Participant Stories

1/2/2020 By Ben Wilkinson, Out Doors’ Program Coordinator In the summertime, when the weather is fine…’   So begins many of my Winter daydreams, and I’m sure many others feel this way during the colder months when we are looking ahead to some warmth. It really is amazing how often our moods and motivation levels…...

1/2/2020 By John Gannon How to get fit during a lockdown or no lockdown! I find skipping is a great cardiovascular workout. I find that it’s cheap, and my fitness has greatly improved with this daily routine. It has helped me keep fit whilst enduring lockdown at home. Starting from…...

1/2/2020 By John Gannon For the beginning of the year, it is a good idea to identify and set goals for the new year. Goals need to be SMART. That is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-based. Specific means you clarify exactly what you want to achieve, and not be…...

1/2/2020 By Bernie McCormick If we pause for a moment to consider the past year we can see how dependent and interconnected we are with others, both in our own country and with those around the world.  Many Australians who engaged in their citizenship ceremonies did so online in 2020, and there…...

1/2/2020 By Tammy Krslin For most people, last year has been challenging, to say the least, starting with the devastating fires across the East coast and quickly leading to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Isolation forced a lot of us to reflect on how we live our lives and what truly matters to us. We’ve all…...

17/12/2020 By John Gannon Celebrate the festive season with a non-alcoholic, Gin-free mocktail! Recipe by Miriam Nice, BBC Good Food (November 2018). Ingredients  5 cardamom pods  1/2 cucumber  1 chamomile teabag  1/2 bunch mint leaves, plus extra to garnish  1 strip lemon zest  5 cloves  1/2 bunch rosemary  tonic water, to top-up  ice  few pomegranate seeds , to…...

17/12/2020 By John Gannon Rosemary is an easy herb to grow. It grows well from a cutting, which becomes a clone of the original plant. It can be easily grown in a container or pot. It is high in antioxidants, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds. It has a high nutrient level of vitamins and…...

17/12/2020 By Brad Virgona THIS WAS THE SECOND five-day participant convention organised by Out Doors Inc and it was very successful.  60 participants living with mental health issues aged 16 – 92 years.  There were several workshops and activities that participants could choose to be involved with, including tai chi meditation, personal reflection in the bush, nutrition…...

17/12/2020 By Stephen Duff l would like to share a simple mindfulness technique that I’ve picked up along the journey so far.  I try to be mindful of using this technique when I’m starting to feel anxious or overwhelmed.   Firstly, l acknowledge the anxiety in my physical body through my thoughts.   Secondly, l attempt to slow…...

17/12/2020 By Stephen Duff Time to get out and smell the roses… literally! What’s not to like about walking? It’s free, it’s easy on the joints, and there’s no question it’s good for you. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting…...