Meet Jonathan Hampton: ASI Surfing Instructor & Surf Therapist on the Sunshine Coast
Posted: 9 November 2026
From a background in hospital social work and community support to founding Making Waves Social Work, Jonathan Hampton combines his passion for the ocean with professional mental health support. As an ASI-accredited surfing instructor based on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, Jonathan uses structured surf therapy to help NDIS participants, children, and adults build confidence, resilience, and wellbeing in the waves.
1. What is your background?
I’ve lived on the Sunshine Coast, for 25 years. My professional background is in teaching and social work, and I hold a Master of Social Work.
I previously worked in a hospital psychiatric unit before moving into intensive family support, community development, and supporting people experiencing domestic violence, drug addiction, or homelessness.
Alongside my social work, I’m a proud dad and an ASI-accredited surf instructor.
2. What got you involved in the sport?
I grew up surfing in Durban, South Africa. I always wanted to be in the ocean every day, and surfing gave me a reason to stay out there just a little longer. Over time, it became something I naturally turned to when life felt heavy. Being in the water gave me the space to breathe, reset, and clear my head.
3. Why did you become an ASI instructor?
My lived experience with PTSD, depression, and addiction is a huge part of what drew me to this work. Time in the ocean helped pull me through some very difficult periods, and I wanted more people to have the opportunity to experience the healing power of the sea.
Becoming an ASI instructor gave me the formal safety and instructional skills needed to integrate surfing into professional social work—helping people get started safely and at a pace that feels right for them. Becoming an ASI-accredited school in January 2020 was a major milestone that provided incredible structure, credibility, and support, helping me successfully launch and grow Making Waves.
I also owe a great deal of gratitude to Carlene and Robbie Sherwell from XL Surf Academy. They backed me early on, helped me secure a council permit, and gave me a chance to get Making Waves off the ground. Their kindness meant the world to me.
4. What are you doing now?
I currently run Making Waves Social Work on the Sunshine Coast, delivering specialized one-on-one and small-group surf therapy sessions at Alexandra Headland for NDIS participants of all ages.
The International Surf Therapy Organization recognizes surf therapy as an evidence-based approach that combines surfing with psychological support to improve health and wellbeing. In my sessions, that might look like watching the sets roll in together, getting familiar with a surfboard on the sand, or exploring the shallows.
I work with incredible kids—including those with autism and developmental delays. We always go at the participant's pace, shaping each session around their personal goals and what the ocean is doing on the day.
5. What do you like about being an ASI instructor?
I love watching someone surprise themselves—whether that’s successfully catching a wave or simply feeling ready to step into the water after watching from the sand for weeks. I also love seeing the lasting connections people forge with each other in the water and within the broader surfing community.
Local businesses play a huge part in that inclusion. Neil from Alex Surf Shop and Surfboard Empire has been fantastic, helping participants find the right gear, offering community discounts, and always taking the time for a friendly chat. Being able to walk into a surf shop, talk boards, and see a familiar face makes a profound difference in helping someone feel genuinely welcome in the local surf community.
6. Tell us about an inspiring student story.
One moment I will never forget is the day a particular student stood up on his surfboard for the first time. For eight months, he had been happily riding waves lying flat on his tummy. Then, out of nowhere, he popped up and rode the wave to the shore.
He has been surfing with Making Waves since we started five years ago. What stays with me most is how he achieved that milestone entirely in his own time. I feel deeply privileged to have been there to witness it.
Making Waves Surf Therapy website
About ASI
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