Surfing with the Mob connects Indigenous teens to country and language on NSW far south coast

For Keiran Douglas, learning to surf was the first step towards connecting with his ancestral language and culture.

The 15-year-old from Djiringanj country on the NSW far south coast couldn't stand up on the board when he first joined the Surfing with the Mob program.

"Now I can go across the waves pretty good," he said. "It's something I wouldn't give up".

He has also begun a journey that he hopes will lead to a career in teaching Indigenous languages when he leaves school.

Surfing with the Mob began in 2022 when Djiringanj, Ngarigo and Jerrinja man Robbie Townsend took up the role of Community Connector with the Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council.

One of six positions across NSW, the role is focused on supporting Indigenous teenagers through their final years of high school as part