The Wilderness Program

Specialist Program

Features of the Specialist Model

Each Specialist program is formulated in close consultation with the organisation representing the target group. Direct involvement by staff from the host organisation is encouraged to assist with post-program care and ensure transparency of the Wilderness Program bush counselling processes.

The main features include:

The age range does not solely target young people (the focus is often on adult populations)
Intentional targeting of homogeneous populations or groups with single issues
Designed to work adjunctively with a host organisation
Guarantee of an established peer and professional support network in place post-program
Program costs are calculated on a cost-recovery basis.

Specialist Programs currently operated by the Wilderness Program: Further information is given below.

The School Model: collaborative initiatives that involves students and staff together as participants.
Coming of Age Program: for older adults within the Tasmanian community.
Migrant Specialist Program: for African clients of Migrant Resources Launceston.
Bridge Classic and Can Do Program: for people in alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Richmond Fellowship Specialist Program: for clients in recovery from mental illnesses.
Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program: for members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community.

The School's Out program

The specialist model for school students is a recent genre of bush counseling program that has arisen from the need to work more collaboratively within the education sector. in Cultural changes within schools and society in general have necessitated that the Wilderness Program adapts to opportunities that partnerships with schools and colleges may present. The model was first trialed with Rose Bay High School (Hobart) in 1999.

Key features of the School's Out model:

Each school program is custom designed through consultation with staff and students representing the identified student group.
Careful student selection is essential to build a group that has pro-social elements that engender successful program outcome
Identifying a key staff member from within the school to attend the program is an effective student-staff relationship building strategy.
The main role of this key staff member is to assist with effective follow-up of students after the completion of the bush counselling program. Our program research suggests that good quality follow-up is critical in sustaining the benefits of the program for participants over the long-term.
This key staff member performs other functions that involve selecting the students that attend, acting as a liaison between the school and the Wilderness Program, distributing information to students and collecting documentation from students / parents needed before attending the program.
Community school specific issues addressed in the past include: inclusion strategies, students creating behavioral contracts to introduce back at school, student mentoring across grades, leadership development, maturational experiences, conflict, anger management or as a reward!
Attending a structured training program by the Wilderness Program is recommended for school staff attending the program so as to provide them with a transparent view of bush counseling processes in use on our program.
Program fees are calculated on reasonable ability-to-pay basis.

Coming of Age Program

This project is an integral part of Sport and Recreation Tasmania's broader strategy for older adults and actively supports the implementation of the Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing. The project intends to deconstruct the myth that older members of the community cannot, should not or indeed are incapable of participation in outdoor recreation style pursuits.

Aims:
To design and implement Wilderness Program bush-counselling programs for older adults that aim to:

Increase opportunities for older adults to participate in outdoor recreation pursuits that have therapeutic intent.
Improve awareness of Wilderness Program opportunities available for older adults.
Increase avenues for social contact through participation in outdoor activities.
Break down the traditional barriers older adults have to participation that stem from financial restrictions, transport difficulties and isolation.

Implementation:
Coming of Age is a new initiative. Consultation has begun with the Seniors Bureau and the Council of The Ageing Tasmania on who to target, the barriers to participation and how best to develop partnerships with older adult community groups. Groups such as University for the Third Age (U3A), School for Seniors, Local Government, state and federal government initiatives are welcome to contact the Wilderness Program about this initiative. Coming of Age projects under consideration include specialist programs that are custom designed and heterogenous programs that cater for mixed groups of older adults.

Migrant Specialist Program

This project is a partnership between Migrant Resources Launceston and the Wilderness Program. Programs thus far have been custom designed for African migrants to help them explore the differences between their native culture and that of mainstream Australia. The areas targeted include patriarchal cultural imperatives and gender role uncertainties for migrants within Australian society. The project provides opportunities for participants to deal positively with choice and decision making, assist in the development of leadership and self responsibility and to provide a meaningful wilderness experience through engaging in outdoor activities.

Aims:
To design and implement a Wilderness Program bush-counselling program for migrants that aims to:

Help participants cope with their fears and anxieties through participation in recreational activities that involve perceived levels of risk.
Provide an environment where participants can experiment with different gender roles and decision-making opportunities.
Provide an experience that allows participants to appreciate the wilderness environment.

Implementation:
Consultation between Migrant Resources Launceston and the Wilderness Program determined the eventual program design. The Wilderness Program implemented their risk and crisis management system consistent with its responsibilities and duty of care to participants. An issue of specific concern lay with the past traumas that some of participants had experienced. The program did not address these issues directly yet were cognisant that the nature of the activities might trigger responses where participants might relive past traumas. Recreational activities for this program include kayaking, caving, bushwalking and abseiling. Cooking is of a communal nature and offers participants the opportunity to experiment with meal preparation. The initial pilot program was a three-day program that utilised the goal setting principles and social norms of mainstream bush counselling programs. The program accommodates up to 8 participants and operates from a mobile base utilising remote campsites and mountain refuges in the north west of Tasmania. The wilderness activities are implemented in close proximity to the camping areas.

Outcomes and observations:

The group were able to experiment with new and novel gender roles and openly discuss the conflict raised by cross-cultural differences around this issue.
There was a clear focus on the present moment and participants behaved as if each moment was precious.
A respect for diverse elements within the group was demonstrated.
Participants showed initiative and took to the decision-making opportunities as they were presented
Everyone on the program was grateful for the opportunity to be there.
Evidence of a strong value-based culture with significant spiritual affinity.
The challenges and uncertainty came as much from the unstructured activities such as sleeping in tents, contact with wildlife and uncertainty about a police search and rescue operation in the immediate area, as it did from the kayaking, caving and bush-walking.
The impact of past trauma did not become evident during this program, yet a heightened level of fear was evident towards police and authority figures.

Bridge Classic & Can Do Programs

Both of these bush counselling programs are designed specifically for present and past clients of the Hobart Bridge Centre. The Bridge Centre is an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program (run by the Salvation Army) that endorses the Wilderness Program experience as an adjunct to mainstream psycho-educational processes in use at the centre. The two models of bush counselling program developed so far, cater for the varying needs of Bridge clients. The Bridge Classic Project is a 4-day wilderness program that comprises a tent-based journey. The Can Do Project is a 4-day residential program delivered from a rustic bush dwelling. Both models are run in partnership with the Salvation Army's Hobart Bridge Centre.

Aims and Design:

Design, implement and evaluate a bush counselling project for clients in drug and alcohol rehabilitation
Target "older youth" (25 years and over) for the program
Implement the project as an adjunct to mainstream A & D rehabilitation interventions
Focus research on A & D specific issues
Develop a close partnership between the Wilderness Program and the Bridge Centre

Implementation:

Wilderness Program staff work with a differing developmental focus: Adults instead of Adolescents
Group social norms negotiated rather that directed. Participants have greater say in program processes.
Course structure and wilderness activities reversed.
Bridge Centre staff member attends the program to assist with post-course follow-up case management

Evaluation:

Qualitative research using data from participant journals demonstrate that:
Participants’ expectations are consistently more realistic by the end of the program.
The quality of participants self-talk in times of stress improves significantly throughout the program.

Richmond Fellowship Specialist Program

This partnership between the Wilderness Program and Richmond Fellowship (Tas) initially targeted a group of 20-35 year old males recovering from mental illnesses. Integral to their recovery, participants sought increased levels of independence and greater organisational skills to manage their lives more effectively. The initial 4-day program utilised wilderness activities run from a residential base to allow for more flexibility in the management of participant medication. As medication issues receded, the program has since diversified to include three different models. The program has included participants from various statewide regions and aims to help participants focus on previously untapped resources that increase their capabilities to meet the challenges involved in day-to-day living.

Aim:

Implement a customised bush counselling program for the benefit of mental health clients from Richmond Fellowship.
The aim is to support group members engaged in the rigours of outdoor activities
To cultivate an environment that encourages growth in independence skills.

Implementation

Richmond Fellowship staff member attends the bush counselling program to assist with case management and post-course support
Participants are encouraged to formulate goals that are small and incremental

Three program models:

4-day residential Program
5 day tent-based Journey
Women's Program

Evaluation:

Socialisation was a key area of success for all involved
Getting up early was very tough!
Allowances were required for medications and their side-effects

Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program

The Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program (AORP) is delivered through Sport and Recreation Tasmania with assistance from the Wilderness Program and Aboriginal Community Agencies. The individuals most likely to benefit from increased connections between land and environment are identified by youth workers and Aboriginal community members. Participants from a wide age range are referred to the program, reflecting the strong family focus within the community.

Aim:

To use Aboriginal culture and physical challenges, to provide opportunities to increase cultural identity, self-esteem and personal growth of Aboriginal youth.
To provide participants with a greater range of tools and strategies to solve their own problems.
To have fun whilst doing the activities
Invoke ownership of the program within the community
Provide training opportunities and experience for up and coming outdoor leaders/instructors
To ensure the eventual transfer back to the community of all operational aspects of the program currently provided by the Wilderness Program.

Implementation:

Co-ordinated by a Project Officer and guided by feedback from the Aboriginal community.
Aboriginal cultural interpretation occurs on each program to educate participants in cultural practices, sites of cultural significance, food gathering and contemporary aboriginal history.
Aboriginal participants and cultural instructors take responsibility for camps direction.
The focus is on engaging participants with their culture - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Home -> Sport and Recreation Tasmania -> Wilderness Program -> Programs -> Specialist Program
Home Who we are Programs Training Opportunities Methods Publications Events Calendar Photo Gallery Useful links	Specialist Program Features of the Specialist Model Each Specialist program is formulated in close consultation with the organisation representing the target group. Direct involvement by staff from the host organisation is encouraged to assist with post-program care and ensure transparency of the Wilderness Program bush counselling processes. The main features include: The age range does not solely target young people (the focus is often on adult populations) Intentional targeting of homogeneous populations or groups with single issues Designed to work adjunctively with a host organisation Guarantee of an established peer and professional support network in place post-program Program costs are calculated on a cost-recovery basis. Specialist Programs currently operated by the Wilderness Program: Further information is given below. The School Model: collaborative initiatives that involves students and staff together as participants. Coming of Age Program: for older adults within the Tasmanian community. Migrant Specialist Program: for African clients of Migrant Resources Launceston. Bridge Classic and Can Do Program: for people in alcohol and drug rehabilitation. Richmond Fellowship Specialist Program: for clients in recovery from mental illnesses. Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program: for members of the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. The School's Out program The specialist model for school students is a recent genre of bush counseling program that has arisen from the need to work more collaboratively within the education sector. in Cultural changes within schools and society in general have necessitated that the Wilderness Program adapts to opportunities that partnerships with schools and colleges may present. The model was first trialed with Rose Bay High School (Hobart) in 1999. Key features of the School's Out model: Each school program is custom designed through consultation with staff and students representing the identified student group. Careful student selection is essential to build a group that has pro-social elements that engender successful program outcome Identifying a key staff member from within the school to attend the program is an effective student-staff relationship building strategy. The main role of this key staff member is to assist with effective follow-up of students after the completion of the bush counselling program. Our program research suggests that good quality follow-up is critical in sustaining the benefits of the program for participants over the long-term. This key staff member performs other functions that involve selecting the students that attend, acting as a liaison between the school and the Wilderness Program, distributing information to students and collecting documentation from students / parents needed before attending the program. Community school specific issues addressed in the past include: inclusion strategies, students creating behavioral contracts to introduce back at school, student mentoring across grades, leadership development, maturational experiences, conflict, anger management or as a reward! Attending a structured training program by the Wilderness Program is recommended for school staff attending the program so as to provide them with a transparent view of bush counseling processes in use on our program. Program fees are calculated on reasonable ability-to-pay basis. Coming of Age Program This project is an integral part of Sport and Recreation Tasmania's broader strategy for older adults and actively supports the implementation of the Tasmanian Plan for Positive Ageing. The project intends to deconstruct the myth that older members of the community cannot, should not or indeed are incapable of participation in outdoor recreation style pursuits. Aims: To design and implement Wilderness Program bush-counselling programs for older adults that aim to: Increase opportunities for older adults to participate in outdoor recreation pursuits that have therapeutic intent. Improve awareness of Wilderness Program opportunities available for older adults. Increase avenues for social contact through participation in outdoor activities. Break down the traditional barriers older adults have to participation that stem from financial restrictions, transport difficulties and isolation. Implementation: Coming of Age is a new initiative. Consultation has begun with the Seniors Bureau and the Council of The Ageing Tasmania on who to target, the barriers to participation and how best to develop partnerships with older adult community groups. Groups such as University for the Third Age (U3A), School for Seniors, Local Government, state and federal government initiatives are welcome to contact the Wilderness Program about this initiative. Coming of Age projects under consideration include specialist programs that are custom designed and heterogenous programs that cater for mixed groups of older adults. Migrant Specialist Program This project is a partnership between Migrant Resources Launceston and the Wilderness Program. Programs thus far have been custom designed for African migrants to help them explore the differences between their native culture and that of mainstream Australia. The areas targeted include patriarchal cultural imperatives and gender role uncertainties for migrants within Australian society. The project provides opportunities for participants to deal positively with choice and decision making, assist in the development of leadership and self responsibility and to provide a meaningful wilderness experience through engaging in outdoor activities. Aims: To design and implement a Wilderness Program bush-counselling program for migrants that aims to: Help participants cope with their fears and anxieties through participation in recreational activities that involve perceived levels of risk. Provide an environment where participants can experiment with different gender roles and decision-making opportunities. Provide an experience that allows participants to appreciate the wilderness environment. Implementation: Consultation between Migrant Resources Launceston and the Wilderness Program determined the eventual program design. The Wilderness Program implemented their risk and crisis management system consistent with its responsibilities and duty of care to participants. An issue of specific concern lay with the past traumas that some of participants had experienced. The program did not address these issues directly yet were cognisant that the nature of the activities might trigger responses where participants might relive past traumas. Recreational activities for this program include kayaking, caving, bushwalking and abseiling. Cooking is of a communal nature and offers participants the opportunity to experiment with meal preparation. The initial pilot program was a three-day program that utilised the goal setting principles and social norms of mainstream bush counselling programs. The program accommodates up to 8 participants and operates from a mobile base utilising remote campsites and mountain refuges in the north west of Tasmania. The wilderness activities are implemented in close proximity to the camping areas. Outcomes and observations: The group were able to experiment with new and novel gender roles and openly discuss the conflict raised by cross-cultural differences around this issue. There was a clear focus on the present moment and participants behaved as if each moment was precious. A respect for diverse elements within the group was demonstrated. Participants showed initiative and took to the decision-making opportunities as they were presented Everyone on the program was grateful for the opportunity to be there. Evidence of a strong value-based culture with significant spiritual affinity. The challenges and uncertainty came as much from the unstructured activities such as sleeping in tents, contact with wildlife and uncertainty about a police search and rescue operation in the immediate area, as it did from the kayaking, caving and bush-walking. The impact of past trauma did not become evident during this program, yet a heightened level of fear was evident towards police and authority figures. Bridge Classic & Can Do Programs Both of these bush counselling programs are designed specifically for present and past clients of the Hobart Bridge Centre. The Bridge Centre is an alcohol and drug rehabilitation program (run by the Salvation Army) that endorses the Wilderness Program experience as an adjunct to mainstream psycho-educational processes in use at the centre. The two models of bush counselling program developed so far, cater for the varying needs of Bridge clients. The Bridge Classic Project is a 4-day wilderness program that comprises a tent-based journey. The Can Do Project is a 4-day residential program delivered from a rustic bush dwelling. Both models are run in partnership with the Salvation Army's Hobart Bridge Centre. Aims and Design: Design, implement and evaluate a bush counselling project for clients in drug and alcohol rehabilitation Target "older youth" (25 years and over) for the program Implement the project as an adjunct to mainstream A & D rehabilitation interventions Focus research on A & D specific issues Develop a close partnership between the Wilderness Program and the Bridge Centre Implementation: Wilderness Program staff work with a differing developmental focus: Adults instead of Adolescents Group social norms negotiated rather that directed. Participants have greater say in program processes. Course structure and wilderness activities reversed. Bridge Centre staff member attends the program to assist with post-course follow-up case management Evaluation: Qualitative research using data from participant journals demonstrate that: Participants’ expectations are consistently more realistic by the end of the program. The quality of participants self-talk in times of stress improves significantly throughout the program. Richmond Fellowship Specialist Program This partnership between the Wilderness Program and Richmond Fellowship (Tas) initially targeted a group of 20-35 year old males recovering from mental illnesses. Integral to their recovery, participants sought increased levels of independence and greater organisational skills to manage their lives more effectively. The initial 4-day program utilised wilderness activities run from a residential base to allow for more flexibility in the management of participant medication. As medication issues receded, the program has since diversified to include three different models. The program has included participants from various statewide regions and aims to help participants focus on previously untapped resources that increase their capabilities to meet the challenges involved in day-to-day living. Aim: Implement a customised bush counselling program for the benefit of mental health clients from Richmond Fellowship. The aim is to support group members engaged in the rigours of outdoor activities To cultivate an environment that encourages growth in independence skills. Implementation Richmond Fellowship staff member attends the bush counselling program to assist with case management and post-course support Participants are encouraged to formulate goals that are small and incremental Three program models: 4-day residential Program 5 day tent-based Journey Women's Program Evaluation: Socialisation was a key area of success for all involved Getting up early was very tough! Allowances were required for medications and their side-effects Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program The Aboriginal Outdoor Recreation Program (AORP) is delivered through Sport and Recreation Tasmania with assistance from the Wilderness Program and Aboriginal Community Agencies. The individuals most likely to benefit from increased connections between land and environment are identified by youth workers and Aboriginal community members. Participants from a wide age range are referred to the program, reflecting the strong family focus within the community. Aim: To use Aboriginal culture and physical challenges, to provide opportunities to increase cultural identity, self-esteem and personal growth of Aboriginal youth. To provide participants with a greater range of tools and strategies to solve their own problems. To have fun whilst doing the activities Invoke ownership of the program within the community Provide training opportunities and experience for up and coming outdoor leaders/instructors To ensure the eventual transfer back to the community of all operational aspects of the program currently provided by the Wilderness Program. Implementation: Co-ordinated by a Project Officer and guided by feedback from the Aboriginal community. Aboriginal cultural interpretation occurs on each program to educate participants in cultural practices, sites of cultural significance, food gathering and contemporary aboriginal history. Aboriginal participants and cultural instructors take responsibility for camps direction. The focus is on engaging participants with their culture - physically, emotionally and spiritually.