Volunteers invited to participate
Published: 21 July 2026
Outdoor Physical Activity, Nature, and Social Connectedness for Healthy Ageing
Overview
This study aims to explore stakeholder perspectives on how community-based programs promote outdoor physical activity, nature connectedness, and social connectedness among older adults to support healthy ageing.
Researchers are seeking to interview stakeholders involved in the delivery or organisation of community-based outdoor physical activity programs for older adults. This may include program coordinators, facilitators, organisational representatives, or community leaders involved in programs such as walking groups, parkrun, Landcare initiatives, or local council recreation programs.
The interview will be conducted online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams at a date and time convenient to you and is expected to take 20-30 minutes.
Participation in this study is voluntary. If you choose to participate, you may decline to answer any question and may withdraw from the interview at any time before the interview concludes without penalty.
If you are interested in participating, please contact:
Jacinda Seiler
CQUniversity, Psychology Honours Student
Jacinda.seiler@cqumail.com
Further Information
The following information is also available by clicking below and downloading the Information Sheet.
Download Information SheetThe aim of this study project is to explore stakeholder perspectives on how community-based programs promote outdoor physical activity, nature connectedness, and social connectedness among older adults to support healthy ageing. The study will investigate how organisations engage older adults in outdoor physical activity programs, how they facilitate social connections, and what barriers and enablers influence older adults’ participation in these programs. This research may help improve understanding of how community-based outdoor physical activity programs can support healthy ageing and well-being among older adults.
Who can participate?
Stakeholders involved in the delivery or organisation of community-based outdoor physical activity programs older adults attend are invited to participate in this study. This may include program coordinators, facilitators, organisational representatives, volunteers, or community leaders involved in physical activity programs such as walking groups, parkrun, Landcare initiatives, or local council recreation programs.
- Participants must be aged 18 years or older.
What does participating involve?
Participation in this study involves taking part in one online interview conducted via Zoom or Microsoft Teams at a date and time convenient to you. The interview will involve questions relating to your experience and perspectives regarding outdoor physical activity programs for older adults, including nature connectedness, social connectedness, and barriers and enablers to participation. The interview is expected to take approximately 20 minutes, with total participation estimated at approximately 20 to 30 minutes including an introduction and verbal consent process.
- With your consent, the interview will be audio and video recorded to support accurate transcription and analysis. If requested, you may also receive a copy of your interview transcript to review for accuracy.
- Your participation in this research project is voluntary and choosing not to participate will not affect your relationship with the researchers, supervisors, CQUniversity, or your organisation.
What are the benefits and risks?
You may not directly benefit from participating in this project. However, the findings may inform future research relating to healthy ageing, outdoor physical activity, social connectedness, and well-being among older adults. The risks associated with participation are considered minimal. The topic is not considered sensitive in nature. However, there may be minor inconvenience associated with the time required to participate in the interview. You may also experience mild discomfort when discussing organisational challenges or barriers to participation. You are free to decline to answer any question or stop the interview at any time before the interview concludes without penalty.
More information about your participation
Your personal information, including your name, email address, telephone number, sex, age, role in organisation and your interview responses will remain confidential and will only be accessible to the research team. Interview recordings and transcripts will be securely stored on password-protected computers and/or secure university-approved storage systems accessible only to the student researcher and supervisors.
- All interview data will be de-identified before analysis and reporting.
- No identifiable information will be included in the Honours thesis or any resulting publications or presentations.
- The data will be securely stored for 15 years, in accordance with CQUniversity policy. The de-identified data may also be shared with other researchers and used in future research projects.
If you wish to participate, you will be asked to provide consent via email correspondence with the student researcher prior to the interview being scheduled. Additionally, verbal consent will also be obtained prior to recording and commencing the interview.
What if I decline or change my mind?
Participation in this project is voluntary, and you may withdraw from the study at any time before the interview concludes without penalty. If you choose to withdraw before the interview concludes, any information you have provided will not be used in the study. If you withdraw from the study once data analysis has commenced, it will not be possible to withdraw your data.
Where will the research outcomes be reported or shared?
The findings from this research will primarily be reported in a Psychology Honours thesis submitted by the student to CQUniversity. The findings may also be disseminated through scientific journal publications, conference presentations, and community presentations. Only de-identified information will be included in any disseminated findings.
How can I find out about the results of this research?
If you wish, you can request a plain English summary of the research findings from the student researcher following completion of the project.
Contact
This project is being completed by student Jacinda Seiler as part of the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) at CQUniversity under the supervision of Dr Stephanie Schoeppe and Dr Sam Cassar.
If you have any questions about this project, please contact Jacinda at Jacinda.seiler@cqumail.com
or the Project Supervisor, Dr Stephanie Schoeppe at s.schoeppe@cqu.edu.au
Please contact Central Queensland University’s Research Division (Tel: 07 4923 2603; E-mail ethics@cqu.edu.au) should there be any concerns about the nature and/or conduct of this research project. This project has been approved by the CQ University Human Research Ethics Committee, approval number 2026-016.
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