The story so far
Openground began in 2004 as a group of educators and health professionals got together under the pioneering leadership of Timothea Goddard to offer the well-researched Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program and related offerings throughout Australia - in health, education, workplaces and community development. For close to 20 years we have endeavoured to make our strength-based, non-pathologizing, empowering services accessible to those who cannot afford to pay.
In 2023, we shifted our structure to a not-for-profit to be able to more widely reach and contribute care and support to individuals and communities who are affected by poverty and trauma. We are applying for DGR1 and charity status, so that we can effectively invite donations, sponsorship and fundraising to make our services available as widely as possible. We are committed to making our services available to everyone in need, no matter their financial circumstances. Oftentimes, people who can least afford our life-changing programs are the ones who need them the most.
Openground takes a whole-person and recovery-oriented approach to wellbeing, utilising the latest scientific research in our programs. Our highly trained health professionals and facilitators offer training in resilience and healing practices in rural, regional and metropolitan areas throughout Australia.
We have strong professional links with the international community of senior mindfulness practitioners which uphold standards and ethics for the industry.
Timothea is the founding director of the original Openground (established in 2004) and is recognised as a pioneer in bringing evidence-based mindfulness programs to Australia over the past 20 years. She has worked in psychotherapy private practice for 35 years having trained in humanistic, psychodynamic, body-based and systemic ways of exploring challenges in life and relationships. She is a specialist in trauma-informed practice. She is also a founding director of the Mindfulness Training Institute – Australia and New Zealand – a not-for-profit which offers teacher training in Mindfulness Based Programs. She has been practicing yoga and meditation (in the Vipassana tradition) since her early twenties, having also spent some years practicing Zen and Aikido.
Elizabeth is a lawyer, an experienced trauma-informed psychotherapist and lead teacher for Openground and is one of the first people trained to teach MBSR in Australia. She has worked for Openground for the past 16 years as a teacher and the Director of Organisational Programs. In this capacity she has led many successful mindfulness and leadership programs to all levels of organisations such as. (link to full list here). She has also pioneered the Mindfulness for Veterans program which found that MBSR was transformational to those suffering with the sequalae of PTSD and other challenges. (link to report on research). She is currently leading the first 8 week mindfulness course to Federal Parliamentarians and staffers. She brings enormous energy and enthusiasm to her work with people and organisations. She has long practice experience in the Vipassana tradition.
Alex is a business person and philanthropist whose life has been positively impacted by attending an Openground MBSR course 10 years ago. Alex brings his care for people and community, his exceptional business expertise of over 20 years and his passion for mindfulness to the Openground project. He will provide the necessary financial, legal and logistical stewardship for the success of Openground into the future.