Anita has worked in outdoor education since 1993, with the last twelve years in community-based outdoor education delivering wilderness and adventure therapy experiences for young people.
Prior to Deakin University, she was adventure therapy specialist with Outdoors Inc., an outdoor recreation service for adults living with mental ill health, and coordinated The Outdoor Experience (Jesuit Social Services) a statewide outdoor therapy program for young people struggling with drug/alcohol misuse issues.
Anita has undertaken research within the NiCHE research group (Nature in Community Health and Environment) and is currently undertaking a PhD in Public Health examining the health and wellbeing benefits of outdoor adventure interventions, Australia-wide.
She has conducted numerous program-based research and evaluation projects, including an investigation into adventure therapy practice occurring in the south pacific region.
She had an active role in developing and delivering graduate training in experiential learning (bush adventures) and continues to facilitate community-based outdoor therapy experiences.
Anita is interested in the benefits of nature-contact for socio-ecological wellbeing, and in the benefits of nature-contact, adventure experiences and small groups -combined within therapeutic frameworks - for a range of targeted health and wellbeing aims. |
