Learning by Doing, Leading by Being: Experiences of University Students in Walkabout Training
Presenters: Mark Cartner, Sam Harris, & Josh Heins
Abstract: Walkabout Training offers bespoke outdoor therapeutic interventions in Queensland. The organisation was founded by an experienced youth worker with a background as a detective and extensive experience in child protection. For two years, Walkabout Training has welcomed engagement from social work students, fostering deeper learning and student engagement. Featuring reflections from social work students who undertook workplace learning through the Walkabout Training program, alongside program founder Mark Cartner, the session highlights the value of co-creating learning experiences with those new to the field. Rather than treating students as passive learners, Walkabout Training positions them as active contributors to organisational culture. The result is a dynamic exchange where university students gain rich, embodied learning and organisations benefit from fresh insight, energy, and reflective practice. This model invites a rethinking of how placement, pedagogy, and purpose intersect in outdoor therapy contexts.
About the Presenters
Mark Cartner is the founder of Walkabout Training, an Indigenous-owned business that offers tailored outdoor education programs for at-risk youth. With 25 years as a police officer, including two decades in child protection, Mark brings deep expertise in supporting young people through trauma. He spent 10 years working in Indigenous communities in Cape York, gaining bush skills and cultural knowledge. A qualified outdoor instructor, Mark holds a Certificate IV in Outdoor Leadership and Training & Assessment. Of Bundjalung, Iman, German, and Anglo-Celtic heritage, he’s passionate about cultural inclusivity, trauma-informed care, and helping youth grow through safe, empowering outdoor experiences.
Mark will be presenting with former and current social work students, Sam Harris (graduated) and Josh Heins (completing honours), who completed workplace learning placements with the Outdoor Therapy Centre and Walkabout Training.
