Welcome to our researcher directory! Here you will find other researchers interested in outdoor health related work. If you have any feedback, please let us know.
Your contribution as a member helps Outdoor Health Australia to cover our costs and keep giving back to the community. If you think a friend or colleague would be interested in these resources, please encourage them to become a member!
Want to add yourself as a researcher? Share your details with us.
Amanda Smith
Griffith University, AASW, OHA and associates
Green social work, trauma informed practice, LGBTIQA and OH and cross cultural ways on training and curriculum in adventure therapy
Associate Professor Amanda Neil
ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation – Health Economics Lead; Society for Mental Health Research – Executive Committee; The Mental Health Australia General Clinical Trials Network – Scientific Advisory Committee
Mental health; health economics
Associate Professor Claire Henderson-Wilson
Health Nature Sustainability Research Group at Deakin University
Human health benefits of contact with nature; human health impacts of climate change
Associate Professor Elissa Pearson
University of South Australia, Enchanted Childhoods
Strengthening the psychological connection to nature for human and planetary health. Psychological implications of our changing climate; considerations of our relationships with the natural world in psychology education and training.
Ben Knowles
University of Tasmania, Adventure Works Australia, OHA Board
Ben is a PhD candidate looking at ethics and safety in Outdoor Health, wellbeing and therapy practices.
Cath Fitzhardinge
University of Notre Dame Australia, Occupational Therapy Australia, Learning Environments Australia
Child development and wellbeing, outdoor play, play space design
Claire Pitt
UQ mental health and climate change research network, Psychology for a Safe Climate, Climate and Health Alliance, Connecting Climate Minds
Climate change and mental health
Dr Allison Matthews
The effects of nature and equine exposure on cognition and stress (including psychophysiological and behavioural measures), and the effects of equine therapy on mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Amy Baker
Therapeutic Horticulture Australia (THA); Outdoor, Nature & Health Network (University of South Australia)
Mental health, gardening, nature and forest bathing, nature play, climate action and sustainability
Dr Emily Flies
Nature Connection Project co-lead, University of Tasmania
Nature Connection, Wellbeing, Sustainability
Dr lisahunter
Monash University, AIESEP, AARE
Planetary health, health equity, healing in place, moving meditation, bluespace (re) connection, Caring for Country
Dr Liz Cyarto
International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance; I also work for Out Door Inc
Being active in nature for physical and mental wellbeing; healthy ageing
Dr Megan Turner
Sustainable health education in the health curriculum, intersection of human and planetary health.
Dr Nicole Peel
World Centre for Excellence in Leisure, Western Sydney University, Outdoor Health Australia member, Outdoors NSW & ACT
Leisure literacy from an outdoor environment, climate change, marginalised populations.
Dr Paddy O’Regan
OHA member, AASW member, University of Queensland
Simple yet meaningful outdoor therapy interventions.
Dr Pauline Marsh
Venture Out Research Group, Nature Connection Project, University of Tasmania
Dementia and Nature Connection
Dr Rachel Yerbury
Human environment research network
Multispecies flourishing. Human-nature-animal connections and reciprocity.
Dr Ross Wissing
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
The intersection between environmental and human health. Using landscape planning and design to create landscapes that enable disease prevention.
Dr Scott Polley
Outdoor Education Australia, Australian Tertiary Outdoor Education Network, Nature Based Outdoor Network of South Australia
Main research interest area is Outdoor Education. My interest is supporting Outdoor Healthcare and the intersection between OE and Outdoor Healthcare.
Erin Spencer
University of Canterbury
Perspectives on nature and community from queer BIPOC participants
Helen Clark
Nature exposure for reciprocal health and wellbeing and its integration in health professional education
Jeff Leech
Jeff Leech
Nature therapy for mental health and wellbeing, therapy in nature, Veterans and First Responders
Kirsten Gillies
Postgraduate thesis completed through Monash University
Benefits of outdoor therapy on mental health outcomes across depression, anxiety and stress. Whether psychologists using evidence based modalities in an outdoor environment are more efficacious than in-room only sessions. Whether blue spaces or green spaces mediate the effects.
Leigh McGaghey
Therapeutic Horticulture Australia, Australian Recreational Therapy Association
In my role as President of THA I am involved in supporting our members of THA by facilitating their access to the evidence-base [ie research studies] that support their work as therapeutic horticulture practitioners.
Mary Brennan
Edith Cowan University, Outdoor Health Australia, ATIC
Wellbeing of humans and nature; environmental psychology; nature connection; deep ecology
Matthew Ebden
Deakin University, Cairns Regional Council, Treeforce
Human health benefits of environmental volunteering and nature-based activities. Social inclusion in environmental volunteering and nature-based activities. Recruitment and retention of environmental volunteering. Environmental volunteering and nature-based activities in healthcare.
Siddhesh Barale
Mud wrestling, yoga, pilgrimage in India, experiential practices. Indigenous outdoor health knowledge traditions of India and current practices.
Sue Noy
Nature and health interdisciplinary collaboration for environmental sustainability
Tamara Taylor
ORIMA Research
Government and Social Research, using mainly quantitative research techniques. Keen to move more into the area of outdoor health.
Tameliya Klimentenok
OEASA, NBONSA, Outdoor Health Australia member
Adolescent wellbeing and the relationship an outdoor activity has with it
Zoe Reep
Zoe Reep
Experiences of stress as a factor of growth in nature-based adventure programming; outdoor experiential learning; accessibility of outdoor health interventions; culturally-informed approaches to outdoor interventions.