12-20 September 2026
Outdoor programs are often described as naturally engaging, therapeutic or transformative. Yet being outside does not automatically create participation, safety or meaningful change. Outdoor experiences can reproduce the same adult agendas found in classrooms,...
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...
Intergenerational child maltreatment, in which children are subjected to abuse or neglect over multiple generations in the same family, is an area of considerable attention in the field of child protection. Studies into intergenerational trauma, a related topic which...
Presenter: Dr. Stephan Natynczuk (Spare Krab Adventure Therapy) Abstract: What does borshch have to teach us about meaningful, helpful, and useful conversations? In this session, I will take a playful look at the ingredients of a good conversation and, using the...
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...
Presenter: Peta Lawler Abstract: Periods can quietly push girls out of outdoor programs—through discomfort, shame, or lack of support. This session explores the real impact of menstruation in the outdoors and what we can do about it. We’ll share practical strategies,...
Young people can often find themselves in the crosshairs of intersecting crises - crises that can be exacerbated by the vulnerabilities of youth and the disregard that can be present for young people’s wellbeing and needs. Not only are young people grappling with...
Presenter: Lynette Nikkel MSW, RSW Abstract: What does it mean for a therapist to be authentic and how does that impact the therapeutic relationship? This open exploration dives into the role of authenticity in clinical practice, examining how ego, power dynamics,...
How does GenAI imagine a child? Or an Australian? And why does it matter? Ask generative AI to show you an image of a child and you’ll get a few standard results. But dig deeper and it will reveal how harmful biases can be baked into the core of these tools. In this...
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...