A specialized volunteer gardening initiative in Hobart's northern suburbs is helping people with dementia and their care partners improve their quality of life through nature-based activities.
Operating at the Chigwell Community Garden, the weekly program is part of the Venture Out Living Lab project managed by the University of Tasmania's Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre. Co-designed and run alongside Conservation Volunteers Australia, the Chigwell site offers gentle gardening, social interaction, and a calm environment for participants. It is one of several southern Tasmanian labs—including sites at the Tasmanian Bushland Garden, Derwent Valley Community Garden, and Warrane Community Garden—providing dementia-inclusive outdoor spaces funded through June 2027.
Participant Peter Maloney, who lives with dementia, attends the program alongside his wife, Madeleine. Mr Maloney shared that spending time in the garden has shifted his focus toward gratitude and the simplicity of nature. Researchers, including project lead Pauline Marsh and clinical psychologist Cassandra Thomson, note that the initiative aims to combat the isolation often following a diagnosis while studying the therapeutic benefits of outdoor environments for people navigating neurodegenerative conditions.
