Outdoor & Adventure Therapy and Bush Adventure Therapy are part of the emerging Outdoor Health sector in Australia, providing Outdoor Health, wellbeing and therapy for people from all walks of life. The sector includes various evidence-informed nature-based health practices or modalities such as Outdoor & Adventure Therapy, Bush Adventure Therapy, Outdoor Counselling, Animal assisted therapies and Ecotherapy (to name a few).

Currently there are no tertiary training pathways as entry points into this field in Australia. This training pathway is an evolution of previous courses we have developed and run over the last two decades. It is made possible through the collaboration of our multi-disciplinary training team who have contributed countless hours to the curriculum design and content.

Our training pathway progressively invites participants to explore the foundations; consolidate strategies for safe, effective practice; and, hone the skills that anchor safe and ethical Outdoor & Adventure Therapy practice.

1. Foundations of practice

Experience and explore living values, ethics and foundational practices.

2. Scope of practice

Consolidate the key knowledge and skills to create a comprehensive safety-net for your practice.

3. Skills of practice

Hone your facilitation skills for working with individuals and groups outdoors safely and ethically.

NOTE:

Completion of this Foundations course is a pre-requisite for entry to the “Scope of Practice” course.

This course will help you build or consolidate your personal Outdoor Adventure Therapy Practice Framework and help ready you to provide therapeutic experiences outdoors for people from all walks of life. The course takes up a respectful and collaborative Indigenist paradigm approach to support a deeper exploration of ways of relating with each other and with Country. This approach is guided by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander mentors and training team members.

All participants are invited to bring their experience and knowing, along with open minds and a space for not-knowing. The course will build on your existing knowledges and skills, and help consolidate your foundational values, ethics and competencies. We look forward to the rich cross-fertilisation of ideas and insights for practice this course brings.

A 4-day immersion on country is the centrepiece of the course. A lead-in Information session, Individual planning session, 2 x Online group sessions, and Individual review will help us to make the most of our 4 days together. The 4-day immersion includes cultural grounding, experiential learning, and reflective processes to build confidence and skills in working therapeutically with individuals and groups, in and with nature. Follow-on sessions provide support to translate lessons drawn from the immersion into your personal Outdoor & Adventure Therapy Practice Framework. Supervision supports the establishment of effective practices in your chosen context.

All participants will benefit from having completed a First aid course, a Psychological first aid (or Mental Health First Aid) course and Cultural Awareness Training (or equivalent). These are not essential pre-requisites, just recommended.

It will help you get the most from the immersion if you are physically fit enough to walk 5kms (we won’t walk that far, but that level of fitness means you will be very comfortable with what is invited of you in the course) and personally experienced enough in outdoor activities and camping so as to be able to keep yourself comfortable and warm in a range of conditions.

Your facilitators on this course

Anita Pryor

Clare Raffety

Ben Knowles

Robert Coller

Luke Mabb

Kylie Peters

Dassi Herzberg

Adventure Works Training Team

This introductory course has been collaborative designed over the last 15 + years by a multi-disciplinary team of trained outdoor and adventure therapists, and Aboriginal cultural practitioners. Our training team is a collaboration of several organisations and committed people. Amongst the faces that you see here there are Psychologists, Narrative Therapists, Family Therapists, Counsellors, Youth workers, Indigenous mentors, Farmers, Social Workers, Somatic body workers and more.

Venue photo credit: Gilwell Park

Fee includes: Access to a diverse facilitation team, course book, 2 x individual sessions, 4 x online sessions, 4-day bush immersion and integration materials. Cost includes food during the immersion. Fee does not include transport to/from the venue.

Book a time to discuss the course with one of the facilitators?