Human Nature Adventure Therapy Ltd Information

Human Nature Adventure Therapy Ltd. (HNAT) is a small Not-for-Profit organisation that uses Bush Adventure Therapy to empower vulnerable, disadvantaged and 'at-risk' youth to transform trauma and disadvantage into stepping-stones towards becoming confident, engaged and mentally healthy adults. HNAT runs the Recre8 Program. The Recre8 Program began in 2009 with Adventure Based Counselling Incorporated (ABC). ABC was a coalition of individuals, agencies and community organisations including co-founder Graham Pringle, Andy Hamilton (Director of HNAT, registered Psychologist and Program Manager for Recre8), The Buttery, and Outward Bound Australia, who were all interested in providing this style of wilderness program to at-risk youth in the region. Three successful pilot programs were run as ABC, and the program then underwent a number of evolutions until it became Recre8 in 2013. The Recre8 Program includes a fun 10-day adventure expedition into the wilderness, where young people are camping, hiking, caneoing and sailing. They work through challenges with a supportive team of health professionals. A wide range of therapeutic practices are used to support them and the development of healthy relationships to self and other. Based in Northern New South Wales, we work with disadvantaged and traumatised youth throughout the region. Our core program team consists of: Program Manager and Psychologist Andy Hamilton, creator of the Recre8 Program and founder of HNAT (with 15 years youth mental health experience, who has run Recre8 since its inception in 2009), a senior adolescent youth counsellor, three senior highly experienced outdoor educators and certified Skippers (when needed). Our program team is mixed gender and we frequently utilise additional internes and volunteers. The program team is backed by our new Business Manager Selase Dugbaza and Operations Manager Dani Akehurst (who have 25 years of combined business management experience) and a passionate and highly engaged Board of Directors.