The Outdoor Education Group: Research Team

Dedicated to developing a sense of self, community and enviroment in young people

	Amma Griffiths Development Manager The Outdoor Education Group Amma is currently part of the research team coordinating The Learning Journey, a web based learning tool used pre and post programs. Amma’s research adventures were firstly inspired through completing her MEd.(Deakin), then lecturing at University of Ballarat (2001-2004), and researching Connections with Nature and Expeditioning. Her professional passion is to empower field staff to transfer the current outdoor education rhetoric into practice. Relevant papers and presentations
	Dr. Lorraine Smith *The Outdoor Education Group* Lorraine worked with OEG from1998 to 2007. She was initially appointed as the Executive Director of the NSW Division with the specific brief to establish OEG in NSW. In that time the NSW Division has grown by 70% from its modest beginnings. She was appointed as the National Head of Educational Development in 2004-2005. During that time she led a review and restructure of OEG's curriculum and developed the Educational Framework. Concurrently, a five year research program was launched to validate educational outcomes achieved through participation in OEG's programs. She resigned as the Director of Schools ( NSW ) in 2007, but still has professional input into the research. Lorraine has 30+ years experience in a variety of educational settings. She started her professional career as a secondary teacher in Victoria. She was the catalyst for the introduction of girls to the outdoor program at Bogong Outdoor Education Centre. In 1984 she completed a Ph.D. in Outdoor Education. She has taught at Victoria University of Technology and La Trobe University, Bendigo . She was the Head of Outdoor Education and Nature Toursim at Bendigo for six years before coming to OEG. She has presented at innumerable conferences at the state, national and international level, as a workshop and plenary presenter, including several keynote addresses at national conferences. She has been active on many professional committees including the role of President of the Camping Association of Victoria; Executive Member of the Outdoor Education Association of Victoria; Committee Member of the Outdoor Recreation Industry Council of NSW; and a member of many Outdoor Education Steering Committees for the Department of School Education in Victoria.
	James Neill Lecturer *Centre for Applied Psychology, University of Canberra* James is internationally recognised as a leading outdoor education researcher, with expertise in self-concept, research design, instrument development, data analysis, program evaluation, online research methods and web design. Relevant papers and presentations
	Tony Pammer Chief Executive Officer *The Outdoor Education Group* Tony founded OEG in 1984, and has grown the organisation to its current stage, where 21,000 students, from 70 Independent schools, in Victoria and NSW are taught by 150 permanent staff. Tony has served as founding chair of the Australian Outdoor Education Council, founding Director of the Recreation Industry Training Advisory Board, committee member Victorian Outdoor Education Association and other minor board appointments. Keynotes include papers at Victorian, National and other state outdoor education conferences, developmental seminars on the OE professions activity standards, NORLD Risk Management conferences and so forth. In 1996, Tony converted the then privately owned OAG to a Public Educational Institution, and selected a board of governors from schools, business and the profession. The new organisation (OEG), has tripled in participation since opening. Major program development facilitation roles include St Michael's Grammar School, Billanook College , Toorak College , Haileybury College , Oxley College (NSW), Frensham School and St Catherine's (Vic). Recent (major) non OEG consulting appointments to the Heads at Brighton Grammar and Brisbane Church of England Grammar School. Relevant Papers
	Clare Dallat Director of Programs and Risk Management The Outdoor Education Group Clare's philoshophy on managing risk involves providing staff with the best tools possible in order for them to make decisions under many variable and sometimes time critical conditions, always with the primary question being 'What educational purpose am I trying to achieve right now'? To further develop these tools, Clare decided that what she needed was to investigate more diverse theoretical perspectives of other professions and apply these where possible to Outdoor Education. This quest took her back to university to complete her study in MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management at the University of Leicester, UK. Clare's current research interests are in the area of risk communication; her master's dissertation was a discourse analysis of how Victorian schools are currently communicating risk to parents, in order for parents to provide 'informed consent' about their child's participation in an outdoor education program. Clare is also researching various theoretical models of contingency planning and crisis/disaster planning. Clare has presented and will continue to present at various conferences nationally and internationally each year. Relevant papers and presentations
Sandy Allen-Craig	School of Exercise Science Australian Catholic University Profile Relevant papers and presentations
	Pete Griffiths Director of Schools Melbourne The Outdoor Education Group Pete has worked in many roles in Outdoor Education and nature based tourism since 1984. He has acted as Director of Outdoor Education at two Melbourne schools and now manages the Melbourne based OEG team in his capacity of Director of Schools (Melbourne). His book 'The Ever Varying Flood' remains the definitive guide to Tasmania's Franklin River.
Peter Holmes	Senior Manager Swinbune *The Outdoor Education Group* Pete is presently undertaking study in a Masters of Education specialising in Experiential Learning at Victoria University . Pete has worked in outdoor education for 17 years with secondary school students and youth at risk. Before coming to work at OEG he was the manager of The Outdoor Experience a program which uses outdoor experiences to effect change in young people with substance abuse issues. His current work at OEG is managing the delivery of Swinburne University 's Diploma of Outdoor Recreation course. Relevant papers and presentations