Outdoor adventures for better mental health
Sometimes it’s feeling the spray of a waterfall, or smelling the ocean breeze on the first day of summer break. Other times, it’s simply sitting in a park with friends, sharing a meal that reminds you of home.
Whatever your ideal relationship with nature looks like, there’s no denying that getting out into the weird and wonderful outdoors has all sorts of benefits. Particularly in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been mounting evidence that time spent in nature is good for our health and happiness. Yet for many people, accessing it continues to be a challenge.
So what does it mean to make the outdoors accessible?
In the blog, we speak to Pei Ting, a Program Coordinator at Out Doors Inc. (ODI), a registered NDIS provider that organises recreational programs and outdoor adventures for better mental health.
She talks to us about the value of getting outside, the unique programs ODI offers, and what it means to break down the barriers that keep people from accessing the outdoors–the physical ones that are easy to see, but also the cultural and psychological ones that are less so.
Introduce us to Out Doors Inc. (ODI) and the programs you offer.
ODI is a not-for-profit organisation that specialises in outdoor group experiences that foster social connection, nurture skill development, and promote mental wellbeing.
Our programs range from one to five days and are tailored for all experience levels and abilities. Programs can be as relaxed as a day trip to the Botanic Gardens, or as thrilling as a five-day whitewater rafting program at the Mitchell River, with plenty of options in between. Our staff are skilled in a variety of activities, such as rock climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, fishing and snorkeling.
We also offer popular creative programs, where participants can explore art, music, or creative writing in a beautiful outdoor setting. For those seeking more excitement, surfing is a summertime favorite, while skiing is particularly popular in the winter.
In your view, why is the work of ODI valuable? What need are you trying to meet?
Our participants usually are living with a mental health condition, many come from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, and a number of them are from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
These groups usually face high barriers in accessing outdoor activities, but at the same time it has been proven time and again that spending time outdoors is beneficial for mental health. So it has been great to have the opportunity to create access and opportunities for these groups and share the great outdoors with them.
Out Doors Inc. has been serving the community for more than 35 years, and many of our participants have been attending our programs for 10+ years. This long-term engagement speaks to the effectiveness of our services and clearly shows that not only do our services work, but they also meet a vital need in the community.
What can participants expect from your events?
All our programs are in groups of 12, because social connection is one of the main aims of our programs. Participants should expect to travel and stay overnight in shared accommodation, and socialise in a group environment.
Participants get to make decisions about their program, so before every overnight program we have a compulsory meeting where we discuss the activities and meals we want to have on the program.
We also expect everyone to participate and help out with tasks, such as cooking and cleaning. So aside from the fun and joy of spending time outdoors, participants also practice life skills and social skills on our programs.
How does ODI tailor-fit programs and why this is important?
One of the biggest things I have learned in my work with ODI, especially with CALD communities, is that not all cultures view the outdoors the same way. Australia might have a big culture and long heritage of doing outdoor recreation – camping, fishing, surfing, but those new to the country might not share that language.
Some may come from a cultural history where the outdoors is viewed as a place of labour, or even trauma and oppression. So when they are in Australia there can be many factors that impede them in going outdoors – focusing on survival in a new country, not sure where to go, language barriers, etc.
On programs with these groups, when we bring them out bush–which is unfamiliar and unsettling for them–we try to pick locations that are well set up with facilities and walking paths, good interpretive information, and somewhere close to where they live so they know these lovely places are accessible to them.
Not all cultures view the outdoors the same way. With groups for whom this is less familiar, we try to pick locations that are well set up with facilities and walking paths, good interpretive information, and somewhere close to where they live so they know these lovely places are accessible to them.
What role does food play in your programs?
Food is always a source of comfort for these communities, so we try to tweak our menu to incorporate some food familiar to them. So instead of a typical ham & cheese sandwich, we might switch it to a banh mi. One time I made a tuna mayo sandwich with mayo I bought from a Filipino grocery store.
Last year we ran a five-day program at the Mornington Peninsula, with a group of women from the Horn of Africa countries. A lot of planning work went into understanding and preparing the food they want to eat, rituals and rules around religion and praying. We incorporated all their needs into the program, everyone had a great time, and this year we are running the program again!
Research shows that access to nature is beneficial for mental health. What are some positive experiences participants have had from joining your events?
I know of participants who have told me that coming to Out Doors Inc. is often a good motivation to get out of bed, dress well, and get out of their house. Many of those folks who live in high density housing in the city – you can see their shoulders and demeanour relax when they take their first steps on a beach and breathe in fresh ocean air.
Going to the beach is such big part of Australian culture, but many people forget that for some folks, getting to the beach itself is challenging. We have one participant who, after joining our programs, embarked on her own nine-day solo trek along the Great Ocean Walk, and another who recently completed an Oxfam 50km fundraising walk.
How can access to the outdoors be improved, particularly for people with disabilities?
I can’t speak on behalf of people with disabilities, but through my work with ODI, I’ve found certain places that work exceptionally well for our participants. Parks and reserves with good facilities – such as toilets, well formed walking paths, ramps, clear signages and wayfinding – make a huge difference.
Parks Victoria has done some amazing work at Stevenson Falls in the Otways National Park, refurbishing the entire site to be wheelchair-friendly, as well as creating a dementia-friendly trail at Woowookarung Regional Park.
A special shout-out goes to the Cranbourne Botanic Gardens for providing free use of electric scooters and wheelchairs.
Ultimately, any effort to improve accessibility in outdoor spaces benefits everyone in the community.
What are some myths you’d like people to better understand about getting outdoors?
Early on in my time with ODI, our CEO made sure to teach us about the recurrent and harmful myths about people living with mental health conditions or disabilities. It is wrong to assume that firstly they are not able to make decisions for themselves, and secondly that outdoor adventure activities are “too dangerous” for them.
That is why our service model is crafted around enabling participants the choice to take calculated risks for themselves, which is supported by strong risk management strategies in our systems.
I would also like to point out that getting “outdoors” doesn’t have to look like a person fully kitted out in ropes and equipment, standing on top of a precarious mountain. Some days, getting outdoors for me is walking down the road from my house to the local creek, sitting on the rock and watching birds. Getting outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated – as long as you are outside, in nature, feeling good, feeling connected.
Myths include that participants are not able to make decisions for themselves, and secondly that outdoor adventure activities are “too dangerous” for them. That is why our service model is crafted around enabling participants the choice to take calculated risks for themselves.
How can our NDIS customers access your services?
All new participants go through an intake process to help us understand their individual goals and support needs. The first step is to visit our website and take our quick eligibility quiz to confirm you’re eligible for our programs. If you are, you can then book an intake meeting where our team will guide you through the process and set you up for success.
For NDIS customers, you can use either Core Supports or Capacity Building. We also offer an online fee calculator on our website to help you work out costs. For more details, check out our NDIS Services page.
Pei Ting Tham
Pei Ting Tham 谭佩婷 (she/her) is a Program Coordinator at Out Doors Inc. She grew up in Malaysia and is culturally Chinese. With a Master of Teaching, Bachelor of Psychology, and years of experience in outdoor education, Pei Ting currently works with adults with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.
She is dedicated to amplifying diverse perspectives and improving outdoor accessibility for underserved communities. Pei Ting loves snorkeling in the summer, crosscountry skiing in the winter, and she also mountain bikes and rock climbs all year round. Pei Ting’s most updated list of dreams include cycling to Patagonia, working in Antarctica, and getting featured in Gardening Australia.
