[1] SurfAid's early efforts were focused on providing health education to the people and mosquito nets to prevent the spread of malaria.

[2] SurfAid came to international attention after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake when it provided medical aid to its victims.

SurfAid received financial aid from the government of Australia and from individual and corporate donors.

[3] In 2007 SurfAid announced a multi-year project to control malaria throughout the Mentawai Islands in cooperation with the Indonesian government and UNICEF.

[4] In 2009 SurfAid was expanding its work into the nearby Nias Islands, had received several international awards, and was receiving donations of about $3 million per year from private and corporate donors, most involved in the sport of surfing.