Resilience, Connection & Purpose in disengaged young people – the Next Step program for South Australian youth.
Details:
3:10 – 4:00 pm
5th of December
Room: 2E-101
Tabby Ryan
Humans are social beings, in an increasingly disconnected world one of the driving needs we have is for connection.
Connection with others, with our environment, with our values, with ourselves.
Being placed in a situation of an achievable challenge drives connection in a way like no other.
The Operation Flinders Next Step program is a unique adventure therapy program which brings together young people from backgrounds of extreme challenge with volunteers from many walks of life to work in the outdoors on meaningful projects and therapy experiences. The program provides young people with opportunities to contribute to helping others in their communities and engage in various formal training and awards including a mentoring program, barista training, Cert II in Outdoor Recreation, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and a workplace readiness festival.
Program evaluation data indicates that these participants build and maintain development in their resilience, connection and purpose, contributing to their overall health and wellbeing and opportunities for future life success. The program is a model for how follow-up programs can consolidate and extend the benefits of outdoor programs for long-term health and wellbeing.
About the Presenter
With a background in Human Movement, Outdoor Leadership, Teaching and a Masters of Counselling I bring to my current role over 15 years of experience working with underprivileged youth in a variety of contexts ranging from extreme poverty in Kenya, refugees in Europe and now teens with backgrounds of significant challenge in an Australian context. I currently manage and run an adventure therapy program with over 300 South Australian young people with life-changing results. I am a highly motivated individual who loves a challenge and always seeks to work in organisations and on programs which align with my values for service and empowerment.
