Vision: Trojans trek will be recognised as the most effective peer support wilderness based intervention which reconstructs the psychological health and well being of service and ex service personnel.
Mission. Trojan’s Trek plan, conduct and evaluate wilderness based peer support interventions to assist service, ex-service, and first responders, adversely affected by their service.
Context. Trojan’s Trek is a program that was first run in the North Flinders Ranges of SA in the late 1990s to assist troubled Vietnam veterans return to a normal life. Present day, Trojan’s Trek is going from strength to strength with staff assisting all those with military, police or a first responder background
The objectives of the trek are to develop in the participants through joint and individual challenge:
– an understanding of how thoughts and feelings influence behaviour
– exposure to various strategies which will bring about positive change
– suggested individual responses which are effective in achieving the aim, and
– enhance self esteem
Trojan’s trek is a circuit breaker program in nature. Participants figuratively undertake a journey, which facilitates new ways of viewing themselves, their colleagues and partners in a remote location while investigating ways to facilitate change. Some of the past trekkers have denoted this as a stocktake of life, feelings and behaviour.’
During the trek, individuals will be acquainted with a number of options needed to adjust thinking, make better choices, adapt behaviors and practice new skills which will be applied in their domestic situation. Participants are compelled to step outside their comfort zone and take stock of their lives both individually and collectively.
More importantly, they are also former service personnel who have experienced and overcome the same frustrations as those attending. This aspect of staff selection is vital to the outcomes as many of those attending come to regard the hose who’ve come before veterans as role models. Trojan’s Trek provides the setting and conditions under which participants will experience a lasting positive shift in values and interpersonal relationships. The trek is designed to improve lifestyle and community involvement. Trekkers are encouraged to face activities and situations which may have been avoided in the past by trying new ways of behaving and reacting.