Outdoor Health Research

BAT Research Archive

Wondering about the research informing Bush Adventure Therapy? Check out our research archive. With thanks to Dr Daniel Bowen for compiling this summary.

‘Common Elements’ Literature Review

In 2020, AABAT’s Outdoor Healthcare Policy Unit sought Expressions of interest to contribute to a substantial literature review and published report. As a result of this Call, the Policy Unit arranged to supervise Deakin University Master of Social Work Student Josh McClean to undertake the proposed study. Josh’s Literature Review Report is in its final stages and will be released in 2021. The below overview illustrates our original hopes for the project.

Potential areas for collaborative research

Recent research demonstrates that ‘contact with nature’ improves human physical and mental wellbeing, and that ‘connection to country’ is vital for place-based peoples; perhaps all peoples. In recent times, mainstream Australians have become more aware of the physical and mental health benefits of time in nature, and many have become more intentional about going outdoors for health, wellbeing and healing.
The following list of hypotheses are supported and are yet to be comprehensively reviewed or trialled…

Find out more about AABAT

The Outdoor Health policy unit was developed by the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT) in 2018, in recognition of the opportunity to strengthen all Outdoor Health modalities under a single umbrella (not all OH practitioners identify with Bush Adventure Therapy), and the need to develop a policy unit to engage with government so that more people may benefit from evidence-informed nature-based health practices.

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Contact

AABAT Inc
C/- Outdoors Victoria
PO Box 1010, Templestowe VIC 3106

[email protected]

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Aboriginal and Indigenous ways of knowing and being provides insights into the timeless wisdom of Indigenous health practices, and deepens our understanding of how nature connects, bonds, and grows us. We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the lands now called Australia and acknowledge traditional custodians, Elders, and peoples of the Countries in which we live, learn and work.

© 2022 - Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy Inc.