Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT)
Bush Adventure Therapy is a diverse field of practice combining adventure and outdoor environments with the intention to achieve therapeutic outcomes for those involved. AABAT is a professional body for practitioners who have an interest in supporting, developing and promoting the field of Bush Adventure Therapy in Australia.
AABAT Membership
AABAT is building an increasing presence in Australia and internationally as an organisation that brings knowledge and resources together for practitioners and organisations that have an interest in using outdoor places for therapeutic ends. We are a member driven organisation with no paid staff.
In becoming a member, you are offering support for the current purpose, roles, intended actions, ethical principles and activities of the association. Via your membership, we invite you to contribute your expertise to the ongoing evolution of AABAT and the field of Bush Adventure Therapy. Your fees go towards our annual costs of insurance and basic administration costs.
aabat intended actions
Promotion
To promote Bush Adventure Therapy as a credible and beneficial form of therapeutic intervention
Safety & Ethics
To refine and uphold safe and ethical practices within the Bush Adventure Therapy community
Networking & Training
To provide opportunities to share, analyse and promote stories of success
Communication
To maintain an open forum for discussion and exchange of resources amongst the BAT community
Representation
To represent the community and practice of BAT to relevant professional bodies, associations and organisations
Bush Adventure Therapy Research and Evaluation
There is a rich history within Australia of organisations and researchers being actively involved in bush adventure therapy (BAT) research and program evaluation. Although some of this has been published, there is much which remains unpublished.
The term ‘evaluation’ refers to a systematic process of determining value, and can include:
- needs assessments (what are some gaps that the program will fill?), feasibility studies (given the constraints, can the program succeed?)
- process evaluations (how is the implemented program progressing?)
- outcome evaluations (were program goals and objectives achieved?)
- costs analysis (was the program financially worthwhile or valuable?)
- research (will the program work elsewhere?).
While program evaluation typically applies to a specific program(s), research aims to generalise findings to the wider world.
Outdoor Health Australia
After 2 decades of volunteer-led collaboration and leadership, in 2018 AABAT established a policy unit to advocate for the inclusion of nature-based health services within Australia’s health system, so that more people can benefit from these approaches. The term Outdoor Health Australia is used to describe this “larger tent” within which Bush Adventure Therapy resides.
AABAT Local Facebook Groups
AABAT has state based Facebook groups in most Australian states. These groups are an excellent forum for networking, sharing knowledge, and for building connections with others who are working or interested in Bush Adventure Therapy.
support aabat
Become an AABAT Member
We are a member driven organisation with no paid staff. In becoming an AABAT member, you are working alongside us to help more Australians access the health benefits of nature and the proven benefits of evidence-informed nature-based health practices.
Join our Mailing List
To receive updates, information on upcoming events and community news, join the AABAT mailing list.
Contact Us
If you want to get in touch, ask a question, make a comment, or collaborate, please Contact Us and an volunteer representative will reply as soon as possible.