Openground
Openground engages with individuals and organisations to promote the practice of mindfulness as a transformational process in health, education, industry and community development. Openground maintains close professional links with the Centre for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical Centre (USA).
Our courses offer depth, safety, continuity and connection with a dedicated, experienced teacher to help you engage with the heart of the matter – so that you can find more resilience, effectiveness and authority in your life.
While a short course, app or workshop may offer a taste of mindfulness, it is unlikely to provide you with the experience, space and time to develop your own practice which is what leads to the outcomes you probably want and are truly possible from this inspiring method.
Our values
Openground teachers provide courses which are safe, engaging, and effective by embodying the following core values:
respect for each individual's uniqueness
provision of an empathic, responsive environment in which to learn
integrity in terms of ethical and professional responsibilities
rigour and depth of experience, training and supervision in the fields which contribute to excellence in mindfulness-based training.
All Openground teachers engage regularly in professional development, silent retreats and ongoing personal practice.
Advisory board
The Openground Advisory Board consists of a group of professionals drawn from the disciplines of medicine, psychology, education, psychotherapy, sociology, philosophy and spiritual practice.
Dr Gillian Deakin, MBBS, MPH, Dip. FP, FRACGP.
Dr Rick Hanson PhD
Dr Bob Stahl PhD
Dr Gemma Summers, PhD.
Governance
Openground
Openground Pty Ltd is directly responsible for the MBSR courses in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane and the professional training programs, retreats and most workshops. Courses in all other centres are operated by associates of Openground, and the respective teachers of those courses are responsible for all aspects of course delivery, advertising, fee structure and professional and clinical decision-making. The teachers group of Openground functions as a source of ongoing peer supervision, consultation and support in the service of making the MBSR courses we offer accessible, sustainable and of a high quality for participants.
Openground for Organisations
Openground for Organisations Pty Ltd is responsible for all organisational work.
Fee Structure
We understand that mindfulness meditation teachings are traditionally offered in a spiritual context on a donation basis. The MBSR program has sprung from this tradition, but is offered by professionals as part of their work. Hence fees are charged for the classes.
We have a commitment to making the MBSR program accessible to as many people as possible, even when people can’t afford the full fee. To this end, we offer strongly discounted places and payment plans. (Since its inception the Sydney - Melbourne - Brisbane arm of Openground has given away 35% of possible income as discounted places.)
In referring to our programs, feel free to refer people who require discounted places. And keep in mind, that in order to continue offering such strong discounts, we also need to have places filled by people who are able to pay the full fee.
