Becoming Ethical: A Reflective Journey Towards Transformative Outdoor Health Practices
Abstract
In a time of profound social, ecological, and cultural change, ethical practice in Outdoor Health (OH) is more than a professional obligation - it is a daily, relational, and systemic commitment. This session begins with a brief presentation tracing the collaborative development of the current OHA Ethical Practice Principles and Quality Framework. It outlines the collaborative review process, the underpinning research, and the evolution from AABAT’s original principles to current OHA framework. Participants will be invited to reflect on the balance between professional accountability and judgement, and the role of ethics in shaping safe-enough, liberatory, and ecologically attuned practice.
The workshop then expands this into the everyday ethical dimensions of outdoor and experiential practice. Ethics are not confined to formal therapeutic contexts - they are embedded in our daily choices, relationships, and interactions with the environments we inhabit. Drawing on emerging findings from Ben’s current PhD research, a framework-in-development will be shared to support ethical reflection in practice. Participants will be invited to small group discussions focusing on real-world scenarios to explore the framework’s utility in navigating complex, systemic, and relational dimensions of outdoor health.
Ben Knowles
he/him
Co-Director & Clinical Supervisor | Adventure Works Australia
Ben trained in education, outdoor education, experiential learning, and narrative therapy. Traversing these fields in many diverse contexts over the last two decades has honed his skills in working therapeutically with individuals, groups and communities outdoors. His current PhD project, looking at ‘ethics’ in Outdoor Health practice, has evolved from his strong commitment to seeing Outdoor Health practices find their place within the Australian health system.
Ben was pivotal in establishing the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT), Outdoor Health Australia and supports the work of the Outdoor Health sector. Alongside his PhD in public health, he works as a Co-director of Adventure Works Australia, is one of two Australian representatives on the Adventure Therapy International Committee (ATIC) and is co-lead of the ATIC ethics and good practice working group.