NDIS System Reform: OHA advocacy for evidence-informed outdoor therapies and supports
Outdoor Health Australia (OHA) has been actively responding to emerging NDIS reforms that impact access to outdoor and nature-based therapies and supports for people with disability.
Our advocacy work has focused on clarifying the evidence base for outdoor health practices, addressing sector confusion following the exclusion of “wilderness therapy” from NDIS funding, and supporting ongoing access to quality, evidence-informed outdoor supports for NDIS participants.
NEW: Interim Guidance Note for NDIS funding for outdoor and nature-based services
OHA has released comprehensive guidance for NDIS participants, providers, support coordinators, and plan managers on accessing and delivering quality outdoor and nature-based NDIS supports.
This guidance note clarifies what OHA supports while we work toward clarification on what the NDIS mean by the term “Wilderness Therapy”:
• Evidence-informed practices aligned with participant goals
• Ethical delivery within recognised professional frameworks
• Suitably qualified and supervised practitioners
• Safe, person-centred, and culturally appropriate services
Download the Interim Guidance Note (pdf)The guidance note includes operating principles, a provider assessment checklist, and clarification on NDIS funding criteria for outdoor and nature-based services.
OHA’s stance
This advocacy work has provided the opportunity to clearly articulate OHA’s position on evidence-informed outdoor health practices. We support outdoor and nature-based therapies and supports that are:
• Evidence-informed and aligned with participant goals
• Ethically delivered within recognised professional frameworks
• Provided by suitably qualified and supervised practitioners
• Safe, person-centered, and culturally appropriate
OHA does not support involuntary coercive forms of therapy of any kind. We do not endorse unethical non-evidence-based involuntary ‘Wilderness boot camps’ that are designed to be coercive, and as a result harm participants and staff. The OHA Ethical Principles and Practice Standards support safe quality outdoor health practices being offered around Australia.
Our Advocacy Timeline
June – August 2024: Sector Consultation – Round One
OHA consulted the outdoor health sector to understand the impacts of NDIS reform through a survey (54 responses) and three online meetings. Stakeholder responses revealed immediate job losses, program closures, and loss of outdoor supports for NDIS participants.
August 2024: First Submission to DSS
OHA made our initial submission to the Department of Social Services consultation on the NDIS ‘included’ and ‘excluded’ lists, responding to the NDIA’s listing of “wilderness therapy” as excluded.
See: Consultation on Draft Lists of NDIS Supports blog post
July 2025: Second Submission to DSS
OHA submitted a second comprehensive response to the DSS consultation process on NDIS Support Rules.
See: Consultation on Draft Lists of NDIS Supports blog post
August 2025: Sector Consultation – Round Two
OHA conducted a follow-up survey to assess ongoing impacts after the removal of “wilderness therapy” from the approved supports list. Results showed continued confusion, uncertainty, and sector disruption.
See: NDIS Reform – Survey of Impacts blog post
2025: Freedom of Information Request
An OHA member activated an FOI request to the Ombudsman regarding the NDIS decision to exclude wilderness therapy. The FOI response confirmed that no evidence or correspondence was found, indicating no evidence review was conducted to inform the NDIS decision.
Ongoing 2025: Policy & Advocacy Working Group
OHA established a dedicated working group from our Policy & Advocacy Committee to coordinate consultation efforts and develop advocacy materials, including messaging about OHA’s position, letters to Ministers and the NDIA, and follow-up on evidence-based advocacy.
2025: Strategic Collaboration
OHA collaborated with Outdoors NSW/ACT in sharing data and strategy regarding NDIS reform.
October 18, 2025: NDIS Provider Meeting at National Forum
OHA convened interested NDIS providers at our annual national Forum to discuss challenges, share experiences, and coordinate sector response.
November 2025: Interim Guidance Note Released
OHA published comprehensive guidance for providers and consumers on NDIS funding for outdoor and nature-based services, outlining what OHA supports: evidence-informed practices delivered by suitably qualified and supervised practitioners working within ethical frameworks.
WHAT’S NEXT
OHA will continue to:
• Advocate to the NDIS and the NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee about the evidence base and benefits of outdoor and nature-based therapies and supports
•Seek clarification of terminology to address ongoing sector confusion about what outdoor practices are appropriate for NDIS funding
• Seek consultation with the NDIA to co-design recommendations for NDIS inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Build the evidence base by working with researchers to compile and communicate research on outdoor health practices for people with disability.
Ongoing: Evidence Collation & Research Partnerships
Our working group is connecting with outdoor health researchers to support development of concise evidence summaries for advocacy purposes.
OHA maintains extensive evidence resources:
OHA Research Bibliography (over 4,000 references relevant to outdoor health practices) International Outdoor Health Literature listWhy This Matters
In October 2024, the NDIA added “wilderness therapy” to the list of excluded supports without providing a clear definition or conducting a formal evidence review.
This decision created significant confusion across the disability, health, and outdoor sectors, resulting in:
• Immediate job losses and program closures
• Loss of outdoor therapy options for NDIS participants
• Ongoing uncertainty about which evidence-informed outdoor practices could still be funded
• Unintended impacts on broader outdoor health services that support people with disability
We’re listening – tell us how you’re impacted
Our survey remains open. If you’re an outdoor health provider or NDIS participant affected by these reforms, we want to hear from you.
➡️ Share your experience through our survey
Complete survey hereYour Next Steps
Explore OHA Resources
- Quality Framework and Ethical Practice Standards – Guidance for integrating outdoor and therapeutic practice
Join OHA
Become a member to connect with peers, access member events and support OHA advocacy and the development of quality resources for outdoor health practice.
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Your feedback on these resources is welcome! please email us at [email protected]
Last updated: 5 November 2025
