Objectives
The Ecohealth research theme’s primary focus is on the individual health and well-being benefits resulting from directly participating in restorative activities on Country, and the community health and well-being benefits resulting from the opportunities and outcomes provided by ecological restoration, reconnection with nature, and enduring business. More broadly, we aim to show how human and animal health and well-being are connected to ecological health across biological, psychological, and sociocultural levels.
Our current research and Indigenous collaboration areas include:
- Biodiversity and health: Exploring the relationship between biodiversity in the environment and human health (e.g., immune system functioning).
- Well-being and Caring for Country: Advancing biopsychosocial research on the individual and community well-being benefits of engaging with on-Country restoration.
- Indigenous land management as primary health: Supporting Indigenous organisations to communicate the health benefits of their work in the restoration and care of Country, and to facilitate new opportunities based on this.
- Stress and animal well-being: Researching the relationship between animal stress and environmental conditions, and how this is mediated by cultural practices on Country.
