Our latest Wild Earth Adventurers return!

Anyone who has “gone bush” for a few days knows how escaping a city or town can rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit. But for someone who has spent years living on the streets of a city, spending a few days in a natural environment can be amazingly therapeutic.

This philosophy is at the centre of Wild Earth Adventures. Based at Mission Australia’s Roma House in Brisbane, the program aims to help people who have been homeless to set life goals, build self-esteem and reconnect with nature.

Social Worker Amanda Smith and Sue Cramb, Clinical Nurse and Adventure Based Learning Facilitator, have just returned from a three-day Wild Earth Adventures program in Queensland’s Coloola National Park with participants from Roma House.

As part of the ‘Experiments with Self Identity, Group and Nature’ adventure, the group paddled into the National Park and camped in a remote setting for three days.

One of the participants, Debbie* – a former Roma House resident who is still receiving support from the service – had already been on nine adventure-based learning programs. These programs complement the creative and professional case management support available to residents of Roma House and its outreach clients.

Having spent much of her life experiencing grief and depression, Debbie said the program allowed her to “leave this crazy city and things become clearer. I always feel better when I get back from a camp”.

Emily*, a Torres Strait Islander participant, was thrilled to be given the opportunity to reconnect with nature after many years of living in the city.

On completing the program’s 13km uphill trek, Emily realised she had the potential to change her situation: “Completing this hike, something I didn’t think that I could, makes me realise that I can also get out of homelessness and go further than I thought I could”.

Amanda said that while the three-day program was at times gruelling, the participants were up for the challenge:

“Like all of our Wild Earth Adventurers, they were well prepared to ensure their emotional, mental and physical needs were met. All had to attend several preparatory meetings beforehand so they could set goals for the experience and be well informed about the plan and expectations,” Amanda said.

“Adventure therapy relies on creating a small group that have clear goals, describing a mutually agreed to working agreement, being drug and alcohol-free and eager to physically and mentally challenge ourselves,” she added.

“There is certainly a strong culture being created by regular participants and this program allows for unique opportunities to people to be able to talk through issues with qualified professionals.”

Wild Earth Adventures have been held approximately every two weeks since the program began in 2009.

To learn more about Roma House’s adventure-based learning programs, we have released a new video today - view below or visit our Channel at youtube.com/missionaust:



For more information or to donate to this project please contact Amanda Smith on SmithAma@missionaustralia.com.au or call (07) 3839 1826.

*Names have been changed.