Venturing West: Working with multicultural communities in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne
Details:
12:30 – 1:20 pm
5th of December
Room: 2E-101
Pei Ting Tham & Maureen Carey
The Western Suburbs of Melbourne is one of the most diverse communities in Australia. Since 2021, Out Doors Inc started offering outdoor recreation and respite programs to carer groups, senior groups, and adults with mental health conditions in the area. In this presentation, Out Doors Inc will share their experiences in working with the multicultural communities in the area, including challenges in bridging cultural perspectives in outdoor leisure. We will also present a case study about a program that was delivered to a community group hailing from the Horn of Africa. We hope to share lessons and insights from our experience as the outdoor sector improves its reach with groups from marginalized communities and diverse backgrounds.
About the Presenters
Pei Ting Tham 谭佩婷 (she/her) has a strong passion for promoting inclusivity and accessibility in the outdoor industry. With a Master of Teaching, Bachelor of Psychology, and years of experience in outdoor education, Pei Ting currently works with adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities at Out Doors Inc. She is dedicated to amplifying diverse perspectives and improving outdoor accessibility for underserved communities. Through her research on the experiences of People of Color in the Australian outdoor industry, Pei Ting aims to create a more inclusive outdoor community for all individuals to thrive.
Mo’s love of the natural world brought her to Out Doors Inc as a program coordinator and therapeutic arts practitioner. She uses many experiential modalities to promote the relationship between the natural environment and wellbeing. Working at the intersection between social justice, disability and wellbeing, her approaches have evolved over time through numerous nature based programs, creative projects, collaborations, specialist training programs and degrees in Australia, Europe and the UK. She’s passionate about empowering people to live a full and meaningful life no matter what their circumstances.
