Embrace Australian bush comfort and confidence in the great outdoors

The Australian outdoors is a place full of wonder, beauty, and adventure and the City of Whittlesea is helping residents learn more our bush landscapes in a series of new outdoor education workshops. 

The City of Whittlesea is joining forces with the team from Its Naturally You to run Australian Bush Comfort and Confidence. The free two-hour sessions are designed to build skills and experience in bush settings within the City of Whittlesea and beyond, to ensure everyone has equal opportunity for outdoor exploration and recreation. Anyone who lacks confidence and experience in bush settings is encouraged to attend. 

City of Whittlesea Chair Administrator Lydia Wilson said the sessions were a great way to empower the community to get outdoors more often. 

“We have so many wonderful open spaces here in the City of Whittlesea and we want everyone to feel comfortable to be able to explore these spaces. There is a direct connection between spending more time in nature and improved human health,” said Lydia. 

“Fostering a greater connection between our community and nature will help us to create a sense of shared responsibility in taking care of our local environment.” 

The sessions will cover topics such as: 

• Introduction to City of Whittlesea bush landscapes – how did they evolve, their cultural significance, features of the bush and who lives in the bush. 

• Bush culture - language, clothing, accessories to make outdoor life comfortable, outdoor conversations (including role play), do's and don'ts, interacting with other people, good practices in National Parks, public reserves and private land. 

• Activities - walking, swimming, fishing, campfires, bird watching, wildlife watching, wellbeing activities, deciding where to go and planning activities. 

• Bush safety – lighting a fire and bushfire awareness, dangerous animals, weather and sun protection. 

• Where to find more help – emergency resources, planning resources and self-help resources. 

Refer to the Events page to register to attend one of the Australian Bush Comfort and Confidence sessions online.