RMIT researchers Dr Nerkez Opacin, Dr Nicholas Hill, Professor Sarah Bekessy, and Professor Katherine Johnson, together with collaborators Ian Seal (Many Coloured Sky) and Professor Jill Litt (ISGlobal), have co-authored a new book chapter in Social Connection in Everyday Spaces (Bristol University Press, 2025).
The chapter, titled “Nature-Based Social Prescribing with LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers and Refugees: A Feasibility Study Using Friends in Nature,” explores how spending time in nature can help reduce loneliness and enhance wellbeing among people facing displacement, discrimination, and social isolation.
Drawing on Melbourne’s contribution to the international RECETAS project, the study tested the Friends in Nature (FiN) model: a group-based nature intervention that combines social connection with outdoor experiences such as forest therapy, community gardening, and nature walks.
Key Insights
In partnership with Many Coloured Sky, the research team co-designed an eight-week program that supported LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers and refugees to connect with each other and with nature.
Using ethnography, interviews, focus groups, and photo-elicitation, the study identified key adaptations to make nature-based social prescribing more inclusive – including flexible participation, digital tools for connection, and guided intercultural reflection.
The findings highlight the potential of nature-based social prescribing to create safe, welcoming spaces that nurture belonging, reduce loneliness, and improve mental health, particularly with marginalised communities. This work contributes to global efforts to position nature as a vital setting for public health, inclusion, and social connection.
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