Sports and musculoskeletal physiotherapist, Adjunct Assistant Professor Nick Marshall, has a passion for ensuring those with special needs and disability are included in the community.
An advocate for increased participation in surf lifesaving activities for many years, in 2015 Nick created the Albatross Nippers – an all-inclusive Nipper program at Nobbys Beach, helping children with special needs experience nippers with other children of similar ages. The program has expanded to multiple Gold Coast beaches.
In 2019, Nick's Albatross Nippers became the first group of special needs children in history to participate in a surf lifesaving carnival and competition.
Nick has also liaised with his local city council to install beach matting and free beach wheelchair access, and was instrumental in designing the online Surf Lifesaving Australia special needs module, teaching clubs across Australia to better interact, engage and develop programs at their beach.
Motivated solely by the desire to create a better, more engaged community, Nick's volunteer work inspires the Gold Coast community.
