Dr Michael Down

BOR (Hons)
Lecturer

Email: michael.down@nd.edu.au
Phone: (08) 9433 0901

  • Biography

    Michael is a Lecturer within the School of Health Sciences & Physiotherapy. He received a Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation (First Class Honours) from the University of Notre Australia (UNDA), and is a current PhD candidate at UNDA. His research aims to gather evidence for the design and implementation of future outdoor adventure education interventions to improve adolescent wellbeing.

    Michael has experience leading outdoor education expeditions both domestically and internationally and is passionate about the benefits of this education style for his students.

  • Teaching Areas

    • HLTH1930 Basic Expedition Skills
    • HLTH2920 Expeditions on Land
    • HLTH2930 Expeditions on Water
    • HLTH2940 Introduction to Roping and Challenging Courses
    • HLTH3205 Outdoor Education Teaching Methods (I)
    • HLTH4206 Outdoor Education Teaching Methods (II)

  • Research Expertise and Supervision

    Research Expertise

    • Outdoor adventure education
    • Adolescent wellbeing
    • Qualitative methodology

    Research Supervision

    Honours

    • 2022 - current: Zoe Baldock - Jumping puddles: What makes a successful outdoor education program in Western Australian secondary schools

  • Journal Articles and Proceedings

    • Down, M. J. A., Chivers, P., Kirsch, P., & Picknoll, D. (2021). Well-being and nature connectedness for emerging adult undergraduates after a short expedition: A small pilot study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3), 912-919.
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Edwards, T., Farringdon, F., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Murphy, M. C. (2021). Outdoor adventure education programs for the wellbeing of adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Manuscript submitted for publication.
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Bulsara, C. (2022). “I love being in the outdoors”: A qualitative descriptive study of student and teacher perspectives of outdoor adventure education programs for adolescent wellbeing. Manuscript submitted for publication.
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Bulsara, C. (2022). e-Delphi in the outdoors: Stakeholder contributions to the development of a wellbeing-focused outdoor adventure education intervention. Manuscript submitted for publication.
    • Picknoll, D., Down, M. J. A., & Hands, B. (2022). The annals of Outdoor Education in Western Australia. Manuscript submitted for publication.
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Piggott, B., Hoyne, G., & Bulsara, C. (2023). “Belonging breaks down barriers”: A qualitative descriptive study of the psychosocial outcomes of outdoor adventure education for adolescents. Manuscript submitted for publication.

    View Google Scholar Profile

  • Professional Affiliations

    • Deputy Editor, Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education (2022 - current)

  • Community Engagement

    • Non-Executive Board member, Outdoors WA (2021 - current)

  • Awards

    • Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship (2020 - 2023)
    • University of Notre Dame Australia –  School of Health Sciences/Mainpeak Award for the highest performing Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation graduating student (2018)