We are delighted inform you of the Eighth International Adventure Therapy Conference (8IATC) to be held at The Stanwell Tops Conference Centre in New South Wales, Australia, from 29 August to 2 September 2018.
This conference only happens once every three years, and it’s been 21 years since Australia last hosted an International Adventure Therapy Conference. This is a once in 20 year opportunity and is set to be the largest gathering of international adventure therapy professionals in the world. It will be a magnificent time of sharing in areas of practice, research, policy and training.
The 8IATC will be hosted by the Australian Association for Bush Adventure Therapy (AABAT) and the Local Organising Committee on behalf of the International Adventure Therapy Committee, made up of 40 members from 23 nations. AABAT has a current newsletter base of 800 people from diverse sectors and 1400 followers on Facebook. The International Adventure Therapy Group has 895 followers, the US-based Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group has 594 followers, the Adventure Therapy Group has 217 followers, and the 8IATC Group already has 450 followers. Many member businesses have significant followings and repost our content routinely.
Based on a range of planned promotional strategies that include regular social media posts, these numbers are set to rise over the next year culminating in the hosting of over 350 delegates from diverse backgrounds, professions and contexts.
The 8IATC seeks to “Expand the circles”.
For us, circles are symbolic of communities, of inclusive practices and wholeness – expanding and contracting yet remaining complete and unbroken. They are also important symbols within Indigenous cultures, and used in a variety of ways by contemporary practitioners around the world. Sponsorship will expand your circles.
Within the wider field, the 8IATC will provide a space and place to explore where our practices intersect or overlap; where new and old meet; what connects us; and what contributions we can make to improve living conditions and natural environments around the globe.
The 8IATC program already includes keynote speakers from the forefront of the field who are set to engage, inspire, provoke and enlighten us. We anticipate the superb location will attract great interest from both national and international delegates.
International Adventure Therapy is a field with ample opportunity for innovation and creativity, and we welcome your contribution.