Work to connect young people with disabilities and mental health challenges with nature has earned University of Queensland graduate Mathew Townsend a prestigious award.
The UQ School of Earth and Environmental Sciences Master of Environmental Management graduate is a co-winner of the Healthy Land and Water organisation’s 2018 Volunteer of the Year Award.
The award recognises Mr Townsend’s work to establish the Nature Freedom organisation, which helps young people with disability or mental health challenges work with existing environmental regeneration groups and offers inclusive outdoor adventure groups and career development assistance.
We’re helping often-marginalised people to meaningfully access, participate and lead in environmental regeneration and beyond, by collaborating with Landcare and environmental advocacy groups and showing young people they can have fun in nature
Mr Townsend is participating in UQ ilab’s three-month Germinate start-up accelerator program.
