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Learning by Doing, Leading by Being: Experiences of University Students in Walkabout Training

Virtual

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 […]

Free

Therapy Was Never Supposed to Be This Boring: The Lost Spirit of Pragmatism

Virtual

Presenters: Will Dobud, PhD & John Paul Healy, PhD Abstract: This presentation examines how contemporary therapy strayed from its pragmatic and experiential foundations, becoming increasingly techno-rational, standardised, and disconnected from lived experience. Once grounded in the dynamic, socially engaged ethos of pragmatism championed by figures such as Jane Addams and John Dewey, therapeutic practice is now often reduced to technical interventions and narrow, evidence-based protocols (or worse, manuals). Revisiting the principles of experiential learning and critical reflective practice, this session explores efforts to restore therapy’s original spirit, which values context, creativity, and human connection. Through the presenters’ experiments of reintroducing pragmatist ideas into social work education and practice, it becomes possible to reimagine therapy as a vibrant, responsive process rooted in real-world challenges and collective growth. About the Presenters Will Dobud, PhD, has over 20 years of therapeutic experience working with youth and families from diverse backgrounds across the US, Australia, and Norway. He has developed innovative programs that integrate psychotherapy and the outdoors to improve teenagers' experience when seeking mental health treatment. A dedicated, award-winning researcher and senior social work lecturer, Will explores ways to enhance the experience and effectiveness of mental health supports and advocates for youth impacted by the […]

Free

Equine Assisted Therapy: Harnessing Horsepower for Improved Mental Health

Virtual

Presenter: Nadine Delaney (Nature Based Therapies Australia) Abstract: Equine and Animal Assisted Therapy integrates horses and other animals into clinical practice, offering unique opportunities for healing and growth under the guidance of qualified mental health professionals. This presentation will provide an overview of the applications of Equine Assisted Therapy in supporting mental health, including its theoretical foundations, therapeutic models, and the diverse practitioners delivering these services. We will consider current research, highlighting both the demonstrated benefits and the challenges associated with this approach. A case vignette will illustrate how working alongside horses and in natural environments can enhance accessibility and therapeutic outcomes. Attendees will leave with an understanding of the evidence base, practical considerations, and resources for further learning in this emerging field. About the presenter: I am an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker based in the Hunter Valley, NSW, with over 20 years of experience supporting children, young people, and families. My work spans two areas: as a clinician in my private practice, Hunter Valley Children’s Therapies (HVCT- established in 2015), and as Co-Founder of Nature Based Therapies Australia, where I provide training, supervision, and consultation to fellow practitioners. Throughout my career, I have specialised in working with children […]

Free