The Evolution of Human Nature - The Journey of an Adventure Therapy Youth Mental Health Not-For-Profit Ten Years On
Description
In 2025, Human Nature Adventure Therapy celebrates 10 years of delivering innovative, nature-based mental health support to vulnerable young people across the Far North Coast of NSW—particularly those at high risk of serious consequences without timely intervention. Rooted in decades of experience, our programs harness the power of connection, trust-building, and nature-based adventure to meaningfully engage young people often considered ‘disengaged’ by traditional services.
Session Outline
In this presentation, Human Nature’s CEO and Founder will share the organisation’s journey—from running a handful of 10-day therapeutic expeditions per year to becoming an established service supporting over 130 adolescents annually through three core programs and a multidisciplinary team. We’ll explore key lessons from our successes and challenges, reflect on what it takes to deliver trauma-informed, relational care in the outdoors, and discuss our plans to scale and adapt this model for broader impact.
Andy Hamilton & Jen Parke
he/him | she/her
Human Nature Adventure Therapy
Andy Hamilton:
Andy Hamilton is a Psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in working in the youth mental health, addiction and justice fields. Since 2010, he has led the Recre8 expedition program, which integrates outdoor experiential learning and embodied practices with trauma-informed therapy. This innovative approach became the foundation of Human Nature Adventure Therapy, the charity Andy founded in 2015 to deliver nature-based therapeutic programs for vulnerable young people.
Andy has a unique depth and breadth of experience working with so-called ‘difficult-to-engage’ and traumatised youth. He is deeply passionate about social justice—particularly ensuring that at-risk young people who fall through the gaps of existing support systems receive the help they need to heal and thrive. He believes that collaborative, creative, and multidisciplinary approaches open up powerful opportunities for meaningful therapeutic work. He lives with his family on a small rural property on Bundjalung Country, where he is slowly restoring the degraded land into a thriving ecosystem.
Jen Parke:
Jen Parke has worked alongside young people and as a senior manager in a wide range of settings including Juvenile Justice, youth homelessness, counseling, and youth development and leadership. In 2021 she was inducted into the NSW Youth Work Hall of Fame. She has a Social Science degree and graduate diplomas in Counselling and Mediation. She also has a bush regeneration and horticulture background and knows the power of reconnecting with nature to reconnect with yourself. For the past five years, Jen has been an integral part of Human Nature, initially as Program Manager, then Head of Operations, and as CEO since April 2025.