"You will never know your limits,
unless you push yourself to them"
GROW COMMUNITY
GROW COMMUNITY
Discover Self
IMMERSE in Nature
IMMERSE in Nature
We are passionate about providing LGBTQIA+ individuals with a safe and inclusive environment to explore new boundaries and grow new limits within.
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To really discover yourself in the outdoors isn't easy or simple to find, especially if you are solely looking for it.
Self discovery will find you after the right challenge.
You will realise later when you catch a reflection glaring back at you, that person is projecting growth and a sense of self worth not previously noticed.
The purpose of our programs is to provide an experience that initiates the growth and development of mental, social and physical skills that are transferrable and are also used by many in day to day life.
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The reason we want to provide this experience is to reduce the significant suicide rates that LGBTQIA+ communities are enduring. Mental health conditions are affecting all LGBTQIA+ communities at significantly higher rates than Australians who do not identify with a minority group.
HOW FLOW STATE BEGAN
HOW FLOW STATE BEGAN
Figure 1a (left);
"A culmination of 3 years worth of ideas, intense thought, self development and education.
I had too many ideas I couldn't make a start.
I decided to finally put all my thoughts and years of research out onto paper and from there I linked them all together to form a closely webbed link of how mental health and the outdoors go hand in hand with hand with forming stability and a social support system to tackle mental health and suicide within our community."
- Tom Hoppe
"I have been teaching outdoor education since 2018, its strange to say, but without my job I wouldn't be as happy and outgoing as I am every day.
If I didn't have the skillset to navigate in the outdoors or friends to socialise with in the outdoors, my mental health would be shocking.
After years of ideas playing ping pong in my mind, I decided to jump in the deep end and get started trying to create a community organisation for outdoor enthusiasts within the LGBTQIA+ community who require immersion in the outdoors for happiness, mental stability and forming community."
OUR TEAM
OUR TEAM
TOM (he/him)
CEO
Program Director
Hey I'm Tom and the outdoors saved my life.
I spent a long time in a dark place, feeling lost, isolated and alone, the outdoors gave me an escape from my cage. I immersed into adventure where I faced my worst fears and pushed my ability beyond its limit. I realised I was slowly developing a sense of self, purpose and strength through forming my own values and goals.
l now love how I live, I live with passion and feel so much happiness having the ability to take people into the outdoors where I watch growth and a positive impact being made.
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Occupation: Outdoor Educator
Favourite Sport: Extreme Skiing
TILLY (she/her)
Co - Founder
Digital Marketing Manager
Tilly Parsons is the Co-Founder and the Digital Marketing Manager of Flow State Outdoor Education. Tilly is a passionate member of the LGBTQIA+ community and is well known for her freelance photography work and for her time volunteering with numerous queer clothing brands and projects.
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Occupation: Extreme Freelance Photography
Favourite Sport: Extreme Jogging
VACANT POSITION (They/Them)
Position
-Chairperson
We are looking for passionate and talented members of our community to join Flow State Outdoor Education as board members.
If this position on the board interests you, please get in touch via email:
VACANT POSITION (They/Them)
Position
-Treasurer
We are looking for passionate and talented members of our community to join Flow State Outdoor Education as board members.
If this position on the board interests you, please get in touch via email:
WEPSITE UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Did you know
01/
Being physically active in the outdoors:
-Protects against mental health problems
-Improves self-esteem and cognitive function in young people.
-Decreases depression in older adults.
-Has been shown to be as effective as medication for mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
-Playing sport reduces psychological distress by 34% 1-3 times a week and 46% 4+ times a week.
Did you know
02/
We get stronger,
when we stick together.
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-Social support, social networks and social cohesion provided by group activities enhance the mental health and wellbeing of a community.
-Substantial evidence is shown for the correlation between social support and increased and continued participation in sport and active recreation.
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Did you know
03/
Compared to the general population, LGBTQI+ people are more likely to attempt suicide at far higher rates.
-LGBTQA+ young people aged 16 to 17 were almost three times more likely to have attempted suicide in the past 12 months.
-LGBTQA+ young people aged 16 to 17 were almost five times more likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime.
-LGBTI young people aged 16 to 27 are five times more likely.
-Transgender people aged 14-25 are fifteen times more likely.
-People with an intersex variation aged 16 and over are nearly six times more likely.
WORK IS UNDERWAY FORMING FLOW,
A GROUP CONSISTING OF MEMBERS AND ALLIES OF THE LGBTQI+ COMMUNITY THAT HAVE A LOVE AND DESIRE TO INCORPORATE THE BENEFITS OF BEING OUTDOORS INTO LIFE MORE OFTEN.
FLOW MEMBERS WOULD lead in the COMMUNITY and RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE BUSH WITH TRAINED AND CERTIFIED GUIDES OF FLOWSTATE OUTDOOR EDUCATION.
