2026 to 27 Federal Pre-Budget Submission

National pilot program for voluntary clothing optional wellbeing zones in public parks and reserves

Submitted by: NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Submitted by: Vincent Marty, Founder
Sydney, Australia
www.NaturismRE.com

Introduction

NaturismRE proposes a national pilot program establishing voluntary clothing optional wellbeing zones within selected public parks and reserves across Australia. These zones support nature-based wellbeing by allowing individuals who benefit from deeper nature immersion and sunlight exposure to make use of clearly designated, respectful and optional areas. Participation is voluntary and the surrounding park remains available for the general public.

The purpose of this pilot is to evaluate how designated wellbeing zones influence mental health, confidence, stress reduction, community engagement and outdoor participation. The initiative uses existing public space, requires minimal investment and aligns with national priorities in preventive health, youth mental health, outdoor recreation and community wellbeing.

This submission includes evidence on nature-based wellbeing, body confidence, sunlight exposure and outdoor participation, and offers an implementation framework suitable for councils and park authorities across Australia.

National context and the challenge

Australians face increasing rates of stress, social pressure and mental health challenges. Many individuals report discomfort using public parks and beaches due to stigma, body-image concerns or fear of judgment. These factors reduce participation in outdoor activity, limit access to nature-based wellbeing benefits and undermine preventive health strategies.

Public parks remain underutilised as spaces of emotional restoration and sunlight-based wellbeing. There is currently no national model for designated wellbeing environments that offer privacy, clarity and optional participation for those who seek deeper nature connection.

The absence of structure reduces engagement and leaves a significant opportunity unused. A national pilot will allow the Commonwealth to assess the feasibility, community value and health benefits of designated wellbeing zones.

Proposal

NaturismRE proposes a twelve month national pilot program to test voluntary clothing optional wellbeing zones in selected sites across multiple states. The pilot aims to:

create safe, clearly defined areas supporting nature-based wellbeing
reduce psychological barriers that prevent people from using parks fully
encourage confidence, sunlight exposure and emotional restoration
evaluate health, social and tourism benefits
collect data on community usage, acceptance and wellbeing outcomes
inform national community and health planning

The zones will be discretionary areas within existing parks, implemented with natural screening, signage and simple pathway design.

Why this initiative requires Commonwealth involvement

A national pilot ensures:

consistent guidelines across states and territories
coordinated evaluation and data collection
cross-jurisdictional comparison
alignment with federal preventive health, mental health and community wellbeing frameworks
engagement from national park authorities and local governments

The initiative also aligns with the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the National Preventive Health Strategy and the federal push to increase community use of public outdoor spaces.

Implementation model

The pilot relies on low-cost design elements:

vegetation buffers
natural landforms for privacy
timber screening where necessary
clear voluntary-participation signage
quiet-zoning principles
simple ground-level seating or platforms

No major infrastructure is required.

Councils and park authorities will nominate suitable areas, conduct local engagement and implement minor landscape adjustments. NaturismRE will provide guidelines, data tools and support.

Data collection and evaluation

The pilot will evaluate:

visitor participation
emotional wellbeing and perceived benefits
community response and comfort
changes in outdoor activity
tourism or visitation impacts
effectiveness of design elements for privacy and comfort

Findings will be published in a national report, providing evidence for future planning.

Expected benefits

Health benefits

Natural sunlight exposure supports Vitamin D synthesis, circadian regulation and mood improvement.
Nature immersion reduces stress, improves emotional balance and strengthens resilience.
Wellbeing zones offer supportive environments for confidence, relaxation and restorative practices.

Social benefits

Increased outdoor participation.
Reduced stigma and social pressure in public spaces.
Stronger community connection through inclusive environments.
Greater use of underutilised parkland.

Economic benefits

Low implementation cost.
Potential tourism uplift in regional and coastal areas.
Reduced long-term mental health expenditure through preventive wellbeing.
Higher public space value and improved visitation.

National relevance and alignment

This initiative supports federal priorities in:

mental health
community wellbeing
urban and regional development
tourism
youth resilience
public health equity
environmental sustainability

Designated wellbeing zones offer a modern, inclusive public space model consistent with preventive health frameworks and nature-based wellbeing policy trends.

Conclusion

The national Clothing Optional Wellbeing Zones Pilot provides a low-cost, evidence-aligned opportunity to improve outdoor participation and community wellbeing. It allows individuals to engage with nature more comfortably, supports preventive mental health and strengthens the community value of public parks. The Commonwealth Government can lead a safe, structured pilot that produces actionable evidence for future wellbeing planning.

NaturismRE welcomes collaboration with federal agencies, state governments, councils and researchers to deliver this initiative.

Contact

Vincent Marty
Founder, NaturismRE Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia
[email protected]