SABI Magazine SABI Magazine June July 2017 | Page 16

Therapeutic Gardens
Indeed, says Joanne the “move
to a rural location when my
family was still new is the best
decision we ever made.”
“Time spent in our extensive
garden has allowed us to take
a holistic approach to our kids’
development and medical needs,
combining traditional western
medicine techniques such as
psychologists,
occupational
therapists and special educators
with the healing benefits of
interacting with nature. Each of
the children have used the garden
differently and as they have grown
they adapted the way they interact
with nature to get the most benefit
for themselves.
“Much further down the track,”
says Joanne “My love of gardening
led me to accept the position of
CEO at the LNA Master
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SABI | JUNE/JULY 2017
The firm assists with the entire
process
of
inviduals’
and
groups’ Therapeutic Gardens’
growth: including funding and
establishment, technical design,
communication plus marketing
and maintenance processes, to
name but a few.
Landscapers’ Association, where
I worked for just over six years
before leaving last year to focus
on Therapeutic Gardens Australia.
Throughout my career I have
always aimed to assist charities
and not-for-profit organisations,
bringing corporate and private
business together in partnerships
with community organisations. Vital
Today Joanne’s consulting firm
Therapeutic Gardens Australia,
is based in Sydney but operating
nationally and internationally
where need be, brings together
all the advice, expertise and
experience of professionals that
individuals and organisations
of all shapes and sizes need to
create therapeutic gardens to
help soothe and improve various
medical needs. Says Joanne: “We facilitate the
creation of accessible therapeutic
gardens, tailor made to meet
the needs of specific clients and
spaces. Therapeutic gardens
can assist with the whole
process of creating the gardens,
from conception and design,
through
to
implementation
and maintenance.”
Joanne says they aim to make
vital information widely available
– also via their website – to help
other people and communities
create,
design
and
use
therapeutic gardens.
There are many different kinds
of therapeutic gardens, each
aimed at mitigating the symptoms
of medical conditions, both
physical and mental.
“At Therapeutic Gardens Australia,
we help to create gardens to meet
the needs of individuals, specific
organisations and institutions, as
well as wider community spaces.
The specific features of each
garden are tailor made for the
intended users and are purpose
built to help them achieve a sense
of wellbeing, meet their therapy
goals and see improved health
outcomes,” elaborates Joanne.