Outdoor Health and managing non-physical risk outdoors

Rebecca (Becky) grew up on Djabugay country in Far North Queensland and now lives by the beach on Dharawal country (Wollongong area). A blissful childhood outdoors led to studies and work in psychology, primary teaching and outdoor education. Becky now supports wellbeing, diversity and inclusion in the outdoor sector. She kite-surfs, climbs and runs when she can.

Kate lives in Bpangerang country, the beautiful King Valley, NE Victoria. I am at home in nature, with qualifications and professional experience in Outdoor Education and Family and Systemic Psychotherapy. My early work in this field was on expedition journeys with young people in struggle, the outdoors component had residential, community, family and school follow-up. It was foundational. I am a mother of two; a decade of at-home-duties gifted learning, challenge and joy. Journeys with my family in bushwalking and canoeing have all been part of the adventure. I value diversity of perspective, experience and people. I have a 25 year+ love and practice of all things Therapeutic Adventure Well-being Bush Health Outdoors. I currently work across two part time roles; as a Family Therapist in a Community Services organization and my own heart-business endeavor ‘Nature’s Counsel’. With OHA (formerly AABAT) I have valued contributing leadership and perspective and working alongside others who are passionate about this field of practice.

Ben trained in education, outdoor education, experiential learning, and narrative therapy. Traversing these fields in many diverse contexts over the last two decades has honed his skills in working therapeutically with individuals and groups outdoors, it helped him build a strong understanding of the complexities of trauma, injustice, and colonisation, and has led to his current PhD project looking at ‘ethics’ in Outdoor Health practice.

Ben was pivotal in establishing the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT) and supports the work of the Outdoor Health sector.  Alongside his PhD in public health, he works as a Co-director of Adventure Works Australia, is one of two Australian representatives on the Adventure Therapy International Committee (ATIC), co-lead of the ATIC ethics and good practice working group, and until recently worked as a senior clinician and trainer in the Neurosequential model of therapeutics for Berry Street Victoria. Ben is an accredited supervisor and registered clinical counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia.