Bush Adventure Therapy (BAT)
Download our 1-page BAT services overview here.
Download our 1-page Education Engagement Support services overview here.
Download our detailed Bush Adventure Therapy services booklet here.
Download our intake form and return it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Therapy mostly out of doors with youth, adults, groups and families.
Different to our disability support work at GAS, Bush Adventure Therapy (or BAT as it’s referred to) is essentially therapy outside in green and blue spaces e.g. parks, creeks, rivers, beaches and other natural areas. Each session is tailored to meet the individual needs of the participant as no two people are the same (we even offer indoor counselling and activities as well where needed).
Our service is unique as our BAT Staff provide a 2 in 1 service and are professionally trained in both outdoor skills and in providing targeted therapeutic support. You can read more about our current BAT staff and their qualifications / expertise in 'about GAS'.
Who is it for?
Everyone and anyone who can benefit from these practices. However, currently we service mostly >12 years and over.
Common challenges our participants face:
- School refusal
- Autism (Asperger's syndrome, pathological demand avoidance)
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Complex Trauma
- Insomnia and sleeping difficulties
- Anxiety & depression
- Psychosocial difficulties
- Physical disabilities
- Schizoprenia/Schizoaffective disorders
- Intellectual disability (ID/DD)
- Alcohol & other drugs (AOD/FASD)
- Family violence
- Screen/gaming/online addiction
Our areas of expertise include:
- Psychoeducation (teaching hacks on how to manage overwhelming emotions and feelings)
- Relaxation strategies (breathing exercises, mindfulness techniques outdoors)
- Strengths based approach (focusing in on the strengths/ not deficits)
- Solution focused (focusing on solutions not problems)
- Unconditional positive regard (providing safe and supportive spaces for people experiencing intense emotions, thoughts, and feelings)
- Non-violent communication (encouraging and responsible behaviour from our staff)
- Positive role modelling (we work on ourselves to demonstrate positive behaviour)
- Counselling
Examples of tailored BAT experiences
- 1:1 counselling whilst walking side by side on a bushwalk/ dog walk or
- Sitting by the bay/ river catching fish
- Living in community and learning from others on a week-long canoe journey
- Returning to a place on a regular basis to observe seasonal changes and daily rhythms
- Mountain bike riding and coaching to master new skills
- Practicing new strategies in outdoor adventure (eg. emotional regulation during rock climbing)
- Co-designing your own tailored BAT adventure (a few hours or a few days in length)
We believe in starting wherever the participant is in their life journey, and we welcome you to get in touch to see if we can be of help on your life adventure.
Download our intake form and return it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us on 5222 1431 for a no obligation 10-minute chat to see if we are the right fit for your needs.
Intake Process
Step 1: Submit and Intake Form.
Step 2: Meet with us in person or online (1 hour) to design your program.
Step 3: Review and sign a service agreement (prepared by GAS).
Step 4: Confirm start date and time.
Program Cost
Example Session Cost (3-hr BAT Session):
1:1 Weekday BAT: $170/hour
- 3 hours of Service Delivery: $510
- 40 minutes of Provider Travel: $113.22
Transport: $1/km
- 40km: $40.00
Total cost: $663.22
NDIS Line Items
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Capacity Building Support Items: |
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Bush Adventure Therapy 15_056_0128_1_3 (Low-tech) |
$160/hr |
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Bush Adventure Therapy 15_056_0128_1_3 (Tech-assisted: including GAS equipment, eg. Bikes, climbing gear, cooking equipment, kayaks etc) |
$170/hr |
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Individual Counselling 15_043_0128_1_3 |
$156.16/hr |
|
Bush Adventure Therapy Assistant / Learning Mentor 15_052_0128_1_3 |
$86.79/hr |
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Animal Assisted (Therapy Dog) sessions: add 15min Non-Face-To-Face Services |
$40 |
