Monica Fleming, Coasting Program

Connecting women and girls to the empowerment of surfing and stand up paddle boarding

EpZen Project Reconnect directly supports those who champion wellbeing in their local communities and help people reconnect to calm. By providing monetary grants to these wellness mentors, Project Reconnect enables them to easily extend their services to help more and more Australians improve their wellbeing.

Our first Project Reconnect mentor is Monica Fleming, Program Development Coordinator at Surfing Victoria. Monica heads the Coasting for Teens and Coasting for Women stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and surfing programs across Victoria. Both facets of the program encourage participants to become mindful through focusing on the activity and being out on the water.

© Surfing Victoria

Project Reconnect supported the Summer Coasting Program: a series of surfing and SUP programs for local women and girls across South West Victoria, the Surf Coast and Gippsland throughout January 2021.

“One of the most unique things about the Coasting Program is that it gives you the opportunity to be completely present,”

“There’s no time to think about whether you said the right thing to your boss three days ago, or if you’ve got enough time to get all your homework done. Coasting positively influences three of the core wellbeing pillars: physical, psychological and social. It’s about being active, teaching your brain a new activity and connecting with other people who are doing the same thing.”

Monica is well aware of the importance of mindfulness in maintaining her wellbeing and knows when she needs to reconnect to calm.

“We all get busy and get caught up in the grind of life. Often the biggest signs of disrupted mental health is ruminating on the past or presentFor me, the opposite of being calm feels like being a super tight coil that is full of tension. Finding that calm again usually comes from throwing my body in the ocean and having a big, old splash about. But I do try to incorporate little mindful moments in my every day.”

© Surfing Victoria

Monica practices everyday mindfulness with moments of gratitude: “Whether that be acknowledging a little blessing like a pretty cloud in the sky or the good people around me.”

She draws on the power of challenge and fulfilment to help Coasting participants get maximum enjoyment and positivity from their experience. She believes it’s important to relate to them and bring an inclusive vibe.

“There can be a lot of nervous energy from being in a new group and trying something new. It is our priority to make sure everyone feels welcome and safe. For me, building trust comes from talking about things everyone in the group can relate to.”

Monica is keen to give girls and women a way to clear away the stress, anxiety and concerns of their lives like she does.

“I’m grateful to be able to call my passions of working with people and the ocean my job. I have found my experience to be overwhelming and challenging but the achievements within my role have been some of the most rewarding and fulfilling.”