Dr Michael Down

Lecturer
BOR (Hons)

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

  • Biography

    Michael Down is a Lecturer at the University of Notre Dame, Australia. Dr Down’s research interests include outdoor adventure education programming for wellbeing and psychosocial domain development, particularly in adolescents.

    He is a former Board member of Outdoors WA, a current Executive Committee member of Outdoor Education Australia, and a Deputy Editor of the Journal of Outdoor Education. Dr Down is also a member of PLaTO-Net (Play, Learn, and Teach Outdoors – Network), currently serving on the steering committee of the AOP10 project, which aims to update the global position statement on active outdoor play.

  • Teaching Areas

    • Outdoor education

  • Research Expertise and Supervision

    • Research interests include mixed methods research, Delphi studies, outdoor adventure education, adolescence, wellbeing, and psychosocial outcomes.
    • Supervised one BHPE (Honours) project to completion (2023); current Associate Supervisor for one PhD (health Sciences) project

  • Journal Articles and Proceedings

    • Down, M. J. A., Chivers, P., Kirsch, P., & Picknoll, D. (2022). Wellbeing and nature connectedness for emerging adult undergraduates after a short expedition: A small pilot study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(3), 912-919. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.555
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Bulsara, C. (2023). “I love being in the outdoors”: A qualitative descriptive study of student and teacher perspectives of outdoor adventure education programs for adolescent wellbeing. Journal of Adolescence, 95(6), 1232-1244. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12197
    • Picknoll, D., Down, M. J. A., & Hands, B. (2023). The nature and scope of Outdoor Education in Western Australia. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, (26), 268-282. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-023-00129-1
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Bulsara, C. (2023). e-Delphi in the outdoors: Stakeholder contributions to the development of a wellbeing-focused outdoor adventure education intervention. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(2), 470-480. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.777
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Piggott, B., Hoyne, G., & Bulsara, C. (2024). “When the real stuff happens": A qualitative descriptive study of the psychosocial outcomes of outdoor adventure education for adolescents. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-023-00151-3
    • Down, M. J. A. (2024). Personal impacts of outdoor education: Collection and call for papers [Editorial]. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. https://link.springer.com/collections/gicbecagfj
    • Down, M. J. A., Picknoll, D., Edwards, T., Farringdon, F., Hoyne, G., Piggott, B., & Murphy, M. C. (2024). Outdoor adventure education programs for the wellbeing of adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2024.2386350

  • Original creative works

    • Down, M. J. A. (2023). Wellbeing in the outdoors: Exploring the impact of an outdoor adventure education program for the social and emotional wellbeing of Western Australian adolescents from selected independent schools (Doctor of Philosophy (Health Sciences)). University of Notre Dame Australia.

  • Professional affiliations

    • Executive Committee Member, Outdoor Education Australia
    • Steering Committee member, Outdoor Play Canada, PLaTO-Net (Play Learn and Teach Outdoors Network)
    • Deputy Editor, Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education

  • Others

    Reviewer for (in alphabetical order):

    • European Physical Education Review
    • Journal of Adolescence
    • Journal of Adolescent Health
    • Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning
    • Journal of Experiential Education
    • Journal of Interprofessional Care
    • Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education
    • Journal of Physical Activity & Health
    • Review of Education