of swell. Luke works as a Personal Trainer who specialises in training people with disabilities, in particular Autism Spectrum Disorder. Luke also has an obsession for any dog he sees and will often stop mid-conversation to pet it.

Sam Moyle (Co-founder)

Sam spends more time in the ocean than on dry land. Some say he’s even developed a sneaky set of gills behind the ears, complementing his passions for surfing, freediving and all things marine. He’s been involved in many not-for-profits over the years, and has found his passion in sharing the surf stoke with kids on the spectrum. When he’s not working as a marine biologist, you’ll find him at the local patisserie stuffing his face with a ham & cheese croissant!

tom Johnston (Co-founder)

Tom Johnston is the owner/operator of Go Surf Perth, a locally run surf school based in Scarborough. In his previous life he could be found wandering St. Georges Terrace in a suit and tie however decided to swap his suit for a wet one. Tom holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Graduate Certificate in Project Management as well as all relevant first aid and coaching accreditations for the sport of surfing. He enjoys the challenge of running his small business and in his down time loves to head to Rottnest for surfing and fishing.

Andrew Whitehouse

Andrew Whitehouse is the Angela Wright Bennett Professor of Autism Research at the Telethon Kids Institute and Professor of Autism Research at The University of Western Australia. He is also Chief Research Officer of the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC) and Adjunct Professor at Curtin University and Edith Cowan University. At the Telethon Kids Institute he leads a large team that use a wide range of methodologies to investigate the early identification and intervention of children with Autism Spectrum Conditions, including molecular genetics, neuroscience, endocrinology, behavioural experiments and clinical trials. Andrew has published over 150 peer-reviewed journal articles and attracted over $35 million in competitive research grants. He currently presents an internationally syndicated video series called ’60 Second Science”, which has was viewed by over 1 million people in 2017. He is an advisor to State and Commonwealth Governments on policies relating to children with Autism Spectrum Conditions, and he is currently the Chair of the committee that is generating Australia’s first national guideline for autism diagnosis. Andrew has published one edited book with his twin-brother (Ben), and a popular science book that examined the science behind some of the myths of pregnancy and child development (Will Mozart Make My Baby Smart?). He has also been awarded Australia’s most prestigious scientific award, the Eureka Prize. Prior to coming to the Telethon Kids Institute, Andrew was a Fellow at the University of Oxford.

Nando Zappavigna C.A

Nando Zappavigna C.A. is an advisor and auditor for the charity with over 20 years experience in not for profit organisations. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant Tax Institute of Australia.