NiCHE Nature and Health Research Group
Research undertaken in 2001 by a Deakin University School of Health Sciences team, now the School of Health and Social Development, in collaboration with Parks Victoria and its Strategic Partners, and the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, indicated that contact with nature may be an important factor in human health and wellbeing. The Deakin-based team has since begun work on an exciting range of research and intervention projects. The potential applicability of nature-based interventions for improving individual and community health and wellbeing is enormous, due to its appropriateness for all age groups and all sectors of the population.
Beginning
with a widespread review of the literature around the human health
benefits of contact with nature, the NiCHE research group has continued
to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. Projects have ranged
from small pilot studies of the efficacy of civic environmentalism at a
local level as a health promotion strategy, to a large-scale study of the
influence of access to nature on the health and wellbeing of highrise
housing residents in two Australian cities.
To promote health and nature research, NiCHE has established an on-line human health and nature clearinghouse to bring together information about projects from around the world in a broadly accessible forum. Search for research work by categories, find work of a particular researcher or contact a research team. Access the clearinghouse with the above tab.
