Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit will introduce students to the foundational principles of a number of programs that utilize the outdoors for therapeutic interventions for specific populations. The unit will examine the historic development of these therapeutic interventions that utilise the outdoors and explore the range of applications of these emerging alternative health programs. The use of outdoor settings and outdoor pursuits as part of such therapeutic health interventions will be investigated. Students will have the opportunity to work alongside a young person as a mentor and to apply the principles of mentorship in a community outdoor adventure therapy program.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe different therapeutic interventions and t...
Learning Outcome 01
Describe a variety of natural environments in outd...
Learning Outcome 02
Describe the importance of therapeutic interventio...
Learning Outcome 03
Explain the professional practice of an Adventure ...
Learning Outcome 04
Outline the risk assessment needed to be undertake...
Learning Outcome 05
Describe the management issues that could arise in...
Learning Outcome 06
Describe a variety of therapeutic approaches and t...
Learning Outcome 07
Outline the key concepts of a successful mentor re...
Learning Outcome 08
Content
Topics will include:
- Therapeutic Interventions models and their use of outdoor settings and programming
- Defining adventure therapy and wilderness therapy
- Group facilitation in the adventure therapy context
- Health and wellbeing of clients of adventure therapy programming.
- Adventure therapists and wilderness therapists professional practice, logbook currency
- Risk Assessment and management for specific client groups
- Concepts of mentorship
- Applications of the mentoring practice in the context of outdoor therapeutic interventions
- Personal behaviours patterns and their effect on the mentoring relationship
- Privacy and ethics of the mentor relationship
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies.
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Fieldwork organisation, presentat...
Assessment 1:
Fieldwork organisation, presentation and review
45%
Assessment 2: Paper: The outdoor adventure expe...
Assessment 2: Paper:
The outdoor adventure experiences as a therapeutic process
30%
Assessment 3: Group Presentation: Empathy and E...
Assessment 3: Group Presentation:
Empathy and Efficacy
25%
Assessment 4 Logbook
Assessment 4
Logbook
P/F
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Teaching and learning strategies may include resources sessions, tutorials, lectures, field work, and reflective/critical thinking activities, which will be delivered in a 2-hour lecture and a 1-hour tutorial, as well as field work activities. Teaching and learning strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities.