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  • Reading the Landscape: How Social Sciences Research Might Shape Outdoor Therapy’s Future

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    Outdoor therapies encompass a range of practices, from nature-based therapy and surf therapy to equine-assisted approaches. In practice, these outdoor approaches are growing fast, yet the available evidence base hasn't always kept pace. This webinar draws on more than two decades of research to share key lessons about what we know, and what we still need to learn, about outdoor therapies in research and practice. We explore the role of therapeutic factors, the importance of client voice, ethics, the diverse pathways clients take toward change, and the shift from anecdote to accountable, data-driven practice. Social science disciplines, such as social […]

    Free

    Exploring Men’s Experiences in Walk-and-Talk Therapy- Results from a Pilot Study

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    Traditional therapy has often been built around ways of connecting that don’t suit everyone, and many men find it difficult to open up while sitting face-to-face. This talk discusses the experiences of 11 men who participated in walk-and-talk therapy sessions in a randomised pilot study at the University of Newcastle. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we’ve found that the informal approach and physical movement gave men a culturally familiar entry into therapy through reshaping the therapeutic relationship, lowering the barrier to showing up to therapy, and making it easier to be open and vulnerable once they did. In addition, walk-and-talk therapy […]

    Free

    Beyond the Challenge: When Cultural Narratives Replace Therapeutic Goals

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    Adventure therapy often uses challenging activities as a pathway for personal growth. However, participants - and sometimes facilitators - can unintentionally confuse the task of a certain activity with the therapeutic goal. This presentation explores how cultural values, such as perseverance, achievement, resilience, and "never giving up" can overshadow participants’ individual therapeutic intentions. Using a real case from an international university programme, we will examine how well-intentioned support can become subtle pressure, preventing participants from recognising their own boundaries, needs, and authentic success. The session invites practitioners to rethink how we frame activities and how we continually reconnect participants with […]

    Free

    Is Social Media Killing Kids, and Why Do We Keep Getting Suckered By These Things

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    Over the last decade, widespread concern that social media is harming young people, and the recurring cycles of moral panic that often accompany new technologies, have been growing. But is this really new? Drawing on the available evidence, Dr. Chris Ferguson will explore why alarming narratives about youth and media gain traction, and how they shape public opinion and policy responses, including social media bans. This webinar is a critical reflection on the evidence behind these claims, as well as the broader social and cultural forces that sustain them. About the Presenter Dr Christopher Ferguson holds a PhD in clinical […]

    Free

    Just Because It Worked… Doesn’t Mean It Was Right: Good Outcomes + Bad Process = Harm

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    If a young person returns more compliant, polite or settled, has the intervention genuinely helped, or simply produced obedience? This webinar introduces an ecological model of psychological development to examine why good outcomes do not necessarily indicate good practice. Revisiting critiques of coercive wilderness therapy, Australian boot camps and related interventions, we examine how lasting wellbeing develops through experiences that strengthen agency, relationships and a healthy sense of self, while the opposite happens if we seek compliance. The session explores the ethical and practical implications for adventure therapy and the wider helping professions, asking whether we have sometimes mistaken behavioural […]

    Free

    A Wicked Problem: AI, Copyright and Intellectual Property

    Hybrid: Online and at the University of Queensland St Lucia The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    University of Queensland

    Join the University of Queensland Library for a timely discussion on the current and emerging impacts of artificial intelligence on copyright and intellectual property, as part of our Connected Conversations series. Featuring a series of lightning talks from experts across UQ, followed by an audience Q&A, this hybrid event will examine the opportunities, risks and challenges AI presents for authorship, knowledge ownership and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP). Whether you are curious about emerging technologies, navigating questions of copyright and intellectual property, or interested in how AI is reshaping legal and ethical frameworks, this event offers valuable insights and […]

    Free

    Where Does Healing Live? Outdoor Therapy invites us to Reimagine the Whos, Wheres and Hows

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    Around the world, Outdoor Therapy practices have been challenging us to question some of our deepest assumptions about healing. Who is recognised as a legitimate facilitator of change? Why are some places considered therapeutic while others are not? What makes a practice worthy of trust? This session is an invitation to creatively rethink the opportunities for therapeutic practice: we will visit different perspectives, listen from varied experiences, connect research findings, and share critical reflections in this collective exploration of where healing resides. About the Presenter Maria Jose (Mache) Treviño Gonzalez is passionate about outdoor experiential learning with a focus on […]

    Free

    Reimagining Women’s Sport in Australia: Changes and challenges

    Virtual , Australia

    Deakin University

    Join experts in women's sport for an online conversation about the current state of women's sport in Australia. Recent decades have seen significant advances in women's professional sport in Australia. Multiple successful professional women's leagues have been created, like the AFLW and NRLW, and elite women athletes like Ariarne Titmus and Jessica Fox have put Australia on the map internationally. At the same time, women athletes continue to earn less money and less media attention than their male counterparts. How do women athletes make sense of these advances amidst continued marginalisation? Working together, a team of Deakin academics and ABC […]

    Free

    How Adventure Therapy Works? What Do We Need to Know?

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    This webinar examines an evolving conceptualisation of how adventure therapy facilitates change across diverse practice settings, informed by prior scholarship in the field. It presents a synthesised model of key mechanisms of change, emphasising experiential processes that may shape client outcomes. The presentation explores how these mechanisms intersect with practitioner training and program design. Recent findings on the preparation of adventure therapy providers are outlined, including core competencies, professional pathways, and emerging standards. Critical gaps in the current evidence base are identified, especially concerning training quality, implementation fidelity, and the translation of theory into practice. Finally, the webinar proposes priority […]

    Free

    Bridging the Missing Middle: Evidence from the Charles Sturt University Evaluation of the Human Nature Program

    Virtual , Australia

    Charles Sturt University

    This presentation addresses the “missing middle” in mental healthcare - the gap for young people whose needs are not adequately met by traditional services. We introduce the Human Nature Program, a nature-based therapeutic model that delivers  therapy and mentoring outside conventional settings. Drawing on the evaluation of Human Nature by Charles Sturt University, we present evidence of significant positive impacts on participants’ mental health and wellbeing. By combining these findings with powerful stories from the field told by Human Nature mentors, we show how this innovative approach can help bridge a critical service gap. About the Presenter From chasing goannas […]

    Free

    Reimagining Women’s Sport in Australia: Changes and challenged

    Virtual , Australia

    Deakin University

    Join experts in women's sport for an online conversation about the current state of women's sport in Australia. Recent decades have seen significant advances in women's professional sport in Australia. Multiple successful professional women's leagues have been created, like the AFLW and NRLW, and elite women athletes like Ariarne Titmus and Jessica Fox have put Australia on the map internationally. At the same time, women athletes continue to earn less money and less media attention than their male counterparts. How do women athletes make sense of these advances amidst continued marginalisation? Working together, a team of Deakin academics and ABC […]

    Free

    HUMMING INTO 2027: Empowering teachers to strengthen Humanities in their school

    Virtual , Australia

    Katrina Davey

    This event is aimed at Humanities and Social Science (HASS) educators across Australia, particularly those in secondary schools. Based on my recent book release, Humming Along (Amba Press), I wish to support educators with their upcoming preparation and planning of HASS units and courses for 2027. Term 4 provides the perfect opportunity for Humanities faculties to reflect on and update courses, maybe even try a new approach. This online webinar will provide practical strategies and advice on faculty collaboration, analysing HASS curriculum and assessment data, refreshing new units and ideas, and how best to upskill staff in the various subject […]

    Free