Green spaces and wellbeing: social inclusion via nature connections

Associate Professor Mardie Townsend teaches in the areas of public health and family and society in the School of Health and Social Development in Deakin University's Faculty of Health. Throughout her career, Associate Professor Townsend has adopted a partnership approach to her work, undertaking collaborative research and policy development with national, state and local governments, non-government organisations and industry groups. She is currently collaborating with a range of organisations including Parks Victoria, G21, the Austin Hospital Group and the South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Her research interests include the human health benefits of interaction with nature; urban and rural contexts for health and wellbeing; social and health impact assessment; and housing and homelessness.

The 2012 Peter Quail Oration will focus on the human health benefits of interaction with nature and Associate Professor Townsend's work with Parks Victoria, Healthy Parks – Healthy People, Geelong’s Active in Parks as well as the use of ‘green scripts’ by medical practitioners.

The Peter Quail Oration is an annual initiative of the Deakin/Department of Health/Department of Human Services Strategic Alliance and is held in memory of Peter Quail, a valued DHS colleague and champion of the Alliance. The Alliance is a long standing collaboration between Deakin University, The Department of Health, and the Department of Human Services which aims to enhance and protect the health and social wellbeing of all people living in the Barwon South-Western Region. The aim of the Peter Quail Oration each year is to engage and inform the community and health service professionals on a topical and relevant regional health and wellbeing issue.